Patent Publication Number: US-9892079-B2

Title: Unified converged network, storage and compute system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of provisional patent application number 3643/CHE/2014 titled “Unified Converged Network, Storage And Compute System”, filed in the Indian Patent Office on Jul. 25, 2014, and non-provisional patent application number 3643/CHE/2014 titled “Unified Converged Network, Storage And Compute System”, filed in the Indian Patent Office on Jul. 15, 2015. The specifications of the above referenced patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In a data center, multiple appliances are utilized to scale out and scale up compute power and storage capacities. Networking appliances, for example, network switches and network routers are used to connect servers to each other and also to multiple storage appliances. Large numbers of servers are used for computing, which therefore require a large number of network switches, for example, Ethernet switches, fibre channel switches, etc., to connect servers to each other and to storage appliances. Storage appliances such as disk storage arrays and tape libraries are used in a data center to provide a large storage space for user data and for data backup. Due to the servers, storage appliances, and network appliances, the challenges faced in data centers are, for example, large space requirements, high energy consumption by different appliances, high energy consumption to maintain the operational temperature of the appliances, high heat emission, numerous applications required to maintain different types of server appliances, storage appliances, and network appliances, a team of various skilled professionals required to maintain the data center, high capital, substantial operational expenses, etc. 
     The compute power, storage and networking of servers keep growing in data centers to improve and boost application performance of the server appliances. To facilitate high performance of application servers, data centers add superior server processors, fast networking technologies, and multiple redundant storage elements. However, the server processors, fast networking technologies, and storage elements are not optimally used due to architectural limitations of the data centers. For example, a conventional architecture of servers, network appliances, and data storage arrays depends on multiple software layers from a host operating system to input and output interface controllers. Such an architecture adds high latency to input/output (I/O) throughput. 
     Cloud and parallel data processing and storage have become paramount as the need for data storage, data processing, and intelligent storage has increased. Numerous techniques and solutions available in the field of cloud data processing and parallel data processing rely on efficient hardware and software solutions. Data centers have resorted to private, public and/or hybrid cloud solutions as incorporating computing power within or away from storage is not a choice anymore. Furthermore, the basic idea behind a cloud infrastructure is to grow with the use of computing and storage power. However, the dynamic growth of data processing and storage within the cloud infrastructure poses challenges to the current infrastructure. The cloud industry or data centers typically fine-tune their solutions and technologies associated with servers, network appliances, and storage to cater to a constant demand of exponential data growth for efficiency. Ensuring efficiency of data processing and growth in computing requires large investments in terms of capital, power, cooling techniques, etc. Therefore, an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider spends more time and money to obtain appropriate solutions for an offered infrastructure. 
     A conventional architecture of a server, a network appliance, or a data storage array utilizes a host bus adapter (HBA) containing a System on Chip (SoC) to handle input and output of data flow on a respective system board. The SoC is a set of hardware components, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a memory controller, a system bus controller, and a peripheral interconnect bus controller that enables the host bus adapter to run software that manages the data flow through the host bus adapter and target devices, for example, disk drives, network ports, etc. This SoC runs software for data communication to and from a target device, for example, a data storage device, or a data storage appliance, or a network server, or a network appliance. The combination of hardware and software for data access and communication reduces data throughput of the overall system. Furthermore, there are additional issues in conventional architecture based appliances that hinder the performance of the system, for example, underutilization of hardware appliances, low adaptability to dynamic growth, low performance, interoperability issues between appliances manufactured by different vendors, a high total cost of ownership that involves large space requirements, high energy consumption, requirements for skilled maintenance teams, etc. 
     In a conventional architecture of a server, network switch, network router and data storage array, connecting element controllers, for example, small computer system interfaces, advanced technology attachments, serial attached small computer system interfaces, serial advanced technology attachments, fibre channel controllers, Ethernet controllers, etc., are mounted on system boards of servers, network switches, network routers, and data storage arrays as host bus adapters or line cards. The host bus adapters contain specific hardware to manage connecting ports to target devices, for example, hard disk drives, network switches, network routers, and other servers. Each host bus adapter also contains a System on Chip (SoC). Typically, a data center houses hundreds and thousands of servers, network switches, network routers, and storage arrays that are built on the above mentioned conventional architecture. SoC hardware and software on the SoC introduces additional layers that cause additional latency to the data flow, increases the energy consumption, and increases heat emission. As the new era of data centers emerge, the work load on the servers, the network switches, the network routers, and the storage arrays suffers due to the above mentioned conventional architecture that utilizes multiple hardware and software layers. To improve the architecture to be future ready and to withstand and take more work load, there is a need for reducing the hardware and software layers, for incorporating multiple hardware components and associated software on one functional plane, that is, on a system board, and for developing a specialized software without hindering the software implementation of existing application servers. 
     Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a unified converged network, storage and compute system that incorporates the functionalities of a network switch, a network router, a network interface card, a storage array, and a compute functionality of a server into a single physical server for expanding the functionality of the physical server and the connectivity of the physical server to other physical servers in a data center. Moreover, there is a need for a unified converged network, storage and compute system comprising interface components that are free of the System on Chip (SoC) to allow direct access to storage devices and a network and to reduce latency, energy consumption, and heat emission. Furthermore, there is a need for a unified converged network, storage and compute system that reduces hardware and software layers, incorporates multiple hardware components and associated software on a single system board, and comprises a specialized software that does not hinder the software implementation of existing application servers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS) disclosed herein addresses the above stated need for incorporating functionalities of a network switch, a network router, a network interface card, a storage array, and a compute functionality of a server into a single platform, thereby expanding the functionality of the UCNSCS and the connectivity of the UCNSCS to other UCNSCSs in a data center. The UCNSCS disclosed herein comprises interface components that are free of a System on Chip (SoC) to allow direct access to storage devices and a network and to reduce latency, energy consumption, and heat emission. Furthermore, the UCNSCS disclosed herein reduces hardware and software layers, incorporates multiple hardware components and associated software on a single system board, and comprises specialized software that does not hinder software implementation of existing application servers. 
