NetApp AFF A220
The NetApp AFF A220 was a widely deployed 2U dual-controller all-flash storage system engineered for midsized enterprise workloads, remote offices, and VMware clusters. Delivering unified SAN and NAS protocols over 12Gb SAS SSD media, it provided reliable low latency, rich data reduction, and direct cloud connectivity through ONTAP.
Specifications
| Brand | NetApp |
|---|---|
| Family | AFF A-Series |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | May 2018 |
| End of sale | Apr 2021 |
| End of support | Apr 2026 |
| Controller configuration | Dual controllers in 2U enclosure |
| Processor | Intel Xeon processors per controller |
| Memory | 64GB system memory per HA pair with NVRAM |
| Drive bays | Up to 24x internal 2.5-inch 12Gb SAS SSDs, expandable with DS224C shelves |
| Supported drives | 12Gb SAS SSDs (960GB, 3.8TB, 7.6TB, 15.3TB) |
| Maximum raw capacity | Up to 35PB in a 24-node cluster |
| Host connectivity | Onboard 10GbE / 1GbE and UTA2 ports supporting 16Gb FC or 10GbE SFP+ |
| Storage protocols | FC, iSCSI, NFS, SMB |
| Clustering | Up to 24 nodes (12 HA pairs) |
| Management | NetApp ONTAP 9 |
Generations
- Previous generation: NetApp AFF A200
- Next generation: NetApp AFF A250
Compatible parts
Cables
X6536-R6 NetApp X6536-R6 optical network cable, 5 m
X6553-R6 NetApp X6553-R6 optical network cable, 2 m
X6554-R6 NetApp X6554-R6 optical network cable, 15 m
X6562-R6 NetApp X6562-R6 Cat 6 RJ-45 Ethernet cable, 5 m
X6566B-05-R6 NetApp X6566B-05-R6 10 GbE network cable, 0.5 m
X6566B-2-R6 NetApp X6566B-2-R6 10 GbE network cable, 2 m
X6566B-3-R6 NetApp X6566B-3-R6 10 GbE network cable, 3 m
X6566B-5-R6 NetApp X6566B-5-R6 10 GbE network cable, 5 m
X6585-R6 NetApp X6585-R6 Cat 6 RJ-45 Ethernet cable, 3 m
X66030A NetApp X66030A storage cable, 0.5 m
X66031A NetApp X66031A storage cable, 1 m
X66032A NetApp X66032A storage cable, 2 m
X66033A NetApp X66033A storage cable, 3 m
Works together
How the NetApp AFF A220 connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Servers
HPE Edgeline EL300 Converged Edge System DIN rail / compact box
Supermicro GPU SuperServer 4U Multi-GPU System 4U rack
Dell PowerEdge R240 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R340 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R6415 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R740xd2 2U rack
Adapters for the server
BCM957414A4142CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57414 Dual-Port 25GbE SFP28 PCIe 3.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
BCM957416A4160C Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57416 Dual-Port 10GBASE-T PCIe 3.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
BCM957504A5041CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57504 Quad-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
540-BBGN Dell Broadcom 57412 Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe Adapter
Switches
Arista 7050X 7050CX3-32S 1U fixed switch
Arista 7050X 7050SX3-48YC8 1U fixed switch
Arista 7050X 7050TX3-48C8 1U fixed switch
Arista 7260X 7260CX3-64 2U fixed switch
Optics
QSFP-100G-CWDM4-AR Arista 100GBASE-CWDM4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
QSFP-100G-LR4-AR Arista 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
QSFP-100G-SR4 Arista 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- NFS explained mrplanb.com
- Block vs object storage mrplanb.com
- Object storage Ledger mrplanb.com
Check compatibility with NetApp
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that NetApp has tested with the NetApp AFF A220.
- Compatibility NetApp Interoperability Matrix Tool (IMT) (free vendor sign-in)
- Specifications NetApp Hardware Universe (platform specs and supported parts)
- Support NetApp Support
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
What ports are available on the AFF A220 controller?
Each controller includes two 10GBase-T ports and two UTA2 ports capable of 16Gb FC or 10GbE SFP+.
What replaced the AFF A220?
The AFF A220 was succeeded by the NVMe-based AFF A250 and later the SAS-based AFF A150.
Buying or selling AFF A220?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- NetApp AFF A220 Documentation, checked 2026-10-28
- NetApp Hardware Universe - AFF A220 Specifications, checked 2026-10-28
- Install an AFF A220 storage system using detailed steps, checked 2026-10-28