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: 
 a pre-wired switching fabric independent of and isolated from said external IP communication network, and independent of and isolated from said external storage network;    a plurality of computer processor nodes each pre-wired and in fixed connection to said switching fabric, each computer processor node having at least one computer processor and memory storage, and wherein each computer processor node includes a programmable virtual MAC address;    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 data link interconnectivity having MAC address assignments for the computer processors of the virtual PAN, and (iii) a virtual storage space for the virtual PAN;    wherein said configuration logic includes logic to program a corresponding set of computer processors and said switching fabric to completely establish without human intervention the defined communication interconnectivity and switching functionality for a virtual PAN specification, including programming said computer processor nodes with the MAC address assignments for the virtual PAN;    wherein said configuration logic includes logic to migrate MAC address assignments from a first set of computer processors to a second set of computer processors to re-deploy the virtual PAN on the platform, said re-deployment being automatic and without human intervention for re-wiring the switch fabric to establish the specified data link connectivity of the virtual PAN;    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 MAC address assignments for a virtual PAN are recorded in computer-readable data structures.  
     
     
         3 . The platform of  claim 1  wherein computer processor nodes have MAC address assignments programmed during a booting operation.