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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 U90yG6OHnV9OumltbL2bhJ1L6ELhXFVAsY31vS443fW7n/j5dGol82bQIDhEI9tv
 FdKDClVa7LY16iyhCPGnAg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-017910.txt : 20030819
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-017910.hdr.sgml : 20030819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030819191148
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-017910
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030815
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030819

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:		03856830

	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>bpa92594_bpa2prb.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-15</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>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>95110</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Technology Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><no
nDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2180762</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Trust</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>108000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Foundation</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></security
Title><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>162000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Partnership</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6736</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Daughter</value><footnoteId id="F4" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6736</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransact
ion></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Son</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8891</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F7" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value></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></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F8" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>110000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>110000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransac
tionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F9" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value></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></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F10" /></se
curityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value></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></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F11" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.54</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-07-10</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Comm
on Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5996</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5996</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.53</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>400000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F12" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</valu
e></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-15</value><footnoteId id="F13" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-08-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>400000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>400000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F14" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.6250</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-02-26</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-02-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common
 Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>268000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>268000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  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.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  Shares held by the Bonderson Family Foundation, over which the Reporting Person and his spouse exercise investment and voting control.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  Shares held by PRB Family Partners LP, over which the Reporting Person and his spouse exercise investment and voting cont
rol.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  Shares held by Reporting Person's daughter, as to which Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  Shares held by Reporting Person's son, as to which Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  157,593 options vest on July 10, 2003; 19,741 options vest monthly from August 1, 2003 through November 1, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F8">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  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="F9">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  38,164 options vest on July 10, 2003; 4,781 options vest monthly from August 1, 2003 through November 1, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F10">Benefic
ial ownership disclosure only.  47,607 options vest monthly from November 1, 2003 through November 1, 2004; 39,673 options vest monthly from November 1, 2004 through November 1, 2005.</footnote><footnote id="F11">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  5,996 options vest on July 10, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F12">The price of the deritive security will be determined at a future date upon exercise of the option.</footnote><footnote id="F13">Options vest monthly from September 15, 2003 through August 15, 2007.</footnote><footnote id="F14">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  67,000 options vest on February 26, 2000;  201,000 options vest monthly from March 26, 2000 through February 26, 2003. </footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Antonio Canova, attorney in fact for Paul R. Bonderson, Jr.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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