<PAGE>   1

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2001
                                           Registration No. 333-_______________
 ===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                                   ----------

                             NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
          CALIFORNIA                                      77-0307520
 (State or other jurisdiction                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
</TABLE>

                    495 EAST JAVA DRIVE, SUNNYVALE, CA 94089
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                   ----------

                 NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC. 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                              --------------------
                            (Full title of the Plans)

                                   ----------

                              DANIEL J. WARMENHOVEN
                      CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                             NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.
                    495 EAST JAVA DRIVE, SUNNYVALE, CA 94089
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (408) 822-6000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=======================================================================================================================
                                                              Proposed               Proposed
          Title of                                             Maximum                Maximum
         Securities                      Amount               Offering              Aggregate              Amount of
           to be                         to be                 Price                 Offering            Registration
        Registered                   Registered (1)          per Share                Price                  Fee
        ----------                   --------------          ---------                ------               --------
<S>                                   <C>                       <C>             <C>                       <C>
Network Appliance, Inc.
1999 Stock Option Plan               15,000,000 shares       $18.625(2)         $ 279,375,000.00(2)       $ 69,843.75
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
=======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
    Registrant's Common Stock which become issuable under the Network Appliance,
    Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
    recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the
    Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the
    number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2) Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high
    and low selling prices per share of Common Stock of Network Appliance, Inc.
    on March 16, 2001, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.


<PAGE>   2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     Network Appliance, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by reference
into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

     (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the
          fiscal year ended April 30, 2000, filed with the Commission on July
          12, 2000, pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of
          1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and as amended on July 13, 2000;

     (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
          quarters ended July 28, 2000, October 27, 2000, and January 26, 2001,
          filed with the Commission on September 11, 2000, December 11, 2000,
          and March 12, 2001, respectively; and

     (c)  The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-27130 on Form 8-A
          filed with the Commission on November 1, 1995, in which there is
          described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the
          Registrant's Common Stock.

     All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
de-registers all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed
document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities

     Not Applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not Applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Section 317 of the California Corporations Code authorizes a court to
award, or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant, indemnity to directors
and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit indemnification (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) under certain circumstances for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "1933 Act"). The
Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws provide
for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and other agents to
the maximum extent permitted by the California Corporations Code.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

     Not Applicable.

                                      II-1

<PAGE>   3




Item 8. Exhibits

<TABLE>
<S>                 <C>
Exhibit Number      Exhibit
--------------      --------
    4               Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                    is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                    000-27130 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                    exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by reference
                    pursuant to Items 3(c).
    5               Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
    23.1            Independent Auditors' Consent.
    23.2            Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
                    Exhibit 5.
    24              Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-3 of this
                    Registration Statement.
    99.1            Network Appliance, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.
</TABLE>

Item 9.  Undertakings

     A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during any
period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that for the
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Network
Appliance, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.

     B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act
may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the indemnification provisions summarized in Item 6 or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-2
<PAGE>   4


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Sunnyvale, State of California on this 21st day
of March, 2001.

                                 NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.


                                 By: /s/ Daniel J. Warmenhoven
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Daniel J. Warmenhoven
                                    Chief Executive Officer and Director

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Daniel J. Warmenhoven and Jeffry R.
Allen, and each of them, as such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and
in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                       Title                                    Date
---------                                       -----                                    -----
<S>                                          <C>                                     <C>
/s/ Daniel J. Warmenhoven                    Chief Executive Officer                 March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------     and Director
Daniel J. Warmenhoven                        (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Jeffry R. Allen                          Executive Vice President, Finance       March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------     and Operations, Chief Financial
Jeffry R. Allen                              Officer and Secretary
                                             (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                             Officer)

                                             Chairman of the Board and Director      March __, 2001
----------------------------------------
Donald T. Valentine


/s/ Sanjiv Ahuja                             Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Sanjiv Ahuja
</TABLE>

                                      II-3


<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                       Title                                    Date
---------                                       -----                                    -----
<S>                                          <C>                                     <C>
/s/ Carol A. Bartz                           Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Carol A. Bartz

/s/ Larry R. Carter                          Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Larry R. Carter

                                             Director                                March __, 2001
----------------------------------------
Michael R. Hallman

/s/ Robert T. Wall                           Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Robert T. Wall

/s/ Dr. Sachio Semmoto                       Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Dr. Sachio Semmoto
</TABLE>

                                      II-4
<PAGE>   6

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<S>                 <C>
Exhibit Number      Exhibit
--------------      --------
    4               Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                    is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                    000-27130 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                    exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by reference
                    pursuant to Items 3(c).
    5               Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
    23.1            Independent Auditors' Consent.
    23.2            Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
                    Exhibit 5.
    24              Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-3 of this
                    Registration Statement.
    99.1            Network Appliance, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "f70644ors-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 16799}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NETWORK APPLIANCE INC", "cik": "0001002047", "assigned-sic": "7373", "irs-number": "770307520", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "0430"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-57378", "film-number": "1574414"}, "business-address": {"street1": "495 EAST JAVA DR", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94089", "phone": "4088226000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "495 EAST JAVA DR", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94089"}}
1

