Network, storage appliance, and method for externalizing an external I/O link between a server and a storage controller integrated within the storage appliance chassis

A computer network, comprising:

• a first server, enclosed in a first chassis, for issuing first requests for first data stored on a plurality of storage devices;
• and
• a network storage appliance comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, enclosed in a second chassis, further comprising:
• a second server, for issuing second requests to store second data on the plurality of storage devices and third requests to access storage devices external to the network storage appliance, comprising:
• a port combiner;
• and
• a first portion of a storage controller, coupled to the plurality of storage devices, for receiving the first and second requests, and for controlling the plurality of storage devices in response thereto, and
• a second portion of the storage controller, wherein the second portion of the storage controller performs logical to physical block translation, wherein the second portion of the storage controller that performs logical to physical block translation is separate from the first and second servers and the first portion of the storage controller wherein the second server and the second portion of the storage controller are on different field replaceable units,
• wherein the port combiner is configured to enable transfers of the first data between an I/O port of the first server and an I/O port of the storage controller and to enable transfers of the second data between an I/O port of the second server and the I/O port of the storage controller, wherein the storage devices external to the network storage appliance are independent from the plurality of storage devices and interconnected to the network storage appliance by a different communication path than the plurality of storage devices.