Maven Services
Your All-Flash Investment Deserves All-Flash Expertise
AFF A-Series. AFF8000 legacy. Full ONTAP support from engineers who know your platform, not a call center reading a script.
NetApp AFF is the all-flash platform trusted by organizations running their most demanding workloads, production databases, AI/ML training pipelines, VDI environments, ERP systems, and high-performance analytics. The AFF A-Series delivers industry-leading IOPS and throughput with ONTAP’s unified data services. NetApp recently completed a full generational refresh: the A70, A90, and A1K replaced the mid-to-high-end A400, A800, and A900 in 2024, while the A20, A30, and A50 replaced the entry-level A150 and A250. Previous-generation models have reached end of availability, meaning NetApp has stopped selling them and will eventually end support. For organizations running previous-gen AFF systems that don’t want to be forced into an early hardware refresh, Maven IT Solutions provides expert maintenance with full ONTAP expertise, response times under 15 minutes, and savings of up to 70%.
NetApp’s Refresh Cycle Is Accelerating. Your Support Options Shouldn’t Shrink.
Previous-gen A-Series reached end of availability May 2025
NetApp announced that the A150, A250, A400, A800, and A900 will no longer be sold as of November 2025. Existing deployments continue to receive ONTAP upgrades and support through their end-of-support dates, but the clock is ticking. SupportEdge renewals for these systems will only get more expensive
AFF8000 series is past EOSL.
The original AFF8020, AFF8040, AFF8060, and AFF8080 EX all-flash arrays have reached end of support. NetApp provides no support for these systems. Third-party maintenance is the only option.
SupportEdge pricing escalates annually.
NetApp’s annual support renewals typically increase 20–40% as systems age, particularly once they’re past the 3–5 year mark. For multi-shelf AFF environments, this adds up to six-figure annual support costs.
Cloud migration isn’t always the answer.
NetApp’s sales teams use every renewal conversation to pitch Cloud Volumes ONTAP, FSx for NetApp ONTAP, or Keystone subscriptions. These can make sense for some workloads, but many organizations need their all-flash storage on-premises for latency, compliance, sovereignty, or cost reasons.
Why Maven: ONTAP Specialists, Not Generic Storage Support
NetApp AFF is defined by ONTAP. The hardware is excellent, but it’s the software that makes AFF what it is, SnapMirror for replication, MetroCluster for disaster recovery, FabricPool for cloud tiering, FlexClone for instant copies, NVMe-oF for maximum performance, and autonomous ransomware protection for security. When something goes wrong, you need an engineer who understands ONTAP’s clustering, volume management, aggregate layout, and data protection features, not someone who just knows how to identify a failed drive.
| Capability | Typical TPM Provider | Maven IT Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| First Contact | Level 1 call center | Level 3/4 ONTAP engineer |
| Response Time | 1–4 hour SLA | Under 15 minutes |
| OS Support | Hardware only | Full ONTAP: SnapMirror, MetroCluster, FabricPool, FlexClone, cluster ops |
| NVMe Expertise | Not covered | NVMe-oF configuration, NS224 shelf troubleshooting |
| Data Protection | Not covered | SnapMirror, SnapVault, MetroCluster switchover/switchback |
| Performance Tuning | Not covered | Aggregate layout, QoS policies, workload analysis |
| Engineers | 1099 contractors | Full-time W2 employees |
| Cost vs. Last OEM Contract | 30–40% savings | Up to 70% savings |
AFF Models We Support
AFF A-Series
| Model | Platform | Upgrade Paths | Lifecycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFF A900 | High-end all-flash | AFF A90 / AFF A1K | Previous generation |
| AFF A800 | High-performance all-flash | AFF A70 / AFF A90 | Previous generation |
| AFF A400 | Mid-range all-flash | AFF A50 / A70 / A90 / A1K | Previous generation |
| AFF A250 | Entry / mid-range all-flash | AFF A30 / AFF A50 | Previous generation |
| AFF A150 | Entry-level all-flash | AFF A20 | Previous generation |
NetApp’s current controller upgrade guidance confirms A900 → A90/A1K, A800 → A70/A90, A250 → A30/A50, and A150 → A20 as supported upgrade paths.
AFF8000 Series
| Model | Platform | Upgrade Paths | Lifecycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFF8020 | Entry-level all-flash | AFF A-Series | No longer supported |
| AFF8040 | Mid-range all-flash | AFF A-Series | No longer supported |
| AFF8060 | High-performance all-flash | AFF A-Series | No longer supported |
| AFF8080 EX | High-end all-flash | AFF A-Series | No longer supported |
NetApp identifies AFF8020, AFF8040, AFF8060, and AFF8080 as hardware that is no longer supported.
AFF C-Series
| Model | Platform | Upgrade Paths | Lifecycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFF C250 | Capacity-optimized all-flash | AFF C30 / AFF C60 | Previous generation |
| AFF C400 | Capacity-optimized all-flash | AFF C60 / AFF C80 | Previous generation |
| AFF C800 | High-capacity all-flash | AFF C80 | End of Availability |
The newer C-Series consists of the AFF C30, C60, and C80. NetApp moved the AFF C800 to End of Availability in July 2026, meaning it is no longer available for new orders but remains supported.