     In an embodiment, the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS) is configured in a rack unit chassis of a configurable size, for example, a two rack unit chassis, a three rack unit chassis, a four rack unit chassis, etc. The UCNSCS disclosed herein comprises a system board, a storage interface component free of a System on Chip (SoC), a network interface component free of the SoC, and a unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA) executable by at least one processor. The storage interface component is operably connected to the system board via system interconnect bus connectors. The storage interface component connects an array of storage devices, for example, disk drives, solid state drives, solid state hybrid drives, etc., to the system board. The storage devices are connected on the local UCNSCS via the storage interface component. The storage interface component comprises disk interface connectors, a system interconnect bus switch, and the system interconnect bus connectors. The disk interface connectors are configured on a first section, for example, a front section of the storage interface component to connect to the array of storage devices. The system interconnect bus switch is configured on a second section, for example, a rear section of the storage interface component to connect the array of storage devices to the system board. The system interconnect bus connectors are configured on the second section, for example, the rear section of the storage interface component to connect to the system board. The network interface component is operably connected to the system board via system interconnect bus connectors. In an embodiment, the network interface component is a converged network switch and router adapter free of the SoC. In another embodiment, the network interface component is a network interface card free of the SoC. The network interface component is configured to form a network of UCNSCSs and/or connect to a network. 
     The unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA) controls and manages operations of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS) and expands functionality of the UCNSCS to operate as a converged network switch, network router, and storage array. The UCNSCA is a compute module that comprises a storage module and a network module. In an embodiment, the UCNSCA is configured as a hypervisor that hosts virtual machines and incorporates the storage module and the network module therewithin, thereby allowing direct access to storage devices and a network respectively. The UCNSCA configured as a hypervisor acts as a hardware abstraction layer by incorporating software and firmware functions therewithin. In another embodiment, the UCNSCA is configured as a virtual machine operating on a hypervisor and incorporates the storage module and the network module therewithin. The storage module of the UCNSCA is a software module that interacts with the storage interface component via a system interconnect bus to configure the storage interface component, monitor data flow between the storage interface component, the system board, and the array of storage devices, access data stored in the array of storage devices connected to the storage interface component, and access the data stored in storage devices of other UCNSCSs that are connected together in a computer cluster, for example, over an Ethernet network. The network module of the UCNSCA is a software module that interacts with the network interface component via a system interconnect bus to configure the network interface component, monitor data flow through the network interface component, and perform connections to the network, network switching functions, and network router functions. 
     In the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS) disclosed herein, hardware components, for example, the storage interface component and the network interface component are converged onto one functional plane, that is, onto the system board, and specialized software, that is, the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA) is developed without hindering software implementation of existing application servers. The UCNSCA disclosed herein performs functions to manage data flow through hardware boards, for example, the system board, the system interconnect bus switch board, etc., and also to manage the hardware. The UCNSCA configured as a hypervisor enables the UCNSCS to run multiple virtual machines that, in turn, run existing application servers as a conventional server. 
     Moreover, the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS) does not require an external network switch or an external network router to interconnect other systems, since the UCNSCS contains the network interface component to implement network switch and network router functionalities within. Furthermore, the storage module of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA) pools storage devices of other systems via a network and creates a logical disk, thereby precluding the need for an external data storage array. The UCNSCS comprising the storage module and the network module within the UCNSCA reduces latency in accessing data, reduces the cost of the UCNSCS, reduces a total cost of ownership (TCO) by converging hardware components, reduces energy consumption, and boosts software performance with high performance server central processing units (CPUs), memory and software architecture. Furthermore, updating software features results in reduced system downtime in a data center. 
     In one or more embodiments, related systems comprise circuitry and/or programming for effecting the methods disclosed herein; the circuitry and/or programming can be any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the methods disclosed herein depending upon the design choices of a system designer. Also, various structural elements may be employed depending on the design choices of the system designer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and components disclosed herein. The description of a method step or a component referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to the description of that method step or component shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein. 
         FIG. 1  exemplarily illustrates a unified converged network, storage and compute system symbolically showing converged functionalities of a converged network switch and network router and an array of storage devices, with a compute functionality of a server. 
         FIG. 2A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the unified converged network, storage and compute system configured in a two rack unit chassis, showing multiple storage devices. 
         FIG. 2B  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the unified converged network, storage and compute system configured in the two rack unit chassis, showing multiple network ports. 
         FIG. 3  exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the unified converged network, storage and compute system, showing a relationship between hardware and software of the unified converged network, storage and compute system, where a unified converged network, storage and compute application functions as a hypervisor. 
         FIG. 4  exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the unified converged network, storage and compute system, showing a relationship between hardware and software of the unified converged network, storage and compute system, where the unified converged network, storage and compute application functions as a virtual machine. 
         FIG. 5  exemplarily illustrates internal components of the unified converged network, storage and compute system, showing a network interface component configured as a converged network switch and router adapter comprising a network fabric silicon that enables the unified converged network, storage and compute system to function as a converged network switch and network router. 
         FIG. 6  exemplarily illustrates a top elevation view of the network interface component configured as the converged network switch and router adapter. 
         FIG. 7  exemplarily illustrates internal components of the unified converged network, storage and compute system, showing the network interface component configured as a physical network interface card comprising a network interface card silicon that enables the unified converged network, storage and compute system to connect to a network of unified converged network, storage and compute systems and storage devices of other unified converged network, storage and compute systems connected over a network. 
         FIG. 8  exemplarily illustrates a top elevation view of an embodiment of the network interface component configured as the network interface card. 
