1. A method of operating a distributed storage processing unit, the method comprising: creating a plurality of data slices from a data segment, the plurality of data slices to be stored in a distributed storage network including a plurality of storage units; identifying selected storage units of the plurality of storage units, each of the selected storage units to store particular data slices of the plurality of data slices; determining which of the selected storage units is in a ready status, wherein a ready status indicates a readiness to receive data slices for storage; sending data slices to selected storage units in the ready status; and temporarily storing in a temporary memory data slices intended for selected storage units in a non-ready status.