Reducing power consumption in a dispersed storage network

Abstract

Systems and methods for selectively disabling power to disk drives in a distributed storage network (DSN). In embodiments, a method includes: monitoring namespace health parameter data in a DSN including a plurality of storage disk drives, wherein the namespace health parameter data includes available disks of the plurality of storage disk drives; determining that power to a subset of the plurality of storage disk drives can be disabled without disrupting anticipated client access to a data collection based on the monitoring and stored power management rules; and sending instructions to at least one power manager within the DSN to disable power to the subset of the plurality of storage disk drives, resulting in at least one disabled storage disk, wherein the instructions are based on the determining that power to the subset of the plurality of storage disk drives can be disabled.