A method begins by a processing module receiving data for storage. The method continues with the processing module determining storage metadata regarding the data the method continues with the processing module. The method continues with the processing module determining memory device capabilities based on the storage metadata. The method continues with the processing module identifying memory devices based on the memory device capabilities to produce identified memory devices. The method continues with the processing module encoding the data into a plurality of data slices in accordance with an error coding dispersal function. The method continues with the processing module storing the plurality of data slices in the identified memory devices.