Patent attributes
A method includes determining virtual memory use of a vault based on virtual memory use of one dispersed storage (DS) unit of a set of DS units that services the vault within the DSN, where data is dispersed storage error encoded in accordance with dispersed data storage parameters to produce a plurality of sets of error coded (EC) data slices that are stored in the vault. The method continues by comparing the virtual memory use of the vault to one or more vault thresholds. When the virtual memory use of the vault is less than or equal to a first vault threshold of the one or more vault thresholds, the method continues by instructing a memory state of the vault to be in a normal state, wherein when the vault is in the normal state, a write mode is activated allowing write requests of EC data slices to the vault.