UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  ----------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): November 18, 2003

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                             Network Appliance, Inc.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

             Delaware                    0-27130                77-0307520
 (State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)      File Number)       Identification Number)

                               495 East Java Drive
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94089
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (408) 822-6000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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Item 12.

     The  information  is furnished  pursuant to "Item 12. Results of Operations
and Financial  Condition" in accordance  with SEC Release No. 33-8216 (March 27,
2003).

     On November  18,  2003,  Network  Appliance,  Inc.  issued a press  release
announcing  its  earnings  for the second  quarter  fiscal year 2004.  The press
release, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished on this Form 8-K.


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


November 18, 2003                        By:   /s/    Steven Gomo
                                               ----------------------------
                                                     Steven J. Gomo
                                                Chief Financial Officer




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                                Index to Exhibits

Exhibit   Description
-------   -----------

  99.1    Press release of Network Appliance, Inc. issued on November 18, 2003.