         FIG. 9A  exemplarily illustrates a front section of a storage interface component of the unified converged network, storage and compute system. 
         FIG. 9B  exemplarily illustrates a rear section of the storage interface component of the unified converged network, storage and compute system. 
         FIG. 10  exemplarily illustrates internal components of a storage module of the unified converged network, storage and compute application. 
         FIG. 11  exemplarily illustrates internal components of a network module of the unified converged network, storage and compute application. 
         FIG. 12  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application as a hypervisor. 
         FIG. 13  exemplarily illustrates a flowchart showing operation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application as a hypervisor. 
         FIG. 14  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application as a virtual machine. 
         FIG. 15  exemplarily illustrates a flowchart showing operation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application as a virtual machine. 
         FIG. 16  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of multiple unified converged network, storage and compute systems in operative communication with each other for networking, storage virtualization, computing, and data processing in a data center, where the unified converged network, storage and compute application in each of the unified converged network, storage and compute systems functions as a hypervisor. 
         FIG. 17  exemplarily illustrates creation of a logical disk by the unified converged network, storage and compute application configured as a hypervisor. 
         FIG. 18  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of multiple unified converged network, storage and compute systems in operative communication with each other for networking, storage virtualization, computing, and data processing in a data center, where the unified converged network, storage and compute application in each of the unified converged network, storage and compute systems functions as a virtual machine. 
         FIG. 19  exemplarily illustrates creation of a logical disk by the unified converged network, storage and compute application configured as a virtual machine. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein is a unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 1 , comprising a combination of hardware and software. The software on the UCNSCS  100  is referred to as a unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  or  112  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 . 
       FIG. 1  exemplarily illustrates the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  symbolically showing converged functionalities of a converged network switch and network router  101  and an array of storage devices  102 , with a compute functionality of a server, which expand functionality of the UCNSCS  100  and connectivity of the UCNSCS  100  to other UCNSCSs  100  in a data center. As used herein, “converged network switch and network router” refers to a convergence of a physical network switch and/or a network router and a software defined network switch and/or a software defined network router. The converged network switch and network router  101  configured in the UCNSCS  100  can be, for example, an Ethernet switch and/or an Ethernet router or a fibre channel over an Ethernet switch. The storage devices  102  comprise, for example, hard drives, interconnect bus based serial attached small computer system interface drives, interconnect bus based serial advanced technology attachment drives, solid state drives, solid state hybrid drives, etc. The UCNSCS  100  disclosed herein improves and enhances a scale up capability of a data center by scaling out. By incorporating functionalities of storage and networking appliances within the UCNSCS  100 , the need for external storage appliances and external networking appliances in the data center is eliminated. 
       FIG. 2A  exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  configured, for example, in a two rack unit chassis  201 , showing multiple storage devices  102 . As exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the hardware of the UCNSCS  100  is enclosed in a two rack unit chassis  201 . The UCNSCS  100  configured in the two rack unit chassis  201  has more connectivity options to function as a server appliance, a network appliance, and a storage appliance. A front section  201   a  of the UCNSCS  100  houses, for example, about twenty four or more storage devices  102  to about forty eight storage devices  102  based on the size of the storage devices  102 . Storage devices  102 , for example, solid state drives are smaller in size compared to solid state hybrid drives or normal hard disk drives. Therefore, the UCNSCS  100  can house, for example, up to forty eight solid state drives, and a maximum of twenty four solid state hybrid drives or hard disk drives. The front section  201   a  of the UCNSCS  100  enables hot-pluggable storage devices  102  to be added or removed based on the need. In an embodiment, the UCNSCS  100  is configured in a rack unit chassis of a different size, for example, a three rack unit chassis, a four rack unit chassis, etc., which can house, for example, a minimum of twelve storage devices  102  such as hard disks to about ninety six storage devices  102 . 
       FIG. 2B  exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  configured in the two rack unit chassis  201 , showing multiple network ports  103 . As used herein, “network ports” refer to transceivers that connect networking hardware of a network interface component  106  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , to a fiber optic cable or a copper cable. The network ports  103  are, for example, quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP+) ports. A rear section  201   b  of the UCNSCS  100  is exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2B . The rear section  201   b  of the UCNSCS  100  houses, for example about two or twenty four network ports  103  to about thirty two network ports  103 . The network ports  103  are configured to be connected to a network. In an embodiment, the UCNSCS  100  houses two network ports  103  that enable the UCNSCS  100  to connect to a network of a data center. In another embodiment, the UCNSCS  100  houses twenty four to thirty two network ports  103  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2B . In the embodiment exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2B , the UCNSCS  100  functions as a network switch and a network router in a data center. 
       FIG. 3  exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100   a , showing a relationship between hardware and software of the UCNSCS  100   a , where the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  functions as a hypervisor or a virtual machine monitor. As exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the UCNSCS  100   a  comprises a system board  104 , interface components  105  and  106  free of a System on Chip (SoC), and the UCNSCA  107  configured as a hypervisor. As used herein, “system board” refers is a printed circuit board that houses electronic components, for example, a central processing unit (CPU)  117 , a memory  118 , and connectors for connecting to other peripheral components exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 . The system board  104  is, for example, a dual socket Xeon® based server motherboard of Intel Corporation with a random access memory (RAM) of, for example, about 64 gigabytes to about 1 terabyte. The system board  104  comprises system interconnect bus connectors (not shown), for example, peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectors or slots that connect to corresponding system interconnect bus connectors  120  and  125 , for example, PCIe connectors of a network interface component  106  and a storage interface component  105  respectively. As used herein, “system interconnect bus connectors” refer to serial computer bus connectors, for example, PCIe connectors or PCIe slots exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9B , that connect electronic components, for example, the network interface component  106  and the storage interface component  105  to the system board  104 . 
