FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * MENDOZA THOMAS F   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NETWORK APPLIANCE INC [NTAP] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President (Last) (First) (Middle) 495 EAST JAVA DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/17/2006 (Street) SUNNYVALE, CA 94089 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   4,962 A $ 20.16 1,233,840 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   67,159 A $ 20.16 1,300,999 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   2,881 A $ 20.16 1,303,880 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   6,527 A $ 15.32 1,310,407 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   51,807 A $ 15.32 1,362,214 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   51,000 A $ 15.32 1,413,214 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   26,042 A $ 9.99 1,439,256 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   M   53,125 A $ 15.711 1,492,381 D   Common Stock 03/17/2006   S   335,000 D $ 35.1085 (1) 1,157,381 D   Common Stock 03/20/2006   S   25,167 D $ 35.1202 (2) 1,132,214 D   Common Stock               207,931 I by Spouse

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 15.32	03/17/2006		M			6,527	(3)	02/06/2012	Common Stock	6,527	$ 0	0	D
Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 20.16	03/17/2006		M			4,962	(3)	04/25/2011	Common Stock	4,962	$ 0	0	D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 9.99	03/17/2006		M			26,042	(4)	10/31/2012	Common Stock	26,042	$ 0	41,667	D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 15.32	03/17/2006		M			51,807	(3)	02/06/2012	Common Stock	51,807	$ 0	51,000	D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 15.32	03/17/2006		M			51,000	(5)	02/06/2012	Common Stock	51,000	$ 0	0	D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 15.711	03/17/2006		M			53,125	(4)	05/08/2013	Common Stock	53,125	$ 0	37,386	D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 20.16	03/17/2006		M			67,159	(3)	04/25/2011	Common Stock	67,159	$ 0	2,881	D
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$ 20.16	03/17/2006		M			2,881	(3)	04/25/2011	Common Stock	2,881	$ 0	0	D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
MENDOZA THOMAS F 495 EAST JAVA DRIVE SUNNYVALE, CA 94089			President

Signatures

By: Janice Mahoney by Power of Attorney For: Thomas F. Mendoza		03/20/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The sale prices for the reported transaction were in a range of $35.06 to $35.1741 per share.
(2)	The sale prices for the reported transaction were in a range of $35.06 to $35.20 per share.
(3)	Option vests with respect to 25% of the option shares on the first anniversary of the grant date and the balance in a series of equal monthly installments over the next 36 months of service thereafter.
(4)	Option vests in a series of equal monthly installments over 48 months of service beginning with the one-month annniversary of the grant date.
(5)	Option vests with respect to 20% of the shares in equal monthly installments over the 12 months of service measured from the first anniversary of the option date; 30% of the shares in equal monthly installments over the following 12 months of service; and 50% of the shares in equal monthly installments over the final 12 months of service.

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