-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OZBwudsBvYxS/H4BhdNKj5N8814LLIgkQmrDrQJW00tPb5e5UoB4tk6ndMbC/GJn
 BDIS8gYms2Bx7XZ2GRPWRw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-011657.txt : 20030711
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-011657.hdr.sgml : 20030711
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030711131631
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-011657
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030710
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030711

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001009626
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3576]
		IRS NUMBER:				770409517
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1028

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1745 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1745 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95110

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BONDERSON PAUL R JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227678

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25601
		FILM NUMBER:		03783342

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC
		STREET 2:		1745 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95123
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4083925019
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpa91420_bpa2pb.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-10</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001009626</issuerCik><issuerName>BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRCD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001227678</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BONDERSON PAUL R JR</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Technology Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified stock
 option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>177334</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>177334</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>177334</value></sharesOwnedFo
llowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>110000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-01</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Co
mmon Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>110000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>110000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>42945</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactio
nAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>42945</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>42945</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transac
tionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>87280</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-01</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>87280</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>87280</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></convers
ionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5996</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5996</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5996</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnersh
ip><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options granted in accordance with a voluntary stock option exchange program offered to all employees. 157,593 options vest on July 10, 2003; 19,741 options vest monthly from August 1, 2003 through November 1, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options granted in accordance with a voluntary stock option exchange program offered to all employees. 60,000 options vest monthly from November 1, 2003 through November 1, 2004; 50,000 options vest monthly from November 1, 2004 through November 1, 2005.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Options granted in accordance with a voluntary stock option exchange program offered to all employees. 38,164 options vest on July 10, 2003; 4,781 options vest monthly from August 1, 2003 through November 1, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Options granted in accordance with a voluntary stock option exchange program offered to all employees. 47,607 options vest monthly from Nov
ember 1, 2003 through November 1, 2004; 39,673 options vest monthly from November 1, 2004 through November 1, 2005.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Options granted in accordance with a voluntary stock option exchange program offered to all employees. 5,996 options vest on July 10, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Reporting Person also beneficially holds the following non-derivative securities:  2,180,762 shares held by the Bonderson Family Living Trust DTD 6/28/94, over which the Reporting Person and his spouse exercise investment and voting control; 108,000 shares held by the Bonderson Family Foundation, over which the Reporting Person and his spouse exercise investment and voting control; 162,000 shares held by PRB Family Partners LP, over which the Reporting Person and his spouse exercise investment and voting control; 6,736 shares held by Reporting Person's daughter, as to which Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership; 6,736 shares held by Reporting Person's son, as to which Reporting Person disclai
ms beneficial ownership; and 8,891 shares held directly.  Reporting Person also beneficially holds the following derivative securities:  268,000 options to purchase shares of common stock at $0.625 per share held directly.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Antonio Canova, attorney in fact for Paul R. Bonderson, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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