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): August 17, 2006

BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) 000-25601
(Commission File Number) 77-0409517
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

1745 Technology Drive
San Jose, CA 95110

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(408) 333-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

þ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXHIBIT 99.1

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On August 17, 2006 Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial results for the third quarter ended on July 29, 2006. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1, and the information in Exhibit 99.1 is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in Item 2.02 and Item 9.01 in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 8.01 Other Matters

The attached press release is also filed pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933 and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

99.1 Press release, dated August 17, 2006, announcing financial results of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. for the third quarter ended on July 29, 2006.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC

Brocade plans to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 in connection with the transaction and Brocade and McDATA plan to file with the SEC and mail to their respective stockholders a Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in connection with the transaction. The Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will contain important information about Brocade, McDATA, the transaction and related matters. Investors and security holders are urged to read the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully when they are available. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Brocade and McDATA through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus from Brocade by contacting Investor Relations at (408) 333-5767 or investor-relations@brocade.com or from McDATA by contacting Investor Relations (408) 567-5815 or investor_relations@mcdata.com.

Brocade and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Brocade and McDATA in connection with the transaction described herein. Information regarding the special interests of these directors and executive officers in the transaction described herein will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus described above. Additional information regarding these directors and executive officers is also included in Brocade’s proxy statement for its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on or about February 24, 2006. This document is available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov and from Brocade by contacting Brocade at Investor Relations at (408) 333-5767 or investor-relations@brocade.com.

McDATA and its directors and executive officers also may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Brocade and McDATA in connection with the transaction described herein. Information regarding the special interests of these directors and executive officers in the transaction described herein will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus described above. Additional information regarding these directors and executive officers is also included in McDATA’s proxy statement for its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on or about June 9, 2006. This document is available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov and from McDATA by contacting McDATA at Investor Relations (408) 567-5815 or investor-relations@mcdata.com.

     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.
Dated: August 17, 2006	By:	/s/ Richard Deranleau
		Richard Deranleau
		Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Press release, dated August 17, 2006, announcing financial results of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. for the third quarter ended on July 29, 2006.