Re: Lefthand Network's VSA?
This would actually be a very decent addition to any remote offices/sites. Currently, we have many sites (over 100), with many hosting twenty or less people - they are part of the closest large (100+) sites. The large sites have their own domain controller, SMS distribution point, etc.
The advantage of having the VSA, IMHO, is to create a SAN with replication between two ESX servers - HA through scripting would work - you would have true redundancy, and the option to replciate to an off-site SAN asynch (off hours) would allow DR to be readied immediately.
This is really not a SMB solution - it is really targeted toward enterprises with multiple sites that need data replicated between each site and their central DC or their DR Site. I have looked at Lefthand Networks in the past, but have never really been interested, since their products duplicate our existing SAN environment, but being able to put it in ESX and point back home to replicate, that is awesome. I am going to be trying out the VSA soon.
My only downside on this is that it does not handle true data deduplication, which would make it a true killer app if it did. I spoke at length with their technical manager and explained my vision for real time data deduplication, etc., which he said he'd bring back home to the engineers.
