1. A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises: receiving data for storage in DSN memory; ascertaining dispersed storage error encoding parameters for encoding the data; ascertaining “p” number of storage units of the DSN memory for the storing an encoded version of the data; ascertaining a storage mapping that maps encoded data slices to storage units for storing the encoded version of the data; encoding the data in accordance with the dispersed storage error encoding parameters to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, wherein a set of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices includes “n” number of encoded data slices; and generating a plurality of write requests for storing, in accordance with the storage mapping, encoded data slices of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices in a pattern across the “p” number of storage units, wherein less than the “p” number of storage units stores an encoded data slice of the set of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices or a subset thereof.