Composable infrastructure module

A composable infrastructure module comprising:

• at least one processor;
• a memory unit operably and communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store computer program instructions executable by the at least one processor;
• a plurality of non-transparent bridge devices configured to connect a plurality of nodes to the at least one processor, wherein each of the non-transparent bridge devices is configured to establish peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectivity between the at least one processor and the connected nodes and between the connected nodes, and to transfer data therebetween;
• an Ethernet switch function executable by the at least one processor and configured to provide Ethernet connectivity to a spine switch in a data centre through one or more Ethernet interfaces;
• a plurality of built-in internal resources operably connected to the at least one processor, wherein the plurality of built-in internal resources and a plurality of external resources published by the connected nodes constitute disaggregated compute, network, and storage resources;
• a compose application defining computer program instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to selectively pool and extend availability of the disaggregated compute, network, and storage resources as direct attached devices on demand;
• and
• a volume manager module configured to define computer program instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to create redundant array of independent disks (RAID) volumes by utilizing disaggregated storage resources, wherein one or more of the computer program instructions defined by one of the compose application and the volume manager module, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to selectively provision the created RAID volumes to one or more of the connected nodes as direct attached disks based on user input.

A method for selectively provisioning physical and virtual functions of disaggregated compute, network, and storage resources as direct attached devices to a plurality of nodes in a data centre, the method comprising:

• disposing a composable infrastructure module at a predetermined position in a rack, wherein the composable infrastructure module comprises:
• at least one processor;
• a plurality of non-transparent bridge devices operably coupled to the at least one processor, wherein each of the non-transparent bridge devices is configured to establish peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) connectivity between the at least one processor and the connected nodes and between the connected nodes, and to transfer data therebetween;
• an Ethernet switch function executable by the at least one processor and configured to provide Ethernet connectivity to a spine switch in the data centre through one or more Ethernet interfaces;
• a plurality of built-in internal resources operably connected to the at least one processor, wherein the plurality of built-in internal resources and a plurality of external resources published by the plurality of nodes contained in the rack constitute the disaggregated compute, network, and storage resources;
• a compose application defining computer program instructions stored in a memory unit and executable by the at least one processor for maintaining pools of the plurality of built-in internal resources and the plurality of external resources;
• and
• a volume manager module defining computer program instructions stored in the memory unit and executable by the at least one processor;
• connecting the plurality of nodes to the plurality of non-transparent bridge devices of the composable infrastructure module via PCIe links;
• configuring, by the compose application, the plurality of built-in internal resources for virtual functions;
• creating, by the compose application, a pool of the plurality of built-in internal resources;
• creating, by the compose application, a pool of the plurality of external resources published by the connected nodes through the plurality of non-transparent bridge devices;
• creating, by the volume manager module, redundant array of independent disks (RAID) volumes by utilizing storage resources from the created pool of the plurality of external resources;
• and
• based on user input received via a user interface rendered by the compose application, selectively provisioning, by the compose application, the physical and virtual functions of any one or more devices from the created pool of the plurality of built-in internal resources, the created pool of the plurality of external resources, and the created RAID volumes as direct attached devices to virtual machines hosted on one or more of the connected nodes.