NetApp: End of Life – End of Service
When NetApp announces End of Life or End of Service for your storage system, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s time to spend six figures on new hardware. Here’s what those terms actually mean, and what your options are.
NetApp End of Life: The product stops receiving new features, bug fixes, and security updates. NetApp manufacturer support is still available, and the system remains a low-risk storage option.
NetApp End of Service Life: NetApp stops supporting the product entirely. Their parts inventory depletes, and they will no longer service the equipment.
If it’s not broke, why fix it?
Before you commit to an upgrade, ask yourself three things:
- Is the system still stable and reliable?
- Is performance still adequate for our workload?
- Do we have enough capacity for current and near-term data needs?
If the answer to all three is yes, third-party maintenance is worth a serious look.
What third-party NetApp support actually gets you
We still have NetApp FAS3000 systems under active support — hardware that’s over 15 years old. NetApp will tell you it’s time to upgrade. That’s understandable, they sell new equipment and its how they make their money. But if your infrastructure is performing fine, that budget is probably better spent somewhere else.
Third-party NetApp maintenance typically runs at a significant discount compared to manufacturer support, with parts kept in stock and senior engineers who know these systems inside and out. A lot of our clients wonder why they didn’t make the switch sooner.
Get in tocuch and we’ll show you what support for your specific system would look like.