     The interface components comprise the storage interface component  105 , and the network interface component  106  which are hardware components operably connected to the system board  104 . As used herein, “storage interface component” refers to a printed circuit board that houses electronic components, for example, a system interconnect bus switch  116 , a power module  126 , disk interface connectors  124  for connecting storage devices  102  to the system board  104 , and system interconnect bus connectors  125  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 9A-9B . The storage interface component  105  is operably connected to the system board  104  via the system interconnect bus connectors  125  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9B . The storage interface component  105  is configured to connect an array of storage devices  102  to the system board  104 . Also, as used herein, “network interface component” refers, in an embodiment, to a converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114  that houses electronic components, for example, a network fabric silicon  115 , a power module  119 , system interconnect bus connectors  120 , and network ports  103  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and in another embodiment, to a network interface card  121  that houses electronic components, for example, a network interface card silicon  122 , a power module  123 , system interconnect bus connectors  120 , and network ports  103  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The network interface component  106  is operably connected to the system board  104  via the system interconnect bus connectors  120  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 . The network interface component  106  is configured to form a network of unified converged network, storage and compute systems  100   a  or nodes and/or connect to a network. 
     The unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  is executable by at least one processor, for example, a central processing unit (CPU)  117  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , configured to control and manage operations of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100   a  and expand functionality of the UCNSCS  100   a  to operate as a converged network switch, network router, and storage array. The processor is, for example, the Intel Xeon® E5-2650 processor, the AMD Opteron® 6380 processor of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., etc. The UCNSCA  107  comprises software modules, namely, a storage module  108  and a network module  109  executable by at least one processor, for example, the CPU  117  for performing their respective functions disclosed below. 
     In an embodiment as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  is a hypervisor configured to incorporate the storage module  108  and the network module  109  therewithin and to host virtual machines  110 . As used herein, the term “hypervisor” refers to a virtual machine monitor configured as a computer software or firmware that creates and runs virtual machines  110 . In this embodiment, the storage module  108  and the network module  109  of the UCNSCA  107  that functions as a hypervisor interacts with the storage interface component  105  and the network interface component  106  respectively, to enable access to storage and a network respectively. The storage module  108  is a software module that interacts with the storage interface component  105  via a system interconnect bus  111 , for example, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) bus to configure the storage interface component  105 , monitor data flow between the storage interface component  105 , the system board  104 , and the array of storage devices  102 , access data stored in the array of storage devices  102  connected to the storage interface component  105 , and access data stored in storage devices  102  of other unified converged network, storage and compute systems  100   a  that are connected together in a computer cluster, for example, over a Ethernet network as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The system interconnect bus  111  refers to a bus that allows communication between the storage module  108  and the storage interface component  105 . The network module  109  is a software module that interacts with the network interface component  106  via a system interconnect bus  111 , for example, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) bus to configure the network interface component  106 , monitor data flow through the network interface component  106 , and perform connections to the network, network switching functions, and network router functions. The system interconnect bus  111  allows communication between the network module  109  and the network interface component  106 . 
       FIG. 4  exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100   b , showing a relationship between hardware and software of the unified converged network, storage and compute system  100   b , where the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  112  functions as a virtual machine. As exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the UCNSCS  100   b  comprises the system board  104 , the interface components  105  and  106  free of a System on Chip (SoC) as disclosed in the detailed description of  FIG. 3 , and the UCNSCA  112  configured as a virtual machine operating on a hypervisor  113 . Additional virtual machines  110 , for example, VM 1   110   a , VM 2   110   b , and VM 3   110   c  run on the hypervisor  113 . The UCNSCA  112  is executable by at least one processor, for example, a central processing unit (CPU)  117  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , configured to control and manage operations of the UCNSCS  100   b  and expand functionality of the UCNSCS  100   b  to operate as a converged network switch, network router, and storage array. In an embodiment as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the UCNSCA  112  is a virtual machine configured to incorporate the storage module  108  and the network module  109  therewithin. In this embodiment, the storage module  108  and the network module  109  of the UCNSCA  112  that functions as a virtual machine, interacts with the storage interface component  105  and the network interface component  106  respectively, to enable access to storage and a network respectively as disclosed in the detailed description of  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the UCNSCS  100   b  operates on a hypervisor  113 , for example, the ESX® hypervisor of VMware, Inc., the Hyper-V® hypervisor of Microsoft Corporation, a kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) of Red Hat Inc., the XenServer® virtualization and hypervisor management platform of Citrix Systems, Inc., etc. 
     In the embodiments exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  or  112  performs functions of a logical volume manager (LVM), network switch and network router firmware, and network interface card firmware, and implements storage service functions and networking functions. The storage module  108  of the UCNSCA  107  or  112  performs one or more storage service functions comprising, for example, implementing a redundant array of independent storage devices or drives, creating a storage snapshot, rebuilding lost data, remote replication, implementing a distributed object store, deduplication, compression, encryption, backup, recovery, etc. The network module  109  of the UCNSCA  107  or  112  performs one or more networking functions comprising, for example, data compression, data encryption, data center bridging, priority flow control, file sharing, etc. In the embodiments exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , the UCNSCA  107  or  112  comprising the storage module  108  and the network module  109  is executed directly on the main processor, for example, the central processing unit (CPU)  117  of the system board  104  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , thereby reducing input/output (I/O) latency and increasing the I/O throughput. 
