Very true. Most servers are multiple processors (sockets) interconnected via a high speed network (QPI, HT), and each processor has links to its own memory and

Very true. Most servers are multiple processors (sockets) interconnected via a high speed network (QPI, HT), and each processor has links to its own memory and some PCI lanes. You could almost see that as multiple distinct computers on one board and in one case. Hard disks with direct ethernet connections exist (f.e. Seagate Kintec).