content: <PAGE>
  
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
                              _______________________
  
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                         The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              _______________________
  
  
         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2001
                        BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                              _______________________
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  <S>                                            <C>                         <C>
              Delaware                             000-25601                   77-0409517
    (State or other jurisdiction of          (Commission File Number)         (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                                        Identification Number)
  </TABLE>
  
  
                                1745 Technology Drive
                                 San Jose, CA 95110
  
  
                              _______________________
  
            (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)
  
  
  
  
                 Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
  
                                   (408) 487-8000
                              _______________________
  
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  
  
  ================================================================================
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  Item 5.  Other Events.
           ------------
  
       On December 18, 2001, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., a Delaware
  corporation, (the "Registrant") issued two press releases (attached hereto as
  Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2). The information that is set forth in the
  Registrant's press releases both dated December 18, 2001 is incorporated herein
  by reference.
  
  
  
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
           ---------------------------------
  
             (a) Exhibits.
                 --------
  
                 99.1 Text of Press Release, dated as of December 18, 2001.
  
                 99.2 Text of Press Release, dated as of December 18, 2001.
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
       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.
  
  
                                        BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
                                        A Delaware Corporation
  
  
  
  
  Dated: January 23, 2002               By:  /s/ Antonio Canova
                                            -------------------------------------
                                            Antonio Canova
                                            Vice President, Finance and
                                            Chief Financial Officer
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit Number    Description of Exhibit
  ---------------   --------------------------------------------------------------
  
           99.1     Text of Press Release, dated December 18, 2001
  
           99.2     Text of Press Release, dated December 18, 2001
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d8k.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3388}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0001009626", "assigned-sic": "3576", "irs-number": "770409517", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1028"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-25601", "film-number": "02515161"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1901 GUADALUPE PARKWAY", "street2": "SUITE E", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95131"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1901 GUADALUPE PARKWAY", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95131"}}
text: ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
                              _______________________
  
                                      FORM 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                         The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              _______________________
  
         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2001
                        BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                              _______________________
  Delaware                             000-25601                   77-0409517
    (State or other jurisdiction of          (Commission File Number)         (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)                                        Identification Number)
  1745 Technology Drive
                                 San Jose, CA 95110
  
                              _______________________
  
            (Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)
  
                 Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
  
                                   (408) 487-8000
                              _______________________
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  ================================================================================
  Item 5.  Other Events.
           ------------
  
       On December 18, 2001, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., a Delaware
  corporation, (the "Registrant") issued two press releases (attached hereto as
  Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2). The information that is set forth in the
  Registrant's press releases both dated December 18, 2001 is incorporated herein
  by reference.
  
  Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
           ---------------------------------
  
             (a) Exhibits.
                 --------
  
                 99.1 Text of Press Release, dated as of December 18, 2001.
  
                 99.2 Text of Press Release, dated as of December 18, 2001.
  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.
  
                                        BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
                                        A Delaware Corporation
  
  Dated: January 23, 2002               By:  /s/ Antonio Canova
                                            -------------------------------------
                                            Antonio Canova
                                            Vice President, Finance and
                                            Chief Financial Officer
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit Number    Description of Exhibit
  ---------------   --------------------------------------------------------------
  
           99.1     Text of Press Release, dated December 18, 2001
  
           99.2     Text of Press Release, dated December 18, 2001