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NetApp ONTAP Select
What NetApp ONTAP Select is
NetApp ONTAP Select is a software-only version of ONTAP that runs as virtual machines on hypervisor hosts. NetApp positions it for remote and branch offices, edge environments, mobile data centers, and tactical deployments. Supported hosts use VMware ESXi or KVM on commodity hardware. Clusters can contain 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 nodes, with up to 400 TB of raw capacity per node. Storage access includes NFS, SMB/CIFS, iSCSI, and NVMe over TCP. ONTAP data protection includes Snapshot copies, SnapMirror, SnapRestore, SnapVault, and Storage VM disaster recovery, while deduplication and compression are licensed by default. Administration uses a separate Linux virtual machine running Deploy, with Active IQ Unified Manager and optional SnapCenter listed as management software. Production capacity is licensed per node through perpetual Capacity Tier plans or from renewable shared Capacity Pools. Pricing is on request, and Deploy includes an evaluation license lasting up to 90 days for non-production use.
Who it suits
ONTAP Select suits organizations needing software-defined storage in branch, edge, mobile, or tactical environments. It fits teams operating VMware ESXi or KVM and managing on-premises clusters.
What it does well
- Supports VMware ESXi and KVM
- Clusters scale to 12 nodes
- Multiple storage protocols are supported
- Includes several ONTAP protection tools
- Deduplication and compression licensed by default
What to know first
- Pricing is available only on request
- Production licensing is required
- Evaluation use is limited to 90 days
- SnapLock Compliance is unsupported
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity Tier — Standard, Premium, or Premium XL | Production license required · capacity sold per node · minimum 1 TB · perpetual capacity | On request |
| Capacity Pool — Standard, Premium, or Premium XL | Production license required · capacity sold per shared pool · minimum 2 TB · term-based capacity requiring renewal | On request |
As netapp.com lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
ONTAP Select provides virtualized ONTAP capabilities with flexible cluster sizes, storage protocols, and data protection. Licensing is capacity-based, and several features or uses require separate licenses or have documented restrictions.
Facts from NetApp ONTAP Select's own pages
- Cluster sizing
- Clusters can contain 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12 nodes, with up to 400 TB raw capacity per node. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Compliance limitation
- SnapLock Select includes SnapLock Enterprise, but SnapLock Compliance is not supported for ONTAP Select. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Data protection
- Included ONTAP capabilities include Snapshot copies, SnapMirror, SnapRestore, SnapVault, and Storage VM disaster recovery. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Downloads and support
- Downloading the Deploy utility requires a registered NetApp Support Site account, and NetApp directs users to contact Technical Support for recovery of a lost node. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Efficiency
- Deduplication and compression are supported and licensed by default. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- NetApp Volume Encryption is supported in non-restricted countries; the product documentation says hardware-specific ONTAP features are generally unsupported. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1992 · netapp.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- San Jose, California, United States · netapp.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Hypervisors
- ONTAP Select can run on VMware ESXi or KVM on supported commodity hardware. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Management and integrations
- ONTAP Select uses a separate Linux virtual machine running the Deploy administration utility, and the license page lists Active IQ Unified Manager and optional SnapCenter as management software. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Other licensing limits
- FabricPool, MetroCluster SDS, and SnapMirror Cloud require separate licenses. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Product
- ONTAP Select is a software-only version of ONTAP deployed as virtual machines on hypervisor hosts. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- REST API
- NetApp provides documentation for using the ONTAP Select REST API. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Storage protocols
- Supported host protocols include NFS, SMB/CIFS, iSCSI, and NVMe over TCP. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Trial
- An evaluation license is included with Deploy, lasts up to 90 days, and is restricted to evaluation use rather than production. · docs.netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
- Use cases
- NetApp positions it for remote and branch offices, edge environments, mobile data centers, and tactical deployments. · netapp.com, 5 Oct 2026
Where NetApp ONTAP Select stands on Freedom251
- Software-Defined Storage Software#17 of 30