-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ua6SZiKXnRw5eF2u5Vn/vo8iSBpmyTcqDpHSINq8VfG9ofdq+Ir/cl0KjEQt8Ym3
 pQzMKOaNaBtzP35G+CBYDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-033453.txt : 20031203
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-033453.hdr.sgml : 20031203
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031203163043
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-033453
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031202
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031203

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TA ADVENT VIII LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106837
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26251
		FILM NUMBER:		031035588

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 HIGH ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 HIGH ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NETSCOUT SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001078075
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN [7373]
		IRS NUMBER:				042837575
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 TECHNOLOGY PARK DR
		CITY:			WESTFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01886
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9786144000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE
		CITY:			WESTFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01886
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>b48711ad.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-02</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001078075</issuerCik><issuerName>NETSCOUT SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTCT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001106837</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>TA ADVENT VIII LP</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>125 HIGH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 2500</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><se
curityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>75991</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.30</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3494985</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>TA/Advent VIII L.P.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>By: TA Associates VIII LLC, its General Partn
er</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>By: TA Associates, Inc., its Manager</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature><ownerSignature><signatureName>By: Thomas P. Alber, Chief Financial Officer</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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