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2001
                                           Registration No. 333-_______________
 ===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           The Securities Act of 1933

                                   ----------

                             NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
CALIFORNIA                                      77-0307520
 (State or other jurisdiction                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
495 EAST JAVA DRIVE, SUNNYVALE, CA 94089
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                   ----------

                 NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC. 1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                              --------------------
                            (Full title of the Plans)

                                   ----------

                              DANIEL J. WARMENHOVEN
                      CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND DIRECTOR
                             NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.
                    495 EAST JAVA DRIVE, SUNNYVALE, CA 94089
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (408) 822-6000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=======================================================================================================================
                                                              Proposed               Proposed
          Title of                                             Maximum                Maximum
         Securities                      Amount               Offering              Aggregate              Amount of
           to be                         to be                 Price                 Offering            Registration
        Registered                   Registered (1)          per Share                Price                  Fee
        ----------                   --------------          ---------                ------               --------
Network Appliance, Inc.
1999 Stock Option Plan               15,000,000 shares       $18.625(2)         $ 279,375,000.00(2)       $ 69,843.75
Common Stock, $0.001 par value
=======================================================================================================================
(1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
    Registrant's Common Stock which become issuable under the Network Appliance,
    Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
    recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the
    Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the
    number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2) Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high
    and low selling prices per share of Common Stock of Network Appliance, Inc.
    on March 16, 2001, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.
2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     Network Appliance, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by reference
into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

     (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A for the
          fiscal year ended April 30, 2000, filed with the Commission on July
          12, 2000, pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of
          1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and as amended on July 13, 2000;

     (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
          quarters ended July 28, 2000, October 27, 2000, and January 26, 2001,
          filed with the Commission on September 11, 2000, December 11, 2000,
          and March 12, 2001, respectively; and

     (c)  The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-27130 on Form 8-A
          filed with the Commission on November 1, 1995, in which there is
          described the terms, rights and provisions applicable to the
          Registrant's Common Stock.

     All reports and definitive proxy or information statements filed pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
de-registers all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed
document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities

     Not Applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

     Not Applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     Section 317 of the California Corporations Code authorizes a court to
award, or a corporation's Board of Directors to grant, indemnity to directors
and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit indemnification (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) under certain circumstances for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "1933 Act"). The
Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws provide
for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and other agents to
the maximum extent permitted by the California Corporations Code.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

     Not Applicable.

                                      II-1
3

Item 8. Exhibits
Exhibit Number      Exhibit
--------------      --------
    4               Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                    is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                    000-27130 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                    exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by reference
                    pursuant to Items 3(c).
    5               Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
    23.1            Independent Auditors' Consent.
    23.2            Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
                    Exhibit 5.
    24              Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-3 of this
                    Registration Statement.
    99.1            Network Appliance, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.
Item 9.  Undertakings

     A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during any
period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that for the
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Network
Appliance, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.

     B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that is
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act
may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the indemnification provisions summarized in Item 6 or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-2
4

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Sunnyvale, State of California on this 21st day
of March, 2001.

                                 NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.

                                 By: /s/ Daniel J. Warmenhoven
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                    Daniel J. Warmenhoven
                                    Chief Executive Officer and Director

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Daniel J. Warmenhoven and Jeffry R.
Allen, and each of them, as such person's true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and
in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done
in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on
behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature                                       Title                                    Date
---------                                       -----                                    -----
/s/ Daniel J. Warmenhoven                    Chief Executive Officer                 March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------     and Director
Daniel J. Warmenhoven                        (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Jeffry R. Allen                          Executive Vice President, Finance       March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------     and Operations, Chief Financial
Jeffry R. Allen                              Officer and Secretary
                                             (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                             Officer)

                                             Chairman of the Board and Director      March __, 2001
----------------------------------------
Donald T. Valentine

/s/ Sanjiv Ahuja                             Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Sanjiv Ahuja
II-3
5
Signature                                       Title                                    Date
---------                                       -----                                    -----
/s/ Carol A. Bartz                           Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Carol A. Bartz

/s/ Larry R. Carter                          Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Larry R. Carter

                                             Director                                March __, 2001
----------------------------------------
Michael R. Hallman

/s/ Robert T. Wall                           Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Robert T. Wall

/s/ Dr. Sachio Semmoto                       Director                                March 21, 2001
----------------------------------------
Dr. Sachio Semmoto
II-4
6

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number      Exhibit
--------------      --------
    4               Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
                    is made to Registrant's Registration Statements No.
                    000-27130 on Form 8-A, together with the amendments and
                    exhibits thereto, which are incorporated herein by reference
                    pursuant to Items 3(c).
    5               Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
    23.1            Independent Auditors' Consent.
    23.2            Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
                    Exhibit 5.
    24              Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-3 of this
                    Registration Statement.
    99.1            Network Appliance, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan.