ontap

ONTAP is NetApp's data management software used to control NetApp storage systems and cloud volumes. It runs on hardware platforms such as AFF and FAS, as well as virtual deployments with ONTAP Select and in cloud environments via Cloud Volumes ONTAP. The system provides unified data services for file, block, and object storage and is central to NetApp's Data Fabric for hybrid cloud data management.

ONTAP implements clustered storage with Storage Virtual Machines (SVMs) inside multi-node clusters. Volumes reside in aggregates or directly under an SVM, and clients access data through common protocols including NFS and SMB for file, and iSCSI or Fibre Channel for block. The software supports high availability, nondisruptive upgrades, and scalable performance across enterprise workloads.

Key data management features include point-in-time copies via Snapshot, replication with SnapMirror and SnapVault, and compliance with SnapLock. Storage efficiency is achieved through deduplication, compression, compaction, thin provisioning, and FabricPool auto-tiering to cost-effective storage tiers. Clone operations via FlexClone and encryption at rest complement data protection.

Management and automation are provided through System Manager (GUI), the CLI, and REST APIs, with additional tools such as OnCommand for monitoring and scripting support via common automation frameworks.

Cloud integration is provided by Cloud Volumes ONTAP, which runs in public clouds such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, enabling hybrid deployments and cross-environment replication. ONTAP has its roots in NetApp's WAFL-based Data ONTAP and has evolved into the current ONTAP 9.x software, supporting both on-premises and cloud deployments and continuing to be a core component of NetApp's data-management strategy.