1. A system, comprising: a plurality of minimalistic data collection nodes in a computer network, the minimalistic data collection nodes configured to generate sensed data values of a particular type and to communicate the data values within the computer network in substantially real-time using distributed data acquisition (DA) packets specific to the particular type of the data values; a plurality of capable data collection nodes in the computer network, the capable data collecting nodes configured to store the data values of the minimalistic data collection nodes from the DA packets, wherein the plurality of capable data collection nodes in the computer network each have a storage capability greater than the plurality of minimalistic data collection nodes, but lower than a dedicated storage device; and one or more points of use configured to request the data values, wherein one or more particular capable data collection nodes of the plurality of capable data collection nodes are configured to service the request in substantially real-time on behalf of the minimalistic data collection nodes with the stored data values provided by the DA packets sent to the one or more particular capable data collection nodes, wherein DA packets gather data across the computer network and restore the data values on the one or more particular capable data collection nodes, wherein the capable data collection nodes are configured to pull the data values from the minimalistic data collection nodes.