The NetApp ONTAP Simulator is a virtualized version of the ONTAP storage operating system. It runs inside a hypervisor—such as VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, or VMware ESXi—and mimics physical NetApp FAS or AFF storage arrays. Why Use the ONTAP Simulator?

Extract the downloaded ZIP file if you are using VMware Workstation. Open VMware Workstation, Fusion, or Player.

At least 40 GB of free space per node, preferably on a solid-state drive (SSD) for optimal performance. Supported Hypervisors VMware Workstation Pro / Player (Windows and Linux) VMware Fusion (macOS)

Type create to build a brand new single-node cluster (you can add a second node later to build a 2-node high-availability cluster).

Search for or navigate directly to the NetApp ONTAP Simulator download page.

Complete Guide to Downloading and Deploying the NetApp ONTAP 9 Simulator for Free

Validate storage architectures, SVM (Storage Virtual Machine) setups, and volume allocations.

: Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) and download the OVA file for VMware. Ensure you also download the provided C-mode licenses for setup. System Requirements