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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LIkzu2uX+l8BlbL7Sg9e8NsPzoNJeXWcdHgtAtw3OVXSNLmQuONvRrmsFh44ofeO
 GjBiOXxPsKH2781JzUGYBg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-017915.txt : 20030819
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-017915.hdr.sgml : 20030819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030819191658
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-017915
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:			CUTHBERT JACK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190830

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25601
		FILM NUMBER:		03856847

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1745 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084878150

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1745 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bpa92594_bpa6jc.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>0001190830</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>CUTHBERT JACK</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>VP, OEM Sales</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6030</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="F2" /></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>85334</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>85334</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></
postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></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>47776</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47776</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="
F4" /></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>105556</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>105556</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F5" /></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>271000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>271000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F6" /></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>10494</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10494</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransac
tion></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><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>23063</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>23063</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnote
Id 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>168745</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>168745</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><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><underlyingSecurit
yTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>155625</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>155625</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>250000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0.00</value><footnoteId id="F10" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDispo
sedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-15</value><footnoteId id="F11" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-08-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>250000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>250000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F12" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.2813</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-06-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-06-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecur
ityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>55000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>55000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Incentive Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F13" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0.2813</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-12-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-12-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingT
ransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  74,667 options vest on July 10, 2003; 10,667 options vest monthly from July 18, 2003 through August 18, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  47,776 options vest on July 10, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  86,111 options vest on July 10, 2003; 19,445 options vest monthly from July 31, 2003 through January 31, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  166,666 options vest on July 10, 2003; 33,334 options vest monthly from August 1, 2003 through November 1, 2003; 71,000 options vest monthly from November 1, 2003 through November 1, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Beneficial ownership disclosure 
only.  10,494 options vest on July 10, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  16,605 options vest on July 10, 2003; 6,458 options vest monthly from July 31, 2003 through January 31, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F8">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  85,960 options vest on July 10, 2003; 26,449 options vest monthly from August 1, 2003 through November 1, 2003; 56,336 options vest monthly from November 1, 2003 through November 1, 2004.</footnote><footnote id="F9">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  62,250 options vest on July 10, 2003; 93,375 options vest monthly from August 1, 2003 through October 1, 2005.</footnote><footnote id="F10">The price of the derivitive security will be determined at a future date upon exercise of the option.</footnote><footnote id="F11">Options vest monthly from September 15, 2003 through August 15, 2007.</footnote><footnote id="F12">Beneficial ownership disclosure only.  Options fully vested on June 18, 2002.</footnote><footnote id="F13">Be
neficial ownership disclosure only.  Options fully vested on December 7, 2002.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Jack Cuthbert</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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