1. A data storage system, comprising: a plurality of media nodes, wherein each media node is configured to control data access operations for storing or accessing data to and from one or more persistent storage elements associated therewith; a plurality of data nodes coupled to the media nodes, wherein each data node comprises at least one hardware processor configured to execute data plane functions and control plane functions on data that is to be stored in one or more of the persistent storage elements; a switch fabric configured to enable communication between the data nodes; wherein at least one of (i) the data plane functions of at least a given one of the data nodes are segregated and executed by different hardware processors and (ii) the control plane functions of at least a given one of the data nodes are segregated and executed by different hardware processors; and a control node in communication with the data nodes through the switch fabric, wherein the control node comprises a hardware processor configured to execute one or more virtual control plane functions on behalf of the data nodes, wherein the one or more virtual control plane functions comprise one or more global control plane functions that are segregated from other control plane functions executed on the data nodes.