<PAGE>   1

     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2000
                                            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
                 PRESIDENT, 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(2)        Price(2)          Fee
           ----------              -------------       ---------         ---------       ------------
<S>                               <C>                   <C>            <C>                <C>
 1999 Stock Option Plan
 Common Stock , $0.001 par value  6,600,000 shares      $212.00        $1,399,200,000     $369,388.80
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Registrant's Common Stock which become issuable under the 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 6, 2000, 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 for the fiscal year
               ended April 30, 1999, filed with the Commission on July 12, 1999,
               pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
               amended (the " 1934 Act");

        (c)    The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the
               Commission on August 31, 1999, December 3, 1999 and February 29,
               2000, and;

        (d)    The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-27130 on Form 8-A
               filed with the Commission on November 1, 1995, and including any
               other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating
               such description, 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 Amended and
Restated Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers,
employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the California
Corporations Code. In addition, the Registrant has entered into Indemnification
Agreements with each of its directors and officers.


Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

       Not Applicable.



                                      II-1
<PAGE>   3

Item 8. Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number        Exhibit
--------------        -------

<S>                   <C>
  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 (Amended and Restated
                      Through December 20, 1999).
</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 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 13th day
of March, 2000.

                                            NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.


                                            By: /s/ DANIEL J. WARMENHOVEN
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                   Daniel J. Warmenhoven
                                                   President, 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              President, Chief Executive              March 13, 2000
---------------------------------      Officer and Director
Daniel J. Warmenhoven                  (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ JEFFRY R. ALLEN                    Senior Vice President, Finance          March 13, 2000
---------------------------------      and Operations, Chief Financial
Jeffry R. Allen                        Officer and Secretary
                                       (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                       Officer)


/s/ DONALD T. VALENTINE                Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Donald T. Valentine


/s/ CAROL A. BARTZ                     Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Carol A. Bartz
</TABLE>



                                      II-3
<PAGE>   5


<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>                                     <C>
/s/ SANJIV AHUJA                       Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Sanjiv Ahuja


                                       Director
---------------------------------
Larry R. Carter


/s/ MICHAEL R. HALLMAN                 Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Michael R. Hallman


/s/ ROBERT T. WALL                     Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Robert T. Wall


/s/ DR. SACHIO SEMMOTO                 Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Dr. Sachio Semmoto
</TABLE>



                                      II-4
<PAGE>   6

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                      UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                             NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.





<PAGE>   7

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number        Exhibit
--------------        -------
<S>                   <C>
  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 (Amended and Restated
                      Through December 20, 1999).
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 17005}]
{"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": "333-32318", "film-number": "568217"}, "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 13, 2000
                                            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
                 PRESIDENT, 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(2)        Price(2)          Fee
           ----------              -------------       ---------         ---------       ------------
1999 Stock Option Plan
 Common Stock , $0.001 par value  6,600,000 shares      $212.00        $1,399,200,000     $369,388.80
=====================================================================================================
(1)     This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
        Registrant's Common Stock which become issuable under the 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 6, 2000, 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 for the fiscal year
               ended April 30, 1999, filed with the Commission on July 12, 1999,
               pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
               amended (the " 1934 Act");

        (c)    The Registrant's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, filed with the
               Commission on August 31, 1999, December 3, 1999 and February 29,
               2000, and;

        (d)    The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-27130 on Form 8-A
               filed with the Commission on November 1, 1995, and including any
               other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating
               such description, 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 Amended and
Restated Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers,
employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the California
Corporations Code. In addition, the Registrant has entered into Indemnification
Agreements with each of its directors and officers.

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 (Amended and Restated
                      Through December 20, 1999).
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 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 13th day
of March, 2000.

                                            NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.

                                            By: /s/ DANIEL J. WARMENHOVEN
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                   Daniel J. Warmenhoven
                                                   President, 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              President, Chief Executive              March 13, 2000
---------------------------------      Officer and Director
Daniel J. Warmenhoven                  (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ JEFFRY R. ALLEN                    Senior Vice President, Finance          March 13, 2000
---------------------------------      and Operations, Chief Financial
Jeffry R. Allen                        Officer and Secretary
                                       (Principal Financial and Accounting
                                       Officer)

/s/ DONALD T. VALENTINE                Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Donald T. Valentine

/s/ CAROL A. BARTZ                     Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Carol A. Bartz
II-3
5
/s/ SANJIV AHUJA                       Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Sanjiv Ahuja

                                       Director
---------------------------------
Larry R. Carter

/s/ MICHAEL R. HALLMAN                 Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Michael R. Hallman

/s/ ROBERT T. WALL                     Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Robert T. Wall

/s/ DR. SACHIO SEMMOTO                 Director                                March 13, 2000
---------------------------------
Dr. Sachio Semmoto
II-4
6

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    EXHIBITS

                                       TO

                                    FORM S-8

                                      UNDER

                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.
7

                                  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 (Amended and Restated
                      Through December 20, 1999).