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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-21</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001219210</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IKANOS COMMUNICATIONS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IKAN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181066</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ATLER DANIEL K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IKANOS COMMUNICATIONS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>47669 FREMONT BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FREMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94538</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>145833</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>58167</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-06-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.20</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>41666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On September 20, 2003, the Reporting Person was granted an option to purchase 204,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 145,833 have been exercised.  The option is fully exercisable from the date of grant and vests at the rate of 1/4th of the shares on September 20, 2004 and as to 1/48th of the shares on each one month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option is fully exercisable from its March 1, 2005 date of grant and vests at the rate of 1/12th of the shares on July 1, 2004 and each one month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option is fully exercisable from its July 19, 2005 date of grant and vests at the rate of 1/48th of the shares on July 1, 2005 and on each one month anniversary thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel K. Atler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
