NetApp AFF A320
The NetApp AFF A320 was an early NVMe-over-Fabrics midrange storage system designed for high density and low latency. Utilizing a short-depth 2U chassis paired with external NS224 NVMe drive shelves over 100GbE RoCE, it targeted artificial intelligence, deep learning, and high-performance technical computing environments.
Specifications
| Brand | NetApp |
|---|---|
| Family | AFF A-Series |
| Form factor | 2U rack |
| Released | Apr 2019 |
| End of sale | Apr 2021 |
| End of support | Apr 2026 |
| Controller configuration | Dual controllers in 2U enclosure (no internal drive bays) |
| Processor | Intel Xeon processors per controller |
| Memory | 128GB system memory per HA pair with NVRAM |
| Drive bays | Connects to NS224 NVMe shelves (up to 48 NVMe SSDs) |
| Supported drives | NVMe TLC SSDs (1.9TB, 3.8TB, 7.6TB, 15.3TB) |
| Maximum raw capacity | Up to 88PB in a 24-node cluster |
| Host connectivity | PCIe slots supporting 100GbE, 40GbE, 25GbE, 10GbE, and 32Gb FC |
| Storage protocols | NVMe/FC, FC, iSCSI, NFS, SMB |
| Clustering | Up to 24 nodes (12 HA pairs) |
| Management | NetApp ONTAP 9 |
Generations
- Next generation: NetApp AFF A400
Compatible parts
Cables
X6537-R6 NetApp X6537-R6 optical network cable, 30 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
X6585-R6 NetApp X6585-R6 Cat 6 RJ-45 Ethernet cable, 3 m
X66211A-05 NetApp X66211A-05 100 GbE cable, 0.5 m
X66211A-1 NetApp X66211A-1 100 GbE cable, 1 m
X66211A-2 NetApp X66211A-2 100 GbE cable, 2 m
X66211A-5 NetApp X66211A-5 100 GbE cable, 5 m
Works together
How the NetApp AFF A320 connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.
Servers
HPE Edgeline EL8000 5U ruggedized edge system
Supermicro Edge SuperServer SYS-1019D-FRN5TP 1U short-depth
Supermicro Edge SuperServer SYS-E300-9D compact 1U
Fujitsu PRIMERGY RX2530 M5 1U rack
Fujitsu PRIMERGY RX2540 M5 2U rack
Fujitsu PRIMERGY RX4770 M5 2U rack
Adapters for the server
BCM957504A5041CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57504 Quad-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
540-BDBX Dell NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe Adapter
540-BDCF Dell Intel E810-CQDA2 Dual Port 100GbE QSFP28 PCIe Gen4 Adapter
540-BDCP Dell Broadcom 57508 Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe Gen4 Adapter
Switches
Arista 7280R 7280CR3-32P4 2U fixed switch
Arista 7280R 7280SR3-48YC8 1U fixed switch
Arista 7500R3 7508R3 modular chassis
Arista 7800R3 7804R3 modular chassis
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
- iSCSI explained mrplanb.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- Network monitoring tools compared 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 A320.
- 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
Did the AFF A320 have internal drive bays?
No, the AFF A320 was a 2U controller-only appliance that attached to external NS224 NVMe drive shelves.
What interconnect was used to attach shelves to the AFF A320?
The AFF A320 connected to NS224 shelves using 100GbE RoCEv2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet).
Buying or selling AFF A320?
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 A320 Documentation, checked 2026-10-28
- NetApp Hardware Universe - AFF A320 Specifications, checked 2026-10-28
- Install an AFF A320 storage system using detailed steps, checked 2026-10-28