<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-10</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001078271</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXTREME NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXTR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258527</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SLAKEY WILLIAM R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3585 MONROE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95051</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.07</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>450000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.07</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>200000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option is exercisable as vested; 25% vests on 10/23/2004 and then 1/48 vests each full month thereafter until fully vested.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Option is exercisable as vested; 25% vests on 10/23/2006 and then 1/48 vests each full month thereafter until fully vested.  The vesting of shares subject to this option may accelerate based upon achievement of performance based criteria.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>William R. Slakey</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

