I just noticed this great whitepaper on the Distributed Switch(vDS) and thought it might also be useful for you guys:
http://vmware.com/files/pdf/vsphere-vnetwork-ds-migration-configuration-wp.pdf
This guide is intended to help users understand the various scenarios and considerations for migration to the vNetwork Distributed Switch (vDS). It also includes a step-by-step guide on migration from a Standard Switch environment to a vDS environment.