Hi Ernie
Regarding MS Windows
W2008 time: MSFT had no teaming software bundled with OS; all third party software based; W2008 hyper-v had some caveats, which made UCS Hardware failover a excellent solution; with disadvantages that FI CPU had to handle GARP !
W2012 time: MSFT bundles teaming with the OS; therefore best practise is to use virtual dual homed setup.
In general: it might better that OS is handle HA and failover, not the underlying hardware (= UCS vic adaptor) !