Hello,   Each vendor has taken different approaches to storage.  So direct comparisons are more difficult.  One key benefit of the EQL individual member design is greater flexibility.  I can add a new storage unit to a group and decide to either add it to  existing storage to increase capacity or as new independent storage in that same group.  Then change my mind and merge or separate them later on or remove a member and move it somewhere else seamlessly.   The data will remain in the original group in that case.  With each new EQL member, you add cache/cpu and disk controllers.  With top down like NetApp, adding more disks puts more load on that one controller head.   Also when it comes time to upgrade HW, with NetApp, you have to manually copy data from the old storage to the new array via the host.  With EQL you can add in the new storage and migrate the data in the background. The array handles the heavy lifting.   Including moving volumes from one storage pool to a different one, live, wo having to make changes at the host.  So you purchase a faster array, create new pool, migrate volumes to new storage without downtime.   Another difference in licensing.  You don't have to repurchase the firmware or new add on software as long as you have a contract on the system.  That's a big savings compared to other vendors.  So all the Windows, Linux, VMware integration software, the SANHQ monitoring software is a no cost option.   I say "no cost" because I don't know many people that have large NAS/SAN's w/o support contracts.   The most current firmware runs on the oldest HW.  So you won't lose out on some new feature two years from now because you purchased a 4100X today.   There are still many customers running the legacy PS50-PS400 and PS3xxxx  series arrays today.  They have a clear path to new HW.   I've asked some other folks who are more versed in NetApp to reply as well.    Regards, 
Hello All, Looking at the EqualLogic PS4100X and the NetApp FAS2240-2 for entry level SAN.  10k drives.  Pros and Cons to both solutions.  NetApp has some nices fetures such as CIFS, more Gig prorts per controller, can add disk arrays withgout adding controllers which reduces costs of expansion, etc.  Why should I choose the PS4100X over the FAS2240-2? 
NetApp FAS2240-2