       FIG. 5  exemplarily illustrates internal components of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100 , showing the network interface component  106  configured as a converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114  comprising a network fabric silicon  115  that enables the UCNSCS  100  to function as a converged network switch and network router  101  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As used herein, “converged network switch and router adapter” refers to a printed circuit board that houses the network fabric silicon  115 , a power module  119 , system interconnect bus connectors  120  to connect to the system board  104 , and network ports  103  to connect to a network as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the internal components of the UCNSCS  100  comprise the CNSRA  114 , the storage interface component  105 , one or more processors such as central processing units (CPUs)  117 , and a memory  118 .  FIG. 5  also shows the network ports  103  extending from the CNSRA  114 . In an embodiment, the UCNSCS  100  has more than one CPU  117  on the system board  104 , for example, with 256 gigabytes (GB) to 1 terabyte (TB) of memory  118 . 
     The converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114  and the storage interface component  105  are connected to the central processing units (CPUs)  117  through system interconnect buses  111 . As used herein, “system interconnect bus” refers to a bus that connects a processor, for example, a CPU  117  of the system board  104  to other components of the system board  104 . The system interconnect buses  111  are, for example, peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) buses. The CNSRA  114  comprises a network fabric silicon  115 , system interconnect bus connectors  120 , one or more power modules  119 , and, for example, about twenty four to about thirty two network ports  103  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6  and as disclosed in the detailed description of  FIG. 6 , which enable the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  to function as converged network switch and network router  101  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The storage interface component  105  comprises a system interconnect bus switch  116  that interconnects storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , directly to the CPUs  117  of the UCNSCS  100 . The system interconnect bus switch  116  is, for example, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) switch of PLX Technology, Inc. The storage interface component  105  with the system interconnect bus switch  116  enables the UCNSCS  100  to connect to multiple storage devices  102 . Similar to the network interface component  106 , the storage interface component  105  comprises system interconnect bus connectors  125  and one or more power modules  126  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9B  and as disclosed in the detailed description of  FIG. 9B . 
       FIG. 6  exemplarily illustrates a top elevation view of the network interface component  106  configured as the converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114 . In an embodiment, the network interface component  106  is a CNSRA  114  free of a System on Chip (SoC) as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  exemplarily illustrates components of the CNSRA  114 . The CNSRA  114  is configured to allow the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5 , to be an Ethernet network switch and/or an Ethernet network router of a data center. The CNSRA  114  comprises system interconnect bus connectors  120 , a network fabric silicon  115  or a network switch silicon, a power module  119 , and multiple network ports  103 . The CNSRA  114  is operably connected to the system board  104  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5 , via the system interconnect bus connectors  120 . The system interconnect bus connectors  120  are, for example, peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectors such as PCIe version 2.x/3.x/4.x connectors. The network fabric silicon  115  is a hardware chip that routes network communication packets from one network port  103  to another network port  103  based on an address provided in a network communication packet. The network fabric silicon  115  is configured to be controlled and managed directly by the UCNSCS  100 . The network fabric silicon  115  configures the UCNSCS  100  to function as a converged network switch and network router  101  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The network fabric silicon  115  used in the CNSRA  114  is manufactured, for example, by Broadcom Corporation, Mellanox Technologies, Inc., etc. 
     The power module  119  supplies power from an external power source (not shown) to the converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114 . The network ports  103  of the CNSRA  114  expand connection capability of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  to connect to, for example, about twenty four UCNSCSs to about thirty two UCNSCSs. The network ports  103  are configured to be connected to a network. The network ports  103  are, for example, quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP+) ports. In an embodiment, the network ports  103  of the CNSRA  114  can be configured, for example, as Ethernet ports or fibre channel over Ethernet ports. The CNSRA  114  comprises, for example, about twenty four network ports  103  to about thirty two network ports  103  configured to allow the UCNSCS  100  to operate, for example, as a fibre channel over an Ethernet switch, an Ethernet switch and/or an Ethernet router, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the CNSRA  114  provides network connectivity to the UCNSCS  100  at a speed of, for example, about 40 Gigabits per second (Gbps). The CNSRA  114  does not facilitate a direct connection of the UCNSCS  100  to storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2A . However, the CNSRA  114  allows the UCNSCS  100  to connect to the storage devices of sibling UCNSCSs that are connected together in a computer cluster, for example, over an Ethernet network. 
       FIG. 7  exemplarily illustrates internal components of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100 , showing the network interface component  106  configured as a physical network interface card  121  comprising a network interface card silicon  122  that enables the UCNSCS  100  to connect to a network of UCNSCSs and storage devices of other UCNSCSs connected over a network. As exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the internal components of the UCNSCS  100  comprise the network interface card  121 , the storage interface component  105 , one or more processors such as central processing units (CPUs)  117 , and a memory  118 .  FIG. 7  also shows the network ports  103  extending from the network interface card  121 . In an embodiment, the UCNSCS  100  has more than one CPU  117  on the system board  104 , for example, with 256 gigabytes (GB) to 1 terabyte (TB) of memory  118 . The network interface card  121  and the storage interface component  105  are connected to the CPUs  117  through system interconnect buses  111 , for example, peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) buses. The network interface card  121  comprises a network interface card silicon  122 , system interconnect bus connectors  120 , one or more power modules  123 , and two network ports  103  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 8  and as disclosed in the detailed description of  FIG. 8 . The network ports  103  enable the UCNSCS  100  to connect to an Ethernet network fabric in a data center. The storage interface component  105  comprises a system interconnect bus switch  116  that interconnects storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , directly to the CPUs  117  of the UCNSCS  100 . The storage interface component  105  with the system interconnect bus switch  116  enables the UCNSCS  100  to connect to multiple storage devices  102 . Similar to the network interface component  106 , the storage interface component  105  comprises system interconnect bus connectors  125  and one or more power modules  126  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9B  and as disclosed in the detailed description of  FIG. 9B . 
