Maven Services
NetApp Storage Support from ONTAP Experts. Not a Call Center.
AFF all-flash. FAS hybrid. E-Series SAN. Every NetApp platform supported by Level 3/4 engineers who know your storage inside and out.
NetApp builds some of the most capable and widely deployed storage systems in the enterprise. From the all-flash AFF A-Series powering mission-critical databases and AI workloads, to the FAS hybrid arrays serving as the backbone of enterprise file services and secondary storage, to the E-Series SAN arrays delivering dedicated block performance for specialized applications, NetApp systems run the workloads that matter most. But NetApp’s support model is increasingly pushing customers toward expensive renewals and cloud migration. Annual support pricing for legacy FAS and AFF systems climbs 20–40% each renewal cycle, and NetApp’s sales teams use these renewals to push hardware refreshes or transitions to Cloud Volumes ONTAP and NetApp Keystone consumption models. For organizations that are happy with their NetApp hardware and want to maximize their investment, Maven IT Solutions provides expert third-party maintenance with full ONTAP and SANtricity software expertise, direct L3/L4 engineer access, response times under 15 minutes, and savings of up to 70%.
ONTAP and SANtricity Expertise. Not Just Hardware Break/Fix.
NetApp storage is defined by its software. ONTAP is one of the most feature-rich storage operating systems in the industry, SnapMirror replication, SnapVault backup, MetroCluster disaster recovery, FabricPool cloud tiering, FlexClone, FlexGroup, and dozens of other data services that IT teams depend on daily. When something goes wrong, a SnapMirror relationship breaks, a MetroCluster switchover doesn’t complete cleanly, an aggregate runs out of space, or an ONTAP upgrade introduces a regression, you need an engineer who understands ONTAP internals, not someone who only knows how to swap a disk.
Maven’s NetApp engineers are ONTAP specialists. They troubleshoot the full stack: hardware failures, ONTAP software issues, data protection operations, cluster management, and performance optimization. For E-Series environments, our engineers bring SANtricity OS expertise for block-level SAN troubleshooting. It’s the same direct-to-expert model that defines everything Maven does, Level 3 and Level 4 engineers on first contact, no call center, no escalation chain, no runaround.
Every NetApp Platform. One Maven Contract.
Maven supports the full range of NetApp storage systems, from previous-generation all-flash to legacy hybrid and SAN arrays. Click through to the platform-specific pages for detailed model coverage, technical capabilities, and FAQs.
| Platform Family | OS | Type | Key Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFF A-Series | ONTAP | All-Flash (Performance) | A1K, A90, A70, A900, A800, A400, A250, A150; legacy AFF8000 series |
| AFF C-Series | ONTAP | All-Flash (Capacity / QLC) | C30, C60, C80; legacy C250, C400, C800 |
| ASA (All-SAN Array) | ONTAP | Block-Optimized Flash | A1K, A90, A70, A50, A30, A20; C30 |
| FAS | ONTAP | Hybrid (HDD + Flash Cache) | FAS9500, FAS8700, FAS8300 (approaching EOSL); legacy FAS8200, FAS8060, FAS2500, etc. |
| E-Series / EF- Series | SANtricity | Dedicated SAN (Block) | EF600, EF300, E5700, E2800; legacy E5600, E2700, etc. |
| N-Series (IBM/Lenovo OEM) | ONTAP | OEM’d FAS Vari | Various N-Series models |
| VTL (Virtual Tape Library) | Custom | Tape emulation | VTL255, VTL260, etc. |
Platform Overview
NetApp AFF (All-Flash FAS): A-Series, C-Series & ASA
NetApp’s flagship all-flash platform, running ONTAP. The AFF A-Series delivers the highest performance for mission-critical databases, AI/ML pipelines, VDI, and ERP workloads. The C-Series uses QLC flash for capacity-optimized workloads at lower cost. The ASA (All-SAN Array) is a block-only personality of the same hardware for pure SAN environments. NetApp recently refreshed the entire lineup: the A70, A90, and A1K replaced the A400, A800, and A900 in mid-2024, and the A20, A30, and A50 replaced the A150 and A250 in late 2024. Previous-
generation models (A150 through A900, plus the AFF8000 series) are approaching or past end of availability, making third-party maintenance increasingly relevant.
ONTAP features supported: SnapMirror, SnapVault, MetroCluster, FabricPool, FlexClone, FlexGroup, FlexCache, SnapLock, ONTAP S3, NVMe/FC, NVMe/TCP, multi-admin verification, autonomous ransomware protection.
NetApp FAS (Fabric-Attached Storage)
The workhorse of NetApp’s portfolio. FAS hybrid arrays combine HDD capacity with Flash Cache acceleration, running the same ONTAP software as AFF. FAS is the backbone of enterprise NAS, secondary storage, backup targets, and remote/branch office deployments. The current lineup spans from the entry-level FAS2820 through the mid-range FAS8300/FAS8700 to the high-end FAS9500. Legacy FAS models are the primary TPM opportunity. Legacy FAS models (FAS2500 series, FAS8200, FAS8060, FAS6000 series, FAS3000 series, and earlier) are past EOSL, these systems are the primary TPM opportunity for Maven.
ONTAP features supported: Same ONTAP feature set as AFF: SnapMirror, SnapVault, MetroCluster, FabricPool (tier cold data to cloud), FlexClone, SnapLock, and all enterprise data services.
