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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-026194.txt : 20040830
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-026194.hdr.sgml : 20040830
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040830131543
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-026194
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040826
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040830
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040830

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDONNELL JOHN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013060
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIRCRAFT [3721]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31257
		FILM NUMBER:		041004686

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MCDATA CORP
		STREET 2:		310 INTERLOCKEN PARKWAY
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80021
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3034609200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCDATA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000731502
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669]
		IRS NUMBER:				841421844
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		380 INTERLOCKEN CRESCENT
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80021
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3034609200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		380 INTERLOCKEN CRESCENT
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80021
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000731502</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MCDATA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCDT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013060</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCDONNELL JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>22545 TREE TOP LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GOLDEN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-08-26</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.10</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1924867</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <value>5.1022</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20538</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.18</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1872105</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1862105</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.10</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-08-27</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.16</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <value>2004-08-27</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.12</value>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>John F. McDonnell GRAT #1</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>John F. McDonnell GRAT #2</value>
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        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>John F. McDonnell GRAT #3</value>
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        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>400000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>John F. McDonnell GRAT #4</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>McDonnell Family Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>McDATA Corporation Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James C.T. Linfield, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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