Interesting article. Not directly applicable, but the VM approach could be applied to network traffic generation more easily by using IxChariot.I don't know if this would help but maybe you can join forces with Anandtech and use their NAS torture Machine. I think that would be able to put out a lot or traffic and be repeatable.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6485/updating-the-2012-anandtech-smb-soho-nas-testbed