A method includes encoding a data object in accordance with dispersed storage error encoding parameters to produce sets of encoded data slices having sets of slice names. The dispersed storage error encoding parameters includes a pillar width number of encoded data slices. The data object is associated with a unique source name and each slice name includes a reference to the unique source name. The method further includes executing a distributed agreement protocol using the unique source name and coefficients regarding a plurality of storage units of the dispersed storage network (DSN) to produce a ranking of the plurality of storage units. The method further includes identifying the pillar width number of storage units of the plurality of storage units based on the ranking of the storage units. The method further includes sending the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to the pillar width number of storage units for storage therein.