content: <PAGE>
  
                                   UNITED STATES
  
                        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
  
                                 October 17, 2000
                 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
                                  SonicWALL, Inc.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
           California                 000-27723             77-0270079
  (State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission         (I.R.S. employer
  incorporation or organization)      File No.)        identification number)
  
                                1160 Bordeaux Drive
                            Sunnyvale, California 94089
               (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
                                  (408) 745-9600
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  
                                  Not Applicable
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  <PAGE>
  
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
       On October 17, 2000, SonicWALL, Inc. announced in a press release (attached
  hereto as Exhibit 99.1) that it has entered into a definitive agreement to
  acquire Phobus Corporation, a privately-held Internet security infrastructure
  manufacturer based in Salt Lake City.  Under the terms of the agreement,
  approximately 12.2 million shares and options of SonicWALL common stock and $50
  million in cash will be exchanged for all outstanding shares, options and
  warrants of Phobus Corporation.  Based on SonicWALL's closing price of $17.88 on
  October 16, 2000, the cash and stock exchanged would have an aggregate value of
  approximately $268 million.  Of the $50 million, $20 million is contingent upon
  the achievement of certain revenue targets by Phobus in 2001.  The acquisition
  is expected to be completed by the end of the year and is subject to customary
  closing conditions.  SonicWALL intends to account for the transaction under the
  purchase accounting method.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
            (a)  Financial Statements
  
                 Not Applicable.
  
            (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information
  
                 Not Applicable.
  
            (c)  Exhibits
  
                 99.1    Press Release dated October 17, 2000.
  
                                         2
  <PAGE>
  
                                    SIGNATURES
  
   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
   amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
   by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                              SonicWALL, Inc.
                                              (Registrant)
  
    Date:  October 27, 2000           By:     /s/ Sreekanth Ravi
                                              ------------------
                                              Sreekanth Ravi
                                              President & Chief Executive Officer
  
                                         3
  <PAGE>
  
                                   Exhibit Index
  
  99.1    Press Release dated October 17, 2000.
  
                                         4
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SONICWALL INC", "cik": "0001093885", "assigned-sic": "7389", "irs-number": "770270079", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-27723", "film-number": "747313"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1160 BORDEAUX DRIVE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94089", "phone": "4087459600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5400 BETSY ROSS DR", "city": "SANTA CLARA", "state": "CA", "zip": "95054"}}
text: UNITED STATES
  
                        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
  
                                 October 17, 2000
                 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
                                  SonicWALL, Inc.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
           California                 000-27723             77-0270079
  (State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission         (I.R.S. employer
  incorporation or organization)      File No.)        identification number)
  
                                1160 Bordeaux Drive
                            Sunnyvale, California 94089
               (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
  
                                  (408) 745-9600
               (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
                                  Not Applicable
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
       On October 17, 2000, SonicWALL, Inc. announced in a press release (attached
  hereto as Exhibit 99.1) that it has entered into a definitive agreement to
  acquire Phobus Corporation, a privately-held Internet security infrastructure
  manufacturer based in Salt Lake City.  Under the terms of the agreement,
  approximately 12.2 million shares and options of SonicWALL common stock and $50
  million in cash will be exchanged for all outstanding shares, options and
  warrants of Phobus Corporation.  Based on SonicWALL's closing price of $17.88 on
  October 16, 2000, the cash and stock exchanged would have an aggregate value of
  approximately $268 million.  Of the $50 million, $20 million is contingent upon
  the achievement of certain revenue targets by Phobus in 2001.  The acquisition
  is expected to be completed by the end of the year and is subject to customary
  closing conditions.  SonicWALL intends to account for the transaction under the
  purchase accounting method.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
  
            (a)  Financial Statements
  
                 Not Applicable.
  
            (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information
  
                 Not Applicable.
  
            (c)  Exhibits
  
                 99.1    Press Release dated October 17, 2000.
  
                                         2
  SIGNATURES
  
   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
   amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
   by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                              SonicWALL, Inc.
                                              (Registrant)
  
    Date:  October 27, 2000           By:     /s/ Sreekanth Ravi
                                              ------------------
                                              Sreekanth Ravi
                                              President & Chief Executive Officer
  
                                         3
  Exhibit Index
  
  99.1    Press Release dated October 17, 2000.
  
                                         4