ASA A-Series
| Model | Platform | Upgrade Paths | Lifecycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASA A900 | High-end all-flash SAN | ASA A90 / A1K | Previous generation |
| ASA A800 | High-performance all-flash SAN | ASA A70 / A90 | Previous generation |
| ASA A400 | Mid-range all-flash SAN | ASA A50 / A70 | Previous generation |
| ASA A250 | Entry / mid-range all-flash SAN | ASA A30 / A50 | Previous generation |
| ASA A150 | Entry-level all-flash SAN | ASA A20 | Previous generation |
NetApp still maintains documentation for the A150, A250, A400, A800, and A900, while its newer ASA r2 family consists of the A1K, A90, A70, A50, A30, and A20.
What’s Included in Maven AFF Support
Hardware Maintenance
- 24x7x365 break/fix support with under 15-minute initial response
- On-site field service with NetApp-specific parts and replacement hardware
- Stocked inventory including controllers, NVMe and SAS SSDs, NS224 and DS224C shelves, I/O modules, power supplies, DIMMs, NSM100B modules, switches, and cables
- Controller replacement with coordinated non-disruptive takeover and giveback
- Disk and shelf support including hot-swaps, drive replacement, shelf module replacement, and shelf additions
- Proactive monitoring for predictive drive failures, shelf alerts, hardware health, and environmental conditions
Operating Environment & Software Support
- Full ONTAP troubleshooting, health monitoring, upgrade planning, and rolling upgrade coordination
- SnapMirror and MetroCluster support including replication, resync, failover/failback, switchover/switchback, and DR testing
- FabricPool, FlexClone, FlexGroup, SnapLock, and quota management across supported environments
- Cluster administration including node add/remove, aggregates, volume moves, LIFs, namespaces, and cluster health
- Performance optimization including QoS, workload analysis, aggregate layout, Flash Cache, and Flash Pool
- NVMe/FC and NVMe/TCP configuration plus Autonomous Ransomware Protection monitoring and alert management
Service Delivery
- Direct first-contact access to Level 3 and Level 4 ONTAP engineers
- Full-time US-based engineers with NetApp AFF specialization
- 24x7x365 US-based TAC for ongoing technical support
- Flexible SLAs including 24x7x4hr, 9x5xNBD, and customized mission-critical agreements
- Customer portal for ticket tracking, support visibility, and asset management
- Single support contract covering AFF, FAS, E-Series, and additional vendor platforms
AFF Problems Maven Engineers Solve Every Day
From controller failures to ONTAP upgrades, Maven engineers troubleshoot the issues that keep AFF environments from performing reliably.
- Controller failures:
non-disruptive takeover/giveback operations: maintaining data availability throughout the replacement process - SnapMirror relationship failures:
broken mirrors, resync operations, lag management, and cascaded SnapMirror topologies - MetroCluster switchover failures:
forced switchover, healing operations, and aggregate resync after disaster events - FabricPool tiering issues:
objects stranded in cloud tier, retrieval performance, and policy conflicts - Aggregate space management:
full aggregates, Snapshot reserve exhaustion, and volume autosize conflicts - NVMe shelf issues:
NS224 module failures, NVMe drive replacement, and shelf connectivity problems
- Cluster interconnect failures:
switch failures, ISL issues, and cluster quorum problems in multi-node configurations - Performance degradation:
identifying bottlenecks across network, controller, and disk subsystems using ONTAP’s built-in diagnostics - ONTAP upgrade complications:
version compatibility issues, rolling upgrade failures, and post-upgrade regressions - Host connectivity problems:
across NFS, SMB/CIFS, iSCSI, FC, and NVMe-oF protocols - SVM (Storage Virtual Machine) management issues:
LIF failover, DNS resolution, and multi-tenancy configuration
Frequently Asked Questions: AFF Maintenance
My AFF A800 just reached end of availability. How long will NetApp support it?
NetApp typically provides support for 5–7 years after end of availability, but SupportEdge renewal pricing escalates significantly each year. Maven can take over maintenance immediately, saving you 50–70% while providing the same or better coverage with faster response times.
Does Maven support ONTAP software upgrades on AFF?
Maven provides ONTAP upgrade guidance, compatibility assessment, upgrade path planning, and coordination. We help you plan and validate the upgrade, and our engineers are available during and after the upgrade to troubleshoot any issues.
Can Maven support my MetroCluster on AFF?
Yes. MetroCluster is one of Maven’s core competencies for NetApp environments. We support both IP MetroCluster and FC MetroCluster, including switchover/switchback operations, monitoring, and disaster recovery testing.
Will switching to Maven affect my ONTAP features or licenses?
No. Your ONTAP software licenses are perpetual and tied to your hardware. SnapMirror, MetroCluster, FlexClone, SnapLock, all licensed features continue to function regardless of who provides hardware maintenance.
All-Flash Performance. All-Expert Support. Fraction of the Cost.
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your AFF environment. We’ll review your controller and shelf configuration and show you what Maven support looks like compared to your current NetApp SupportEdge renewal.
Call: (877) 245-4087
Email: sales@mavenitsolutions.com