       FIG. 8  exemplarily illustrates a top elevation view of an embodiment of the network interface component  106  configured as the network interface card  121 . In this embodiment, the network interface component  106  is a network interface card  121  free of a system on chip (SoC) and enables the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 7 , to connect to a network.  FIG. 8  exemplarily illustrates components of the network interface card  121 . The network interface card  121  comprises system interconnect bus connectors  120 , a network interface card silicon  122 , a power module  123 , and two network ports  103  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The network interface card  121  is operably connected to the system board  104  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 7 , via the system interconnect bus connectors  120 . The system interconnect bus connectors  120  are, for example, peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectors such as PCIe version 2.x/3.x/4.x connectors. The PCIe connectors of the network interface card  121  are connected to the PCIe slots (not shown) of the system board  104 . The network interface card silicon  122 , in communication with the network module  109  of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  or  112  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , facilitates data flow through the network ports  103 . The network interface card silicon  122  is configured to be controlled directly by the UCNSCS  100  and to configure the UCNSCS  100  to connect to a network of UCNSCSs and other storage devices of other UCNSCSs connected over the network. The network interface card silicon  122  used in the network interface card  121  is manufactured, for example, by Intel Corporation, Marvell Technology Group Limited, Realtek Semiconductor Corp., etc. As the network interface card  121  is free of the SoC, the application software that is needed to manage a physical hardware component such as the network interface card silicon  122 , runs on the main CPU  117  of the system board  104  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     The power module  123  supplies power from an external power source (not shown) to the network interface card  121 . The network ports  103  of the network interface card  121  are configured to be connected to a network. The network ports  103  are, for example, quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP+) ports. In an embodiment, the network ports  103  of the network interface card  121  can be configured, for example, as Ethernet ports or fibre channel over Ethernet ports. The network ports  103  are configured to allow the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  to operate, for example, as a fibre channel over an Ethernet switch, an Ethernet switch and/or an Ethernet router, or any combination thereof. In an embodiment, the network interface card  121  provides network connectivity to the UCNSCS  100  at a speed of, for example, about 40 Gigabits per second (Gbps). The network interface card  121  does not facilitate a direct connection of the UCNSCS  100  to storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2A . However, the network interface card  121  allows the UCNSCS  100  to connect to the storage devices of sibling UCNSCSs that are connected together in a computer cluster, for example, over an Ethernet network. 
       FIGS. 9A-9B  exemplarily illustrate the storage interface component  105  of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 . The storage interface component  105  is configured, for example, within a two rack unit chassis  201  of the UCNSCS  100  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2B .  FIG. 9A  exemplarily illustrates a front section  105   a  of the storage interface component  105  of the UCNSCS  100 . The storage interface component  105  comprises disk interface connectors  124 . The disk interface connectors  124  are configured, for example, on the front section  105   a  of the storage interface component  105  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9A , to connect to the array of storage devices  102  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2A . The disk interface connectors  124  are, for example, serial advanced technology attachment express (SATAe) disk drive connectors mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the storage interface component  105 . In an embodiment, the disk interface connectors  124  are peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) 3.x/4.x connectors. 
       FIG. 9B  exemplarily illustrates a rear section  105   b  of the storage interface component  105  of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 . The storage interface component  105  further comprises a system interconnect bus switch  116  and system interconnect bus connectors  125  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9B . As used herein, “system interconnect bus switch” refers to a switch that enables connections to multiple devices from one end point. The system interconnect bus switch  116  is configured, for example, on the rear section  105   b  of the storage interface component  105  to connect the array of storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2A , to the system board  104  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7 . The system interconnect bus switch  116  is, for example, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) switch. 
     The system interconnect bus connectors  125  are configured, for example, on the rear section  105   b  of the storage interface component  105  as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9B , to connect to the system board  104 . The system interconnect bus connectors  125  are, for example, peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectors such as PCIe version 3.x/4.x slots positioned on the rear section  105   b  of the storage interface component  105 . The PCIe connectors of the storage interface component  105  are connected to the PCIe slots (not shown) of the system board  104 . In an embodiment, the rear section  105   b  of the storage interface component  105  is compliant with PCIe version 3.x/4.x of the system board  104 . The storage interface component  105  further comprises, for example, one or more power supply connectors (not shown) and one or more power modules  126  mounted on the rear section  105   b  of the storage interface component  105 . The power modules  126  supply and regulate power to the storage interface component  105  and the storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2A . 
       FIG. 10  exemplarily illustrates internal components of the storage module  108  of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  or  112  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 . In an embodiment as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the storage module  108  comprises a storage firmware driver  108   e , a peripheral driver  108   d , a physical disk handler  108   c , a volume manager  108   b , and a storage control manager  108   a . The storage firmware driver  108   e  identifies and configures the storage interface component  105  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7 . The storage firmware driver  108   e  then registers the storage interface component  105  with the system interconnect bus  111  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7 . The storage firmware driver  108   e  configures the storage interface component  105  and monitors data flow between the storage interface component  105 , the system board  104 , and the storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 . The storage firmware driver  108   e  recognises and passes the attached storage devices  102  to the peripheral driver  108   d . The peripheral driver  108   d  recognises the storage devices  102  by their protocol and maintains the storage devices  102  in an enumerated list. The peripheral driver  108   d  communicates with each storage device  102  by a respective protocol, for example, a small computer system interface protocol, an advanced technology attachment protocol, etc., of each storage device  102 . 
     The physical disk handler  108   c  performs physical disk abstraction and keeps track of storage devices  102  such as physical disks that are either directly attached or attached over a network to the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100   a  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 , or  100   b  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The physical disk handler  108   c  also abstracts interactions between the attached physical disks by acting as an advanced technology attachment (ATA), a small computer system interface (SCSI), and an Ethernet protocol agnostic layer. The volume manager  108   b  accumulates the physical disks tracked by the physical disk handler  108   c  to form a logical disk. As used herein, “logical disk” refers to a virtual device that provides an area of usable storage capacity on one or more storage devices  102  in the UCNSCS  100   a  or  100   b . The logical disk is also referred to as a logical volume or a virtual disk. The storage control manager  108   a  presents the logical disk as a physical storage device  102  to a consumer. In the implementation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  as a hypervisor exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 , logical disks are provisioned to the UCNSCA  107  as a local disk. In the implementation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  112  as a virtual machine exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the logical disks are provisioned over the network using an Ethernet technology. 
