Extensible computing system

A method of data processing comprising the steps of:

• creating a first virtual server farm for use in a first data processing operation by selecting, from among a set of processors, a first subset of the processors to process the first data processing operation;
• generating instructions that cause a virtual local area network switch to logically couple together each of the processors in the first subset of the processors in a first virtual local area network;
• selecting, from among a set of storage devices, a first subset of the storage devices to store information for the first data processing operation;
• and generating instructions that cause a second switching system to logically couple together each of the storage devices in the first subset of the storage devices to one another and to the first subset of processors in a first storage area network zone;
• creating a second virtual server farm for use in a second data processing operation by selecting, from among the set of processors, a second subset of the processors to process the second data processing operation;
• generating instructions that cause the virtual local area network switch to logically couple together each of the processors in the second subset of the processors in a second virtual local area network;
• selecting, from among the set of storage devices, a second subset of the storage devices to store information for the second data processing operation;
• and generating instructions that cause the second switching system to logically couple together each of the storage devices in the second subset of the storage devices to one another and to the second subset of processors in a second storage area network zone;
• wherein the instructions securely isolate the first subset of processors from the second subset of processors and from the second subset of storage devices.

A data processing system, comprising:

• a plurality of processors;
• a virtual local area network switch coupled to the plurality of processors;
• a plurality of storage devices;
• a second switching system coupled to the plurality of storage devices;
• a controller coupled to the virtual local area network switch and the second switching system;
• means in the controller for selecting, from among the plurality of processors, a subset of the processors;
• means in the controller for generating instructions that cause the virtual local area network switch to logically couple together each of the processors in the subset of processors;
• means in the controller for selecting, from among the plurality of storage devices, a subset of the storage devices;
• and
• means in the controller for generating instructions that cause the second switching system to logically couple together each of the storage devices in the subset of the storage devices to one another and to the subset of processors.

A virtual computing system, comprising:

• a plurality of processors logically organized in a plurality of subsets of the processors, each of the subsets logically organized as one of a plurality of virtual local area networks;
• a plurality of storage devices logically organized in a storage area network coupled to the plurality of virtual local area networks for storing data and instructions used by one of the subsets;
• and
• a control plane coupled to the plurality of virtual local area networks and to the storage area network, and configured to dynamically add or remove processors from the subsets and to dynamically add or remove storage devices from the storage area network in response to changing processing load conditions and changing storage needs that occur in real time.

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for data processing using an extensible computing system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• selecting, from among a set of processors, a subset of the processors;
• generating instructions that cause a virtual local area network switch to logically couple together each of the processors in the subset of the processors;
• selecting, from among a set of storage devices, a subset of the storage devices;
• generating instructions that cause a second switching system to logically couple together each of the storage devices in the subset of the storage devices to one another and to the subset of processors.