1. A method comprises: dispersed storage error encoding data to produce a set of encoded data slices; generating a first transaction identifier regarding storage of the set of encoded data slices; outputting a plurality of write request messages to a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units, wherein each of the plurality of write request messages includes the first transaction identifier and a corresponding one of the set of encoded data slices; receiving write response messages from at least some of the DS units, wherein each of the write response messages includes a reference to the first transaction identifier; and when at least a write threshold number of the write response messages have been received, updating directory information regarding storage of the data to produce updated directory information.