       FIG. 11  exemplarily illustrates internal components of the network module  109  of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  or  112  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 . In an embodiment as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the network module  109  comprises a network firmware driver  109   e , a layer 2 (L2), Ethernet  109   d , a layer 3 (L3) for routing  109   c , a network flow controller  109   b , and a network control manager  109   a . The network firmware driver  109   e  identifies and configures the network interface component  106 , that is, the converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6 , or the network interface card  121  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The network firmware driver  109   e  then registers the network interface component  106  with the system interconnect bus  111  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7 . The network firmware driver  109   e  configures the network interface component  106  and monitors data flow between the system board  104 , the network interface component  106 , and the network ports  103  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 . The layer 2  109   d  configures and maintains a flow table for a flow of network packets. Based on a destination address of a received network packet, the layer 2  109   d  redirects the flow of network packets to respective network interfaces as set in the flow table. The layer 3  109   c  configures and maintains a routing table for the flow of network packets. The layer 3  109   c  also maintains a virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) domain. The network flow controller  109   b  recognises flow instructions from the network control manager  109   a , for example, based on the OpenFlow™ protocol versions 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 of the Open Networking Foundation. The network flow controller  109   b  is an interpreter of Openflow™ based commands to the native flow instructions. The network control manager  109   a  configures the network flow controller  109   b  to setup the flow table for the layer 2  109   d  and the layer 3  109   c . The network control manager  109   a  provides an interface for interacting with the network firmware driver  109   e  to configure the network interface component  106 . 
       FIG. 12  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  as a hypervisor. The UCNSCA  107  as a hypervisor comprises the storage module  108  and a hypervisor storage provision module  127 . An array of storage devices  102  are connected to the storage interface component  105  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Data read from the storage devices  102  is passed to the storage module  108  via the storage interface component  105 . The storage module  108  virtualizes the storage devices  102  that are connected through the storage interface component  105 . The storage module  108  pools the storage devices  102  that are local to a server appliance and also pools the storage devices that are connected over a network and creates a logical disk. The storage module  108  exposes the logical disk to the hypervisor storage provision module  127 . The hypervisor storage provision module  127  provisions the logical disk to a guest virtual machine  128 . 
       FIG. 13  exemplarily illustrates a flowchart showing operation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  as a hypervisor exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 12 . A guest virtual machine  128  that has a logical disk provisioned by the hypervisor storage provision module  127  of the UCNSCA  107  writes or reads data from a storage device connected to the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100   a  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The hypervisor storage provision module  127  receives an input/output (I/O) request from the guest virtual machine  128  and forwards the I/O request to the storage module  108 . The storage module  108  checks  1301  whether the I/O request is for a local storage device  102  or a network storage device, that is, a storage device connected to the UCNSCS  100   a  over a network. If the I/O request is for a local storage device  102 , the storage module  108  retains and handles the I/O request, in communication with the storage interface component  105 . If the I/O request is for a network storage device, the storage module  108  forwards the I/O request to the network module  109 . The network module  109  forwards the I/O request, via the network interface component  106 , to a UCNSCA of another UCNSCS in the network, which is connected to the network storage device directly. 
       FIG. 14  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  112  as a virtual machine. The array of storage devices  102  are connected to the storage interface component  105  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The storage interface component  105  passes the data read from the storage devices  102  to the storage module  108 . The storage module  108  virtualizes the storage devices  102  that are connected through the storage interface component  105 . The storage module  108  pools the storage devices  102  that are local to the server appliance and also the storage devices that are connected over a network and creates a logical disk. The storage module  108  exposes the logical disk to a guest virtual machine  128  either on the same server appliance or another server appliance in the network. The storage module  108  provisions the logical disk as a network drive to the guest virtual machine  128 . 
       FIG. 15  exemplarily illustrates a flowchart showing operation of the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  112  as a virtual machine exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 14 . A guest virtual machine  128  that has a logical disk provisioned by the UCNSCA  112  writes or reads data from a storage device connected to the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100   b  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The storage module  108  of the UCNSCA  112  receives an input/output (I/O) request from the guest virtual machine  128  and checks  1501  whether the I/O request is for a local storage device  102  or a network storage device. If the I/O request is for a local storage device  102 , the storage module  108  retains and handles the I/O request, in communication with the storage interface component  105 . If the I/O request is for a network storage device, the storage module  108  forwards the I/O request to the network module  109 . The network module  109  forwards the I/O request, via the network interface component  106 , to a UCNSCA of another UCNSCS in the network, which is connected to the network storage device directly. 
       FIG. 16  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of multiple unified converged network, storage and compute systems (UCNSCSs)  100   a  in operative communication with each other for networking, storage virtualization, computing, and data processing in a data center, where the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  in each of the UCNSCSs  100   a  functions as a hypervisor.  FIG. 16  exemplarily illustrates a cluster of UCNSCSs  100   a  with the UCNSCA  107  as a hypervisor comprising the storage module  108  and the network module  109 . In this embodiment, the network module  109  in the top of the rack UCNSCS  100   a  with the network interface component  106 , for example, the converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 , enables other UCNSCSs  100   a  with the network interface component  106 , for example, the network interface card  121  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 7-8 , below the top of the rack UCNSCS  100   a  to be connected to the top of the rack UCNSCS  100   a  through the network ports  103  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2B  and  FIGS. 5-8 . The UCNSCA  107  enables the storage devices  102  of the UCNSCSs  100   a  connected in a computer cluster, for example, through an Ethernet network to provide logical volumes to other UCNSCSs  100   a  for implementing storage virtualization in a data center. A logical volume is an allocation of storage that is less than or more than one physical drive. The UCNSCSs  100   a  are connected to each other in the computer cluster, for example, using an Ethernet cable  1601  connected to their respective network ports  103  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2B . The UCNSCA  107  allows collaboration of storage capacity of the storage devices  102  of each UCNSCS  100   a  in the computer cluster into a single logical disk to provide logical volumes to each UCNSCS  100   a  in the computer cluster. 
