Thank you for your reply.
Given the lack of eSATA port multiplier feature with most laptops, it seems that a desktop would be more appropriate to run xpeonology.
I'm not familiar with virtual box and Exsi, but from other threads, it seems that xpeonology can be installed on either.
Does that mean both Windows 8 and xpeonology can be on the same hardware simultaneously, with an eSATA external box?