-----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,
 APIYM2gUF8QsZGw0bY1xIC7uvqUf5EZJGM91n9AdecAL6/kLMIOrxwz5dfAwBTXa
 cLKnbh+UVvrR0NBjSRoBsQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001231657-03-000001.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0001231657-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017143729
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001231657-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031016
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OBRIEN WILLIAM K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001187425

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10228
		FILM NUMBER:		03945680

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 MINUTEMAN ROAD
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9786841000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ENTERASYS NETWORKS INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000846909
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3576]
		IRS NUMBER:				042797263
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1229

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 MINUTEMAN ROAD
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810
		BUSINESS PHONE:		978-684-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 MINUTEMAN ROAD
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CABLETRON SYSTEMS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-16</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000846909</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENTERASYS NETWORKS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ETS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187425</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OBRIEN WILLIAM K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ENTERASYS NETWORKS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>50 MINUTEMAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ANDOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01810</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.23</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-10-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-10-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, Par Value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option vests as to 25% of the shares on the Date Exercisable, then pro-rata monthly thereafter for the ensuing 36 months.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerald M. Haines II as attorney-in-fact for William K. O'Brien</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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