<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001249323-05-000037
<TYPE>5
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050429
<FILING-DATE>20050531
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050531
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NETWORK APPLIANCE INC
<CIK>0001002047
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3572
<IRS-NUMBER>770307520
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>CA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0430
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>495 EAST JAVA DR
<CITY>SUNNYVALE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94089
<PHONE>4088226000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>495 EAST JAVA DR
<CITY>SUNNYVALE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94089
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>VALENTINE DONALD T
<CIK>0001198054
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>5
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27130
<FILM-NUMBER>05866812
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O SEQUOIA CAPITAL
<STREET2>3000 SAND HILL RD BLDG 4 #180
<CITY>MENLO PARK
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94025
<PHONE>650 854 3927
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-29</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198054</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VALENTINE DONALD T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SEQUOIA CAPITAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3000 SAND HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></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>2004-11-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares held in trust by Donald T. Valentine, Trustee to the Donald T. Valentine Family Trust DTD 4/29/67</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ Donald T. Valentine</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
