Data storage system and method of processing a data access request

A method of processing a data access request comprising:

• at an external interface provider deployed on a server,
• receiving a data access request,
• identifying a data storage controller deployed on another server that can satisfy the request, the identified controller exclusively managing a portion of data content in at least one data storage module independent of the servers, and
• forwarding the request to the identified controller;
• and
• at the identified controller,
• receiving the forwarded request, and
• accessing, in response to the received request, the portion of data content in the at least one module to satisfy the request.

A data storage system comprising:

• a plurality of servers;
• a plurality of external interface providers each deployed on one of the servers;
• a plurality of data storage controllers each deployed on one of the servers, wherein each of the providers is configured to (i) receive a data access request, (ii) identify one of the controllers that can service the request and (iii) route the request to the identified controller;
• and
• a plurality of data storage modules independent of the servers, wherein at least one of the modules is configured to buffer data contained in write data access requests to provide non-volatile storage of the data, wherein at least another one of the modules has a capacity substantially greater than the at least one module, wherein the providers, controllers and modules are in communication with each other as peers via a remote direct memory access protocol, and wherein each of the controllers is configured to (i) exclusively manage a portion of data content in at least one of the modules, (ii) receive data access requests from the providers and (iii) access the portion of data content in the at least one module in response to receiving the requests to service the requests.