content: <PAGE>
  
                                   UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, DC 20549
  
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURENT REPORT
       Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
  
           Date of Report (Date of earliest reported): September 4, 2001
  
  
                                CLARENT CORPORATION
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)
  
  
           Delaware                     000-26441                 77-0433687
  ----------------------------          ---------                 ----------
  (State or other jurisdiction         (Commission               (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                File Number)            Identification No.)
  
  
         700 Chesapeake Drive
          Redwood City, CA                                           94063
  ----------------------------------------                           -----
  (Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)
  
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 306-7511
  
  
                                  Not Applicable
           -------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5. Other Events.
  
       On September 4, 2001, Registrant announced that it has discovered
  information suggesting that its previously reported revenues for the first and
  second quarters of fiscal 2001 may have been materially overstated. The
  Registrant's Board of Directors has formed a special committee to investigate a
  number of transactions that place in question the Registrant's historical
  financial results. The Registrant is being assisted in this review by its
  outside auditors, Ernst & Young LLP. As further discussed in the press release,
  the Board of Directors placed a number of employees on administrative leave,
  pending completion of the investigation.
  
       A copy of the press release of Registrant with respect to the matters
  disclosed above is included herein as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated by
  reference into this Item 5.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
  (c)  Exhibits
  
  Exhibit
  Number            Description
  
  99.1      Press Release, dated September 4, 2001.
  
                                         2
  <PAGE>
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
                                                  CLARENT CORPORATION
  
  
  Date: September 4, 2001                         /s/ Michael F. Vargo
                                                  --------------------------------
                                                  Michael F. Vargo,
                                                  Chief Executive Officer
  
                                         3
  <PAGE>
  
                                   EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
  Number          Description
  
  99.1      Press Release, dated September 4, 2001.
  
                                         4
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2001", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3262}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CLARENT CORP/DE", "cik": "0001068292", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "770433687", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-26441", "film-number": "1730635"}, "business-address": {"street1": "700 CHESAPEAKE DRIVE", "street2": "650-306-7511", "city": "REDWOOD CITY", "state": "CA", "zip": "94063", "phone": "6503067511"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "700 CHESAPEAKE DRIVE", "city": "REDWOOD CITY", "state": "CA", "zip": "94063"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "CLARENT CORP/CA", "date-changed": "19990324"}}
text: UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, DC 20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURENT REPORT
       Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
           Date of Report (Date of earliest reported): September 4, 2001
  
                                CLARENT CORPORATION
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)
  
           Delaware                     000-26441                 77-0433687
  ----------------------------          ---------                 ----------
  (State or other jurisdiction         (Commission               (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)                File Number)            Identification No.)
  
         700 Chesapeake Drive
          Redwood City, CA                                           94063
  ----------------------------------------                           -----
  (Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 306-7511
  
                                  Not Applicable
           -------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Item 5. Other Events.
  
       On September 4, 2001, Registrant announced that it has discovered
  information suggesting that its previously reported revenues for the first and
  second quarters of fiscal 2001 may have been materially overstated. The
  Registrant's Board of Directors has formed a special committee to investigate a
  number of transactions that place in question the Registrant's historical
  financial results. The Registrant is being assisted in this review by its
  outside auditors, Ernst & Young LLP. As further discussed in the press release,
  the Board of Directors placed a number of employees on administrative leave,
  pending completion of the investigation.
  
       A copy of the press release of Registrant with respect to the matters
  disclosed above is included herein as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated by
  reference into this Item 5.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
  (c)  Exhibits
  
  Exhibit
  Number            Description
  
  99.1      Press Release, dated September 4, 2001.
  
                                         2
  SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                                  CLARENT CORPORATION
  
  Date: September 4, 2001                         /s/ Michael F. Vargo
                                                  --------------------------------
                                                  Michael F. Vargo,
                                                  Chief Executive Officer
  
                                         3
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
  Number          Description
  
  99.1      Press Release, dated September 4, 2001.
  
                                         4