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  <TITLE>Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Current Report on Form 8-K</TITLE>
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   <HR SIZE="4" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Washington, DC 20549 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR NOSHADE WIDTH="21%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>FORM 8-K </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="2"><B>Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 17, 2002 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR NOSHADE WIDTH="21%" COLOR="#000000"><DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV
  ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="5"><B>ONI Systems Corp. </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT
  SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Delaware </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) </B></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center">
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>0-30633</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>77046-9657</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Commission File Number)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>5965 Silver Creek Valley Road, San Jose,<BR>California</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="48%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>95138</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="50%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Zip Code)</B></FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
   </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>(408) 965-2600 </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="1"><B>(Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="2">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Not Applicable </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <HR SIZE="4" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left">
  
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   <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Item 5:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Other Events </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:27px"><FONT
  FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">On February 17, 2002, ONI Systems Corp., a Delaware corporation, signed a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with CIENA Corporation, a Delaware corporation. According to the Agreement and Plan of Merger,
  effective on and as of the closing date (which has not yet been determined) ONI will merge with and into CIENA, with CIENA surviving the merger. Notwithstanding the Agreement and Plan of Merger, the proposed transaction remains subject to the
  approval of the stockholders of both ONI and CIENA. The date of the ONI stockholder meeting has not yet been determined. In anticipation of the stockholder meeting, ONI&#146;s board of directors intends to solicit proxies by circulating a proxy
  statement that will be contained in a registration statement on a Form S-4 to be filed by CIENA under the Securities Act of 1933. The proposed merger is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization and will be accounted for under the purchase
  method of accounting. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:27px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Upon consummation of the merger, CIENA will issue 0.7104 shares of its common stock for each outstanding
  share of ONI common stock and will also convert all outstanding ONI options and warrants into options and warrants to purchase shares of CIENA common stock. CIENA will assume ONI&#146;s outstanding 5% subordinated convertible notes due 2005.
  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:27px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">When and if the proposed transaction is completed, based on securities outstanding on February 15, 2002, the former holders of
  ONI common stock, options and warrants will hold securities representing approximately 24% of CIENA&#146;s total outstanding common stock, options and warrants. Rusty Cumpston, Rohit Sharma and other executives at ONI will become executives of CIENA
  after the completion of the proposed transaction. Hugh C. Martin will provide assistance in the integration of the two businesses after completion of the proposed transaction but is not expected to have a long-term role with CIENA. </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:27px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In conjunction with the execution of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, various executive officers and directors of ONI executed voting
  agreements under which they agreed to vote their shares of ONI common stock, collectively constituting approximately 11.5% of ONI&#146;s outstanding common stock, in favor of the merger and against any proposal made in opposition to or in
  competition with the merger. In addition, Hugh C. Martin, William R. Cumpston and Rohit Sharma have each agreed for a period of 180 days following the merger not to sell the shares of CIENA common stock that they will receive in connection with the
  merger. </FONT></DIV> <P></P>
   <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2 </FONT></DIV>
  
  
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   <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>SIGNATURE </B></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV STYLE="text-indent:27px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
  SIZE="2">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. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV STYLE="margin-left:13px; text-indent:-13px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Date: February 18, 2002 </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="right">
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  <TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" WIDTH="43%"> <DIV><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">O<SMALL>NI</SMALL> S<SMALL>YSTEMS</SMALL> C<SMALL>ORP</SMALL>.</FONT></DIV> </TD> </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD HEIGHT="16"> </TD> </TR>
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  <TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="3%"> <DIV STYLE="margin-left:13px; text-indent:-13px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">By:</FONT></DIV> </TD>
  <TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="3%"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
  <TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="43%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/<SMALL>S</SMALL>/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;W<SMALL>ILLIAM</SMALL> R.
  C<SMALL>UMPSTON&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</SMALL></FONT></DIV> <HR NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD> </TR>
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  <TD> <FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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  <TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" WIDTH="43%"> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>William R. Cumpston</B></FONT></DIV> <DIV ALIGN="center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="1"><B>Chief Operating Officer</B></FONT></DIV>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ONI SYSTEMS CORP", "cik": "0001107067", "assigned-sic": "3661", "irs-number": "770469657"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-30633", "film-number": "02552665"}, "business-address": {"street1": "166 B BAYPOINTE PARKWAY", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134", "phone": "4089652600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONI SYSTEMS CORP", "street2": "166 B BAYPOINTE PARKWAY", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134"}}
text: Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Current Report on Form 8-K
  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): February 17, 2002
  ONI Systems Corp.
  (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
  Delaware
  (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
  0-30633
  77046-9657
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  5965 Silver Creek Valley Road, San Jose,
  California
  95138
  (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  (Zip Code)
  (408) 965-2600
  (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
  Not Applicable
  (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
  Item 5:    Other Events
  On February 17, 2002, ONI Systems Corp., a Delaware corporation, signed a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger with CIENA Corporation, a Delaware corporation. According to the Agreement and Plan of Merger,
  effective on and as of the closing date (which has not yet been determined) ONI will merge with and into CIENA, with CIENA surviving the merger. Notwithstanding the Agreement and Plan of Merger, the proposed transaction remains subject to the
  approval of the stockholders of both ONI and CIENA. The date of the ONI stockholder meeting has not yet been determined. In anticipation of the stockholder meeting, ONI's board of directors intends to solicit proxies by circulating a proxy
  statement that will be contained in a registration statement on a Form S-4 to be filed by CIENA under the Securities Act of 1933. The proposed merger is intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization and will be accounted for under the purchase
  method of accounting.
  Upon consummation of the merger, CIENA will issue 0.7104 shares of its common stock for each outstanding
  share of ONI common stock and will also convert all outstanding ONI options and warrants into options and warrants to purchase shares of CIENA common stock. CIENA will assume ONI's outstanding 5% subordinated convertible notes due 2005.
  When and if the proposed transaction is completed, based on securities outstanding on February 15, 2002, the former holders of
  ONI common stock, options and warrants will hold securities representing approximately 24% of CIENA's total outstanding common stock, options and warrants. Rusty Cumpston, Rohit Sharma and other executives at ONI will become executives of CIENA
  after the completion of the proposed transaction. Hugh C. Martin will provide assistance in the integration of the two businesses after completion of the proposed transaction but is not expected to have a long-term role with CIENA.
  In conjunction with the execution of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, various executive officers and directors of ONI executed voting
  agreements under which they agreed to vote their shares of ONI common stock, collectively constituting approximately 11.5% of ONI's outstanding common stock, in favor of the merger and against any proposal made in opposition to or in
  competition with the merger. In addition, Hugh C. Martin, William R. Cumpston and Rohit Sharma have each agreed for a period of 180 days following the merger not to sell the shares of CIENA common stock that they will receive in connection with the
  merger.
  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 hereunto duly authorized.
  Date: February 18, 2002
  O
  NI
  S
  YSTEMS
  C
  ORP
  .
  By:
  /
  S
  /    W
  ILLIAM
  R.
  C
  UMPSTON
  William R. Cumpston
  Chief Operating Officer