-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VrhRtf4LcPS+otm8FlqvY7G3OPEBMBbSQGaNO8gs2XtOfGTrJ3EPJ1/SkQ76Syhf
 sAa541SLOzFh6hpH3b8IUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-016826.txt : 20080915
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-016826.hdr.sgml : 20080915
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080915172342
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-016826
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080909
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080915
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080915

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARPER EDWIN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194660

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30575
		FILM NUMBER:		081072426

	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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4/A -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-09</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2008-09-11</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001109808</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVOCENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVCT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194660</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARPER EDWIN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9911 WILLOWS ROAD N.E.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98052</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-09</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.9245</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41255</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (rights to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>52.4375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-09-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-09-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (rights to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-04-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-04-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (rights to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (rights to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>40.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-05</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>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (rights to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.14</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant date, exercisable in 24 equal monthly installments beginning one month from date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant date, 100% vests on December 31, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These include time-based restricted shares granted on April 27, 2007 and February 19, 2008.  5,016 shares vest on January 1, 2009 and 3,000 sahres vest on January 1, 2010. These also include performance-based restricted shares granted on February 8, 2008.  The shares vested on 07/15/2008  when a CEO elected by the Avocent Corporation Board of Directors took offce and commenced employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The original From 4 had an earlier, incorrect date of sale as September 8, 2008 instead of September 9, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard K. Hempstead as attorney-in-fact for Edwin L Harper</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----