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)     April 17, 2002
                                                  --------------------------------
  
                                Legato Systems, Inc.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
  
  
  
      Delaware                     000-26130                       94-3077394
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other                 (Commission                     (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of                 File Number)                 Identification No.)
  incorporation)
  
  
  2350 West El Camino Real, Mountain View, California                     94040
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)
  
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (650) 210-7000
                                                    ------------------------------
  
  
                                   Not Applicable
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  
  <PAGE>
  
  ITEM 5   OTHER EVENTS
           ------------
  
       On April 17, 2002, Legato Systems, Inc. ( "Legato") announced agreements to
  settle class action and derivative lawsuits filed in 2000 in the United States
  District Court for the Northern District of California and in San Mateo County
  Superior Court. The settlement agreements are subject to court approval. A copy
  of the press release issued by Legato on April 17, 2002 concerning the
  settlement agreements is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated
  herein by reference.
  
  ITEM 7   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
           ---------------------------------
  
       (c) Exhibits. The following documents are filed as exhibits to this report:
           --------
  
             99.1    Press Release dated April 17, 2002.
  
                                         2
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                     SIGNATURE
  
       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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                           Legato Systems, Inc.
  
  
  Date: April 17, 2002
                                           By: /s/ Andrew J. Brown
                                           Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         3
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                   Exhibit Index
                                   -------------
  
        Exhibit
        -------
         99.1           Press Release dated April 17, 2002.
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LEGATO SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000859360", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "943077394", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-26130", "film-number": "02613915"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3210 PORTER DR", "city": "PALO ALTO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94304", "phone": "4158126000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3210 PORTER DRIVE", "city": "PALO ALTO", "state": "CA", "zip": "94304"}}
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)     April 17, 2002
                                                  --------------------------------
  
                                Legato Systems, Inc.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
  
      Delaware                     000-26130                       94-3077394
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other                 (Commission                     (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of                 File Number)                 Identification No.)
  incorporation)
  
  2350 West El Camino Real, Mountain View, California                     94040
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (650) 210-7000
                                                    ------------------------------
  
                                   Not Applicable
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  ITEM 5   OTHER EVENTS
           ------------
  
       On April 17, 2002, Legato Systems, Inc. ( "Legato") announced agreements to
  settle class action and derivative lawsuits filed in 2000 in the United States
  District Court for the Northern District of California and in San Mateo County
  Superior Court. The settlement agreements are subject to court approval. A copy
  of the press release issued by Legato on April 17, 2002 concerning the
  settlement agreements is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated
  herein by reference.
  
  ITEM 7   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
           ---------------------------------
  
       (c) Exhibits. The following documents are filed as exhibits to this report:
           --------
  
             99.1    Press Release dated April 17, 2002.
  
                                         2
  SIGNATURE
  
       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 thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                           Legato Systems, Inc.
  
  Date: April 17, 2002
                                           By: /s/ Andrew J. Brown
                                           Senior Vice President and
                                             Chief Financial Officer
  
                                         3
  Exhibit Index
                                   -------------
  
        Exhibit
        -------
         99.1           Press Release dated April 17, 2002.