-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QRVDBCvGMrO2YTrE6/vJfJGD0IEaCT56hm/R/KAqBJy0wpK6QkqmU3erQHFeRKTK
 UHQWpXJ1OUm9Q+e+PoBI+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001195839-08-000001.txt : 20081205
<SEC-HEADER>0001195839-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20081205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081205180245
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001195839-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARINALLI CHARLES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195839

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25711
		FILM NUMBER:		081234091

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
		STREET 2:		82 RUNNING HILL ROAD MS 35-4E
		CITY:			SOUTH PORTLAND
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04106
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408-822-2113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EXTREME NETWORKS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001078271
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3576]
		IRS NUMBER:				770430270
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3585 MONROE STREET
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4085792800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3585 MONROE STREET
		CITY:			SANTA CