<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001249323-05-000091
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050831
<FILING-DATE>20050902
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050902
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>EARHART ALAN L
<CIK>0001246846
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27130
<FILM-NUMBER>051067669
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>408-944-4460
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O QUANTUM CORPORATION
<STREET2>1650 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, SUITE 800
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95110
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>
<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>2005-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246846</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EARHART ALAN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1370 PRITCHETT COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ALTOS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-08-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option is immediately exercisable, but any shares purchased under the option will be subject to repurchase by the Company at the option exercise price paid per share, upon the Optionee's cessation of Board service prior to vesting in those shares.  The shares will vest upon the Optionee's continuation in Board service through the day immediately preceding the next Annual Stockholders Meeting following the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Janice Mahoney by Power of Attorney  For: Alan L. Earhart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
