Patent ID: 8880978

Claim:
A method comprises: encoding, in accordance with a dispersed storage error coding function, data based on a decode threshold parameter and a pillar number to produce a set of encoded data slices; selecting a local area network (LAN) pillar number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices for storage in LAN available memories, wherein the LAN pillar number is based on the decode threshold parameter, the pillar number and quantities of the LAN available memories and wherein the LAN pillar number is equal to or greater than a value of the decode threshold parameter; and selecting a wide area network (WAN) pillar number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices for storage in a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory of a wide area network, wherein the WAN pillar number is based on the decode threshold parameter and the pillar number and wherein the WAN pillar number is equal to or greater than the value of the decode threshold parameter.