<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-09</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001000495</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VISUAL NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VNWK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARXE AUSTIN W &amp; GREENHOUSE DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>153 E 53RD ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>55TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1747611</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.2755</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-03-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>157879</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Bonds</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1379310</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Convertible Bonds</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2624035</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Limited Partnerships</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) &amp; David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting &amp; investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. (Cayman), Special Situations Private Equity Fund, LP (PE), Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (Tech) &amp; Special Situations Technology II, L.P. (Tech II), respectively. 586,725 shares of Common Stock are held by
Cayman, 980,786 shares of Common Stock are held by PE, 26,019 shares of Common Stock are held by Tech and 154,081 shares of Common Stock are held by Tech II.
The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned by Cayman, PE, Tech, and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) &amp; David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting &amp; investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. (Cayman), Special Situations Private Equity Fund, LP (PE), Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (Tech) &amp; Special Situations Technology II, L.P. (Tech II), respectively. 122,356 Warrants are held by PE, 5,813
Warrants are held by Tech and 29,710 Warrants are held by Tech II. The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned
by Cayman, PE, Tech, and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) &amp; David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting &amp; investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. (Cayman), Special Situations Private Equity Fund, LP (PE), Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (Tech) &amp; Special Situations Technology II, L.P. (Tech II), respectively. 1,550,000 Convertible Bonds convertible into
1,068,965  Common Stock are held by PE, 73,643 Convertible Bonds convertible into 50,788 Common Stock are held by Tech and 376,357  Convertible Bonds Convertible into 259,557 Common Stock are held by Tech II. The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned by Cayman, PE, Tech, and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This is a joint filing by Austin W. Marxe (Marxe) &amp; David M. Greenhouse (Greenhouse).  They share voting &amp; investment control over all securities owned by Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P. (Cayman), Special Situations Private Equity Fund, LP (PE), Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P. (Tech) &amp; Special Situations Technology II, L.P. (Tech II), respectively. 1,277,401 Convertible Bonds convertible into
880,966 shares of Common Stock are held by Cayman, 2,135,340 Convertible Bonds convertible into 1,472,648 shares of Common Stock, 56,648 Convertible Bonds convertible into 39,068 shares of Common Stock are held by Tech and 335,461 Convertible Bonds Convertible into 231,353 shares of Common Stock are held by Tech II. The interest of Marxe and Greenhouse in the shares of Common Stock owned by Cayman, PE, Tech, and Tech II is limited to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Austin W. Marxe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David M. Greenhouse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