       FIG. 17  exemplarily illustrates creation of a logical disk  1704  by the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  configured as a hypervisor exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The UCNSCA  107  as a hypervisor comprises the storage module  108  and the network module  109  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3 , therewithin. In an embodiment, the UCNSCA  107  implements an array of storage devices  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  by accumulating the storage devices  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  from other UCNSCSs  100   a  over an Ethernet network using the storage module  108  and the network module  109 . Consider an example where there are N machines, namely, machine  1   1701 , machine  2   1702 , . . . , and machine N  1703 . Each of the machines has four storage devices, for example, P 11 , P 12 , P 13 , and P 14   102   a , P 21 , P 22 , P 23 , and P 24   102   b , and PN 1 , PN 2 , PN 3 , and PN 4   102   c  connected locally. The storage module  108  and the network module  109  running in the UCNSCA  107  functioning as a hypervisor pools the four storage devices  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  via a network and creates a logical disk  1704 . The UCNSCA  107  as a hypervisor that hosts the storage module  108  and the network module  109  therewithin thereby facilitates creation, configuration, and management of a data center infrastructure. 
       FIG. 18  exemplarily illustrates an implementation of multiple unified converged network, storage and compute systems (UCNSCSs)  100   b  in operative communication with each other for networking, storage virtualization, computing, and data processing in a data center, where the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  112  in each of the UCNSCSs  100   b  functions as a virtual machine.  FIG. 18  exemplarily illustrates the cluster of UCNSCSs  100   b , each with the UCNSCA  112  as a virtual machine running on a hypervisor  113 , comprising the storage module  108  and the network module  109  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the network module  109  in the top of the rack UCNSCS  100   b  with the network interface component  106 , for example, the converged network switch and router adapter (CNSRA)  114  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 , enables other UCNSCSs  100   b  with the network interface component  106 , for example, the network interface card  121  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 7-8 , to be connected to the top of the rack UCNSCS  100   b  through the network ports  103  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 2B  and  FIGS. 5-8 . The UCNSCA  112  enables storage devices  102  of the UCNSCSs  100   b  connected in a computer cluster, for example, through an Ethernet network to provide logical volumes to other UCNSCSs  100   b  for implementing storage virtualization in a data center. The UCNSCA  112  allows collaboration of storage capacity of the storage devices  102  of each UCNSCS  100   b  in the computer cluster into a single logical disk to provide logical volumes to each UCNSCS  100   b  in the computer cluster.  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 18  exemplarily illustrate the cluster of UCNSCSs  100   a  and  100   b  respectively, irrespective of the UCNSCA  107  or  112  being a hypervisor or a virtual machine exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 3-4 . 
       FIG. 19  exemplarily illustrates creation of a logical disk  1704  by the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  112  configured as a virtual machine exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The storage module  108  and the network module  109  of the UCNSCA  112  functioning as a virtual machine exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 4 , expand the functionality of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100   b  to operate as a converged network switch and/or a network router  101  and an array of storage devices  102  exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the UCNSCA  112  implements the array of storage devices  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  by accumulating the storage devices  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  from other UCNSCSs  100   b  over an Ethernet network using the storage module  108  and the network module  109 . Consider an example where there are N machines, namely, machine  1   1701 , machine  2   1702 , . . . , and machine N  1703 . Each of the machines has four storage devices, for example, P 11 , P 12 , P 13 , and P 14   102   a , P 21 , P 22 , P 23 , and P 24   102   b , and PN 1 , PN 2 , PN 3 , and PN 4   102   c  connected locally. The storage module  108  and the network module  109  running in the UCNSCA  112  functioning as a virtual machine pools the four storage devices  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  via a network and creates a logical disk  1704 . The UCNSCA  112  as a virtual machine that hosts the storage module  108  and the network module  109  therewithin thereby facilitates creation, configuration, and management of a data center infrastructure. 
     The unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100 ,  100   a , or  100   b  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2B  and  FIGS. 3-4 , disclosed herein can be configured to work in a network environment comprising one or more computers that are in communication with one or more devices via a network. The computers may communicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via a wired medium or a wireless medium such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or the Ethernet, a token ring, or via any appropriate communications mediums or combination of communications mediums. Each of the devices comprises processors, examples of which are disclosed above, that are adapted to communicate with the computers. In an embodiment, each of the computers is equipped with a network communication device, for example, a network interface card, a modem, or other network connection device suitable for connecting to a network. Each of the computers and the devices executes an operating system. While the operating system may differ depending on the type of computer, the operating system provides the appropriate communications protocols to establish communication links with the network. Any number and type of machines may be in communication with the computers. 
     The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the unified converged network, storage and compute system (UCNSCS)  100 ,  100   a , or  100   b  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2B  and  FIGS. 3-4 , and the unified converged network, storage and compute application (UCNSCA)  107  or  112  exemplarily illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4  disclosed herein. While the UCNSCS  100 ,  100   a , or  100   b  has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the UCNSCS  100 ,  100   a , or  100   b  has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the UCNSCS  100 ,  100   a , or  100   b  is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the UCNSCS  100 ,  100   a , or  100   b  extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the UCNSCS  100 ,  100   a , or  100   b  disclosed herein in its aspects.