ONTAP Cloud

Basic Information

NetApp ONTAP Cloud, also known as Cloud Volumes ONTAP, is a virtualized instance of NetApp's ONTAP storage operating system designed to run natively in public cloud environments.

• Model: Cloud Volumes ONTAP
• Version: Based on the ONTAP 9.x series. Major releases typically occur twice per year. The latest stable version with full support is ONTAP 9.16.1.
• Release Date: Major ONTAP releases are frequent, with 9.16.1 released approximately 10 months ago (as of current date).
• Minimum Requirements: Dependent on the chosen cloud provider's compute instance types and storage resources. Performance and capacity scale with the underlying cloud infrastructure.
• Supported Operating Systems: The underlying cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) provides the operating environment. Cloud Volumes ONTAP supports various client protocols like NFS, SMB, and iSCSI for data access.
• Latest Stable Version: ONTAP 9.16.1.
• End of Support Date: Each ONTAP release receives 3 years of full support, followed by 2 years of limited support, and then 3 years of self-service support. For example, ONTAP 9.16.1 full support ends January 31, 2028.
• End of Life Date: Versions in limited and self-service support phases are considered End of Life (EOL) as they do not receive software updates.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Not explicitly specified as a distinct feature, as updates are typically managed through the NetApp Console or cloud provider mechanisms.
• License Type: Multiple licensing models are available, including capacity-based licensing (per TiB), Keystone Subscription (pay-as-you-grow), Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) via cloud marketplaces, and Bring Your Own License (BYOL). A Freemium option is also available, limited to 500 GiB per system.
• Deployment Model: Deployed as a software-only solution on cloud compute instances managing cloud storage within Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It can be deployed as a single node or a High Availability (HA) pair.

Technical Requirements

NetApp ONTAP Cloud's technical requirements are dynamic and directly tied to the chosen cloud provider's infrastructure. It leverages virtual compute instances and cloud storage resources.

• RAM & Processor: Varies significantly based on the selected cloud instance type (e.g., AWS EC2, Azure VM, Google Cloud Compute Engine). Performance scales with the allocated compute resources.
• Storage: Utilizes cloud provider's persistent disk types and object storage. Capacity and performance are configurable based on the chosen cloud storage services.
• Display: Not directly applicable to the storage operating system itself. Management is typically performed via a web-based interface (NetApp Console) accessible through standard web browsers.
• Ports: Standard networking ports for management and data access (NFS, SMB, iSCSI) are required, configured within the cloud provider's virtual private cloud (VPC) environment.
• Operating System: Runs on the infrastructure provided by AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for NetApp ONTAP Cloud are highly flexible and depend on the desired performance, capacity, and specific cloud provider. It is designed to adapt to various cloud instance types and storage configurations, allowing users to optimize resources for their workloads. The virtual nature means that traditional hardware specifications like physical display or specific port types are abstracted by the cloud environment. Users must select appropriate cloud compute and storage resources to meet their application's demands.

Support & Compatibility

NetApp ONTAP Cloud offers broad compatibility with leading cloud platforms and a structured support lifecycle.

• Latest Version: ONTAP 9.16.1.
• OS Support: Compatible with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) infrastructure. It provides file and block storage management supporting NFS, SMB, and iSCSI protocols.
• End of Support Date: NetApp ONTAP releases are supported for 3 years with full support, followed by 2 years of limited support, and 3 years of self-service support.
• Localization: Not explicitly detailed in public documentation.
• Available Drivers: Cloud Volumes ONTAP integrates directly with cloud infrastructure. Client-side access relies on standard operating system drivers for NFS, SMB, and iSCSI.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

NetApp ONTAP Cloud demonstrates strong support and compatibility across the major public cloud providers, making it a versatile solution for hybrid and multi-cloud strategies. The defined support lifecycle for ONTAP releases provides clarity for planning and upgrades. Its ability to provide unified file and block storage with standard protocols ensures broad application compatibility.

Security Status

NetApp ONTAP Cloud incorporates robust security features to protect data across hybrid cloud environments.

• Security Features: Includes data-at-rest encryption (NetApp Volume Encryption (NVE) and NetApp Aggregate Encryption (NAE) using AES 256-bit, FIPS 140-2 compliant), encryption in flight (TLS 1.2 HTTPS, IPsec), ransomware protection (AI algorithms for real-time detection, immutable Snapshots, multi-admin verification), virus scanning (Vscan), secure boot (signed ONTAP images), and access control (FPolicy).
• Known Vulnerabilities: NetApp regularly releases security updates and advisories for its ONTAP software. Specific known vulnerabilities are addressed through these updates.
• Blacklist Status: No general blacklist status is applicable to the software itself.
• Certifications: FIPS 140-2 compliance for NVE and NAE. NetApp also achieves SOC 2 compliance.
• Encryption Support: Supports NVE and NAE with external key management services (EKMs) from AWS Key Management Service (KMS), Azure Key Vault (AKV), and Google Cloud Key Management Service. Double encryption is possible by combining NetApp encryption with native cloud provider encryption.
• Authentication Methods: Supports integration with SSO solutions for ONTAP systems and role-based access control (RBAC).
• General Recommendations: NetApp recommends adhering to security best practices for cloud and application security, including securing the cloud environment and leveraging ONTAP's built-in security features.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

NetApp ONTAP Cloud offers a strong overall security rating, providing multi-layered protection for data in the cloud. Its FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption, advanced ransomware detection, and integration with cloud-native key management services ensure data confidentiality and integrity. Compliance with standards like SOC 2 further enhances its security posture, making it suitable for sensitive workloads.

Performance & Benchmarks

NetApp ONTAP Cloud delivers enterprise-grade performance, which is highly dependent on the underlying cloud infrastructure.

• Benchmark Scores:
  • AWS (c5d.18xlarge instance):
    • Streaming Reads: Up to ~4150MBps (single node) and ~9000MBps (HA).
    • Random Reads: Up to ~200K IOPS (single node) and ~540K IOPS (HA) at sub-millisecond response times.
    • OLTP Workloads: Better IOPS per node in single node (~2.5ms latency) compared to HA (~80% more IOPS at ~5ms latency due to synchronous replication).
  • Google Cloud:
    • Transactional/OLTP: Up to 45,000 read IOPS and 11,000 write IOPS, with throughputs of 369.3 MBps (read) and 92.4 MBps (write). Latency was 1.15 ms (read) and 6.3 ms (write).
    • Streaming Reads: 18,000 IOPS, 1190 MBps throughput, and 1.3 ms latency.
    • Mixed/Analytics (50% reads/50% writes): 15,000 IOPS, 255 MBps throughput, with 0.85 ms read latency and 6.8 ms write latency.
• Real-world Performance Metrics: Achieves high scalability and optimized performance through features like deduplication, compression, thin provisioning, and data tiering. Performance is directly influenced by the chosen cloud compute engine type, persistent disk type, and size.
• Power Consumption: NetApp ONTAP software's storage efficiency features (thin provisioning, deduplication, compression, FlexClone, data tiering) reduce the amount of physical storage required, thereby lowering energy consumption. The NetApp Cloud Insights Dashboard can report on power usage for ONTAP storage.
• Carbon Footprint: NetApp utilizes the Product Attribute to Impact Algorithm (PAIA) to estimate the carbon emissions across a product's lifecycle. ONTAP's efficiency features contribute to significant reductions in storage-related energy use and CO2 emissions. NetApp has Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: While not matching the raw performance of dedicated on-premises hardware, NetApp ONTAP Cloud is recognized for its comprehensive feature set, ease of use, and strong performance within a virtualized cloud environment.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

NetApp ONTAP Cloud delivers robust performance for cloud-based storage, capable of handling demanding workloads with high IOPS and throughput, particularly when configured with appropriate cloud resources. Its performance is highly scalable and configurable, allowing users to tailor it to specific application needs. Furthermore, NetApp's focus on storage efficiency directly translates into reduced power consumption and a lower carbon footprint, aligning with sustainability goals.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews highlight several strengths and weaknesses of NetApp ONTAP Cloud, along with various recommended use cases.

• Strengths:
  • Seamless Cloud Integration: Integrates easily with leading cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
  • Advanced Data Management: Features like deduplication, compression, thin provisioning, and data tiering optimize storage efficiency and reduce costs.
  • High Availability & Data Protection: Offers robust data replication, snapshot capabilities, and backup/restore functionalities for disaster recovery and business continuity.
  • Scalability: Allows organizations to scale storage resources up or down based on changing requirements.
  • Intuitive User Interface: The user interface is often described as easy and interactive.
  • Security: Praised for its security features, including ransomware protection.
  • Cost Optimization: Helps reduce storage costs through efficiency features and flexible licensing.
• Weaknesses:
  • Complexity of Initial Setup: May require technical expertise for configuration and integration, especially for users unfamiliar with storage systems or cloud technologies.
  • Learning Curve: Can have a steeper learning curve for those new to cloud data management solutions or NetApp's technology stack.
  • Performance vs. Dedicated Hardware: While strong for cloud, it may not match the raw performance of dedicated on-premises hardware due to its virtualized nature.
  • Cloud Provider Maintenance: Occasional failovers can occur during cloud provider maintenance, though HA clusters help maintain service.
• Recommended Use Cases: Cloud file storage, NoSQL databases, internal applications, tertiary backup locations, disaster recovery for on-premises and cloud workloads, development/test environments, critical applications requiring high availability, unified file sharing, storage tiering, and data migration.

Summary

NetApp ONTAP Cloud is a robust and flexible enterprise-grade data management solution that extends the capabilities of NetApp's ONTAP storage operating system to public cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP). It provides a unified platform for managing file and block workloads, offering advanced features like deduplication, compression, thin provisioning, and data tiering to optimize storage efficiency and reduce costs.

Key strengths include its seamless integration with major cloud providers, comprehensive data protection capabilities (including FIPS 140-2 compliant encryption and advanced ransomware detection), and high scalability. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the ability to manage data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments from a single control plane.

However, potential weaknesses include a perceived complexity in initial setup and a learning curve for those new to NetApp or cloud storage solutions. While highly performant for cloud-based workloads, it is important to manage expectations regarding its performance compared to dedicated physical hardware.

NetApp ONTAP Cloud is highly recommended for organizations seeking to extend their on-premises data management strategies to the cloud, implement robust disaster recovery solutions, optimize cloud storage costs, and manage critical applications in a hybrid cloud model. Its strong security features and focus on sustainability through efficiency make it a compelling choice for modern enterprise asset management.

Information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.