A novel network architecture that integrates the functions of an internet
protocol (IP) router into a network processing unit (NPU) that resides in
a host computer's chipset such that the host computer's resources are
perceived as separate network appliances. In one embodiment, functions
previously performed by a complex disk controller are now integrated into
a storage processing unit (SPU) that can also be deployed on the same
chipset, where the SPU serves as an overall file and disk management
processor.
