-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 mF0GORbSeQtAzeZN7Sfrsg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001249323-06-000038.txt : 20060322
<SEC-HEADER>0001249323-06-000038.hdr.sgml : 20060322
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060322120708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001249323-06-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060321
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060322
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060322

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SEMMOTO SACHIO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197641

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27130
		FILM NUMBER:		06702946

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5-35-10 OZENJI-HIGASHI
		STREET 2:		ASAO-KU
		CITY:			KAWASAKI
		STATE:			M0
		ZIP:			215-0018

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NETWORK APPLIANCE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001002047
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICES [3572]
		IRS NUMBER:				770307520
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		495 EAST JAVA DR
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4088226000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		495 EAST JAVA DR
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001002047</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NETWORK APPLIANCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTAP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197641</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEMMOTO SACHIO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EACCESS LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2-10-1 TORANOMON</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINATO-KU, TOKYO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>M0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>105-0001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>JAPAN</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.9518</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sale prices for the reported transaction were in a range of $34.95 to $34.97 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Janice Mahoney by Power of Attorney  For: Sachio Semmoto</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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