Systems and Methods including an Application Server in an Enclosure with a Communication Link to an External Controller

A method comprising:

• installing a first computing device in a housing with a plurality of slots, the first computing device being placed in a first slot, wherein the first computing device comprises a first enclosure with an application server, a communication port expander, and an array of storage drives in communication with the expander;
• installing a second computing device in the housing, the second computing device being placed in a second slot, wherein the second computing device comprises a second enclosure with a storage drive controller;
• and
• operably coupling the storage drive controller to the array of storage drives through the communication port expander and operably coupling the application server to the storage drive controller.

A system comprising:

• an array of storage drives in communication with a storage controller, the storage controller providing virtualized storage with the array of storage drives;
• an application server running a storage warehouse application and serving the storage controller;
• and
• an Enclosure Service Module (ESM) providing expansion slots to the array of storage drives, wherein the array of drives, the application server, and the ESM are contained in a same enclosure separate from the controller, further wherein the controller controls the array of storage drives and is in communication with the array of storage drives through the ESM.

A method for providing virtual storage for a client, the method comprising:

• at an application server node, receiving write requests from a client computer for a virtual storage volume, the virtual storage volume being implemented on an array of storage drives accessible by a first computing system implementing the application server node, the storage drives being physically located with the first computing system;
• passing a first write request from the application server node to a storage controller, the storage controller implemented by a second computing system physically separate from the first computing system;
• and
• receiving drive access instructions from the storage controller to the array of storage drives to effect the write request, where the drive access instructions are received via a communication path between the first computing system and the second computing system.