1. A method for managing distributed computer data stream acceleration devices comprising: identifying available nodes and available acceleration devices configurable in a plurality of distinct functions, each function performing a different task, the available nodes and configurable acceleration devices disposed in a computing system comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of configurable acceleration devices disposed on one or more of the nodes; identifying a plurality of virtual acceleration device definitions, each virtual acceleration device definition comprising attributes comprising an acceleration device function from the plurality of distinct functions and acceleration device hardware requirements and a compiled program and external configuration data that when loaded into an acceleration device having the hardware requirements configures that acceleration device to realize the acceleration device function; receiving an inquiry comprising an identification of computing system resources to be used in processing the inquiry; identifying at least one virtual acceleration device definition having a suitable acceleration device function and capable of configuring an acceleration device in accordance with the computing system resources identified by the inquiry; configuring at least one of the plurality of identified acceleration devices having the acceleration device hardware requirements in accordance with each identified virtual acceleration device definition; and using each configured acceleration device to process the inquiry.