-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VXLHGV/wchtTfoW905Zv+eqjlcU0HxISlgClNgSoCYp+RqX4P3ThSg4zWAQqVrSu
 jx03jvSjn8FVcG1xNVCXUw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-009100.txt : 20031022
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-009100.hdr.sgml : 20031022
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031022171228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-009100
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031021
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031022

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLANKENSHIP EDWARD H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194669

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30575
		FILM NUMBER:		03952457

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4991 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			HUNTVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35805

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVOCENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001109808
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				912032368
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4991 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			HUNTSVILLIE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35805
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2564304000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4991 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			HMTSVILLE
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35805

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AEGEAN SEA INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000323
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-10-21</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001109808</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVOCENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVCT</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194669</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLANKENSHIP EDWARD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4991 CORPORATE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35805</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP Accounting &amp; CAO</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-21</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>15.46</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3097</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-21</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>37.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1097</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options (rights to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.46</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-10-21</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2002-07-25</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2012-07-25</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>38000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Options (rights to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>27.25</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2003-03-07</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2013-03-07</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Grant date, options vest over four years, 25% on the first anniversary of the grant date and 6.25% quarterly over the remaining 12 quarters.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">Grant date, 25% vests after 6 months, 7.5% vests every three months for the final 10 quarters.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Edward H Blankenship</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-10-22</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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