ESXi and RAID array for HA; is it acceptable/possible for windows server to be a datastore

You can install something like openfiler on it and use iSCSI and NFS for datastores. Just troubleshot a SANMelody installation..virtual SAN running on top of a Windows OS with iSCSI LUN presentation..strange but it did work.

OK good to know I'm not completely out there.  Your Suggestion is a little advanced for me, but before I start corralling details, let me ask the bigger question; is this a good (enough) idea?

Seems as though the reliability and robust nature of the array in a cage and managed is tough; but do have an NAS available.  It's low budget, but does have two GB NICs, RAID and it's new.

Am I reaching by going the pseudo SAN route, or is my chicken little attitude toward the NAS blow out of proportion?

Option C is I spend more money, but can't stomach more cash when I have to start returning a dime on what we've already spent.  

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Seen Veeam in other posts, never took the time to search it, now that you've alerted me to it, I just did and is exactly on pint.  Thank you.  One last, what's purchase price like for Veeam product to do what you describe.  I brace myself for etcher shock when i go to a site that only seems to allow for "request a quote" pricing.  Thanks & regards...

I think it's about $600 a proc.  Nice thing is that you can backup to the G5 with the MSA attached and cross replicate between the two hosts, the software comes with both included in the price.

OK, I got the big picture and sounds like the way to go is forget HA, for now and leave el cheapo NAS out of the critical path and not try to shoe horm the G5 array.  

Just go with Veeam on the G5 and let it do the backup & replication between the two G4 twin hosts; simpler, less human error prone and more an approved solution.

One last set of detail, please; is ok/possible for Veeam run on Windows server OS or is it an ESXi machine?    Also; what is MSA attached, sounds like exact good idea needed, just clarification, please and thank you.

I closed as I was risking the piggy backing of questions;; really appreciate the outside the box answer to the original question.  Instead of Q&A'ing through my marginally good idea, the best answer was forget the original question and solve the root problem with Veeam.  Thank you...

No problem.

If it's a small environment you could also look at Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery, it will alow you do take images and convert to virtual machine and back to physical if needed.