What is faster USB or SATA with virtual servers you need disk io and memory. Stuart James did some testing with virtual server. tabels are from Ken Schaefer.
ExpressCard: http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=676511
2.5" External eSATA/USB case: http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=603610 (note that this comes with all cables you need, including eSATA to eSATA)
2.5" Hard Disk: http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=773812
Tests are performed using HD Tune 2.55 using a quick test. It’s the same disk just plugged in to a different socket so all other things (such as cache, RPM etc) are equal.
USB 2 eSATA
This tabel shows eSata is about 2x the speed of USB 2.0, provided you have a 7200 RPM disk (at the 2.5” form factor)