NetApp E-Series / EF-Series
NetApp’s dedicated SAN platform, architecturally distinct from ONTAP. E-Series runs SANtricity OS, a purpose-built block storage operating system optimized for consistent, low-latency I/O. The E-Series is the platform of choice for specialized applications: video surveillance, HPC, scientific computing, database engines, and any workload that needs dedicated, predictable block performance without the overhead of a unified storage OS. The current lineup includes the all-flash EF600 and EF300 and the hybrid E5700 and E2800. Legacy models (E5600, E2700, E5500, E2600, and earlier) are past EOSL.
SANtricity features supported: Dynamic Disk Pools (DDP), Asynchronous Mirroring, Synchronous Mirroring, Snapshot volumes, Thin provisioning, SSD Cache, Remote Volume Mirrors, SANtricity System Manager.
NetApp N-Series (IBM / Lenovo OEM)
The NetApp N-Series refers to NetApp FAS storage systems sold under OEM agreements through IBM and later Lenovo. These are functionally identical to their NetApp-branded counterparts, they run Data ONTAP (ONTAP) and use the same hardware architecture. Common models include the N3220, N3240, N6210, N6240, N6270, N7000 series, and others. Most N-Series systems have reached end of service life under both the OEM partner’s support and NetApp’s direct support. Maven provides the same ONTAP-expert maintenance for N-Series as for native NetApp FAS, because under the IBM/Lenovo label, it’s the same storage system.
NetApp VTL (Virtual Tape Library
NetApp’s Virtual Tape Library products (VTL255, VTL260, and related models) provided disk-based backup targets that emulated tape libraries for compatibility with legacy backup software. These systems are fully end-of-life, NetApp exited the VTL market years ago. However, some organizations still run VTL systems for legacy backup and compliance retention workflows. Maven can provide hardware maintenance for these legacy systems to keep them operational while organizations plan migration to modern backup targets.
The Maven Difference for NetApp Environments
- Direct-to-expert: Level 3 and Level 4 ONTAP and SANtricity engineers on first contact. No call center. No Level 1 triage.
- Response times under 15 minutes, standard, not a premium tier you pay extra for
- Full-time W2 engineers, not 1099 contractors, consistent expertise, not a rotating pool
- ONTAP software support included: SnapMirror, MetroCluster, FabricPool, FlexClone, cluster operations, and performance optimization
- Multi-platform contracts: Cover your AFF, FAS, and E-Series under a single Maven agreement alongside Dell EMC, HPE, and other vendors
- No cloud pressure: Maven doesn’t try to sell you Cloud Volumes ONTAP or Keystone subscriptions. We support the hardware you own.
- All generations supported: From legacy FAS2000/FAS3000 series through previous-generation AFF, under one contract
- Savings of up to 70% compared to NetApp SupportEdge renewals
Why NetApp Customers Are Looking for Alternatives
NetApp makes excellent storage hardware. But their support and sales model creates real friction:
- Annual price escalation. NetApp SupportEdge renewals increase 20–40% annually as systems age. This is by design, NetApp uses escalating support costs as a prod toward hardware refreshes.
- Cloud migration pressure. NetApp’s strategy is shifting toward cloud-first: Cloud Volumes ONTAP, FSx for NetApp ONTAP (on AWS), Azure NetApp Files, and NetApp Keystone pay-as-you-go consumption models. Sales teams use every support renewal conversation to push these alternatives.
- Legacy systems lose priority. As NetApp focuses on current-gen AFF A-Series and cloud services, support quality for legacy FAS, AFF8000, and older systems naturally degrades. Case resolution times increase, and the engineers assigned to older platforms are often less experienced.
- Forced upgrades at EOSL. When NetApp declares end of support for a platform, customers face a binary choice: buy new NetApp hardware or run unsupported. Third-party maintenance creates a third option, continue running your existing hardware with expert support at a fraction of the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions: NetApp Maintenance
Does Maven support ONTAP software or just hardware?
Both. Maven’s NetApp support covers hardware break/fix (controllers, disk shelves, drives, power supplies, I/O modules) and ONTAP software troubleshooting (SnapMirror, MetroCluster, cluster operations, aggregate management, performance optimization, and upgrade guidance). For E-Series, we provide SANtricity OS support as well.
Can Maven support my MetroCluster environment?
Yes. MetroCluster is one of the most complex and critical NetApp features, it provides synchronous replication and automatic failover between sites. Maven’s engineers support MetroCluster configuration, switchover/switchback operations, monitoring, and troubleshooting for both IP and FC MetroCluster configurations.
My FAS8200 is approaching EOSL. What are my options?
You have three options: buy new NetApp hardware (expensive), run unsupported (risky), or switch to Maven third-party maintenance (save 50–70% while maintaining expert support). Maven can keep your FAS8200 running reliably with the same SLA-backed coverage that NetApp provided, often with faster response times.
Will switching to Maven void my NetApp software licenses?
No. Your ONTAP software licenses are perpetual and tied to the hardware. Switching hardware maintenance providers does not affect your ONTAP licensing or installed features. You continue running the same ONTAP version with all licensed features intact.
Does Maven support FlexPod (NetApp + Cisco) environments?
Maven supports the NetApp storage component of FlexPod environments. If you also need Cisco UCS server and Nexus switch support, we can discuss covering the full FlexPod stack under a unified contract.
Can Maven support both my NetApp and Dell EMC environments?
Yes. Many organizations run mixed-vendor storage environments. Maven supports NetApp, Dell EMC, HPE, and Nutanix under a single contract with a single point of contact. No juggling multiple vendors for different platforms.
Get In Touch
Expert NetApp Support Without the Expert NetApp Price Tag
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your NetApp environment. Whether you’re running AFF all-flash, FAS hybrid, E-Series SAN, or a mix of all three, Maven’s ONTAP specialists will show you what expert support looks like at up to 70% savings.
