content: <PAGE>
  
                                    UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, DC 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): October 23, 2001
                                                          -----------------
  
  
                                 CLARENT CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)
  
  <TABLE>
  <S>                                              <C>                                  <C>
            Delaware                                000-26441                            77-0433687
            --------                                ---------                            ----------
  (State or other jurisdiction                     (Commission                          (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)                           File Number)                       Identification No.)
  </TABLE>
  
  
            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 October 23, 2001, Registrant announced that it is continuing its
  investigation into the previously announced overstatement of historical
  revenues. The results of this investigation indicate that there have been
  financial irregularities that materially affect the previously reported results
  for fiscal year 2000, as well as the first two quarters of fiscal year 2001. The
  Registrant said that Ernst & Young notified Registrant that its previously
  issued reports on Registrant's financial statements for the year ended December
  31, 2000 should no longer be relied upon. The Registrant also said that Ernst &
  Young remains its auditor of record and is assisting with 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 and Exhibits.
  
  (c)      Exhibits
  
  Exhibit
  Number            Description
  
  99.1     Press Release, dated October 23, 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: October 24, 2001               /s/ Michael F. Vargo
                                       -------------------------------------------
                                       Michael F. Vargo, President and
                                       Chief Executive Officer
  
  
  
  
                                         3
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
  Number            Description
  
  99.1     Press Release, dated October 23, 2001.
  
  
  
  
  
                                         4
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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": "1765284"}, "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
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
       Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 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 October 23, 2001, Registrant announced that it is continuing its
  investigation into the previously announced overstatement of historical
  revenues. The results of this investigation indicate that there have been
  financial irregularities that materially affect the previously reported results
  for fiscal year 2000, as well as the first two quarters of fiscal year 2001. The
  Registrant said that Ernst & Young notified Registrant that its previously
  issued reports on Registrant's financial statements for the year ended December
  31, 2000 should no longer be relied upon. The Registrant also said that Ernst &
  Young remains its auditor of record and is assisting with 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 and Exhibits.
  
  (c)      Exhibits
  
  Exhibit
  Number            Description
  
  99.1     Press Release, dated October 23, 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: October 24, 2001               /s/ Michael F. Vargo
                                       -------------------------------------------
                                       Michael F. Vargo, President and
                                       Chief Executive Officer
  
                                         3
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  Exhibit
  Number            Description
  
  99.1     Press Release, dated October 23, 2001.
  
                                         4