Reconfigurable, virtual processing system, cluster, network and method

Abstract

A platform and method of deploying virtual processing areas networks are described. A plurality of computer processors are connected to an internal communication network. At least one control node is in communication with an external communication network and an external storage network has an external storage address space. The at least one control node is connected to the internal network and thereby is in communication with the plurality of computer processors. Configuration logic defines and establishes a virtual processing area network having a corresponding set of computer processors from the plurality of processors, a virtual local area communication network providing communication among the set of computer processors, and a virtual storage space with a defined correspondence to the address space of the storage network.

1 . A platform for automatically deploying virtual processing area networks (PANs) in response to software commands, wherein each virtual PAN may communicate with an external internet protocol (IP) communication network and wherein each virtual PAN may communicate with an external storage network having an external storage address space, said platform comprising: 
 an internal, pre-wired switching fabric independent and isolated from the external IP communication network and independent and isolated from the external storage network;    a plurality of computer processor nodes each pre-wired and in fixed connection to said internal switching fabric, each computer processor node having at least one computer processor and memory storage;    configuration logic for receiving software commands specifying virtual PANs, each virtual PAN specification having (i) a specified number of computer processors, (ii) a defined communication interconnectivity and switching functionality among the computer processors of the virtual PAN, said interconnectivity including a layer 2 interconnectivity, and (iii) a virtual storage space for the virtual PAN;    wherein said configuration logic includes logic to automatically respond to said software commands without human intervention by selecting a corresponding set of the specified number of computer processors from the plurality of computer processor nodes and by programming said corresponding set of computer processors and said internal switching fabric to completely establish the defined communication interconnectivity and switching functionality for a virtual PAN specification;    wherein all network I/O requests and storage requests of any computer processor of a virtual PAN are transmitted via said switching fabric;    wherein network I/O requests of any computer processor of a virtual PAN, addressed to an entity on said external IP communication network, are transmitted to said external IP communication network;    wherein all storage requests of any computer processor of a virtual PAN are transmitted to said external storage network; and    wherein the platform supports simultaneous, independent operation of multiple virtual PANs using said switching fabric.    
     
     
         2 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein the computer processor nodes and said internal switching fabric are contained in a cabinet.  
     
     
         3 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein said switching fabric is a redundant switching fabric.  
     
     
         4 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein said defined communication interconnectivity includes MAC address assignments for the virtual PAN.  
     
     
         5 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein said virtual PAN specification is expressed and inheritable so that the configuration logic may deploy the virtual PAN on an arbitrary set of computer processors sufficient in number to comply with the virtual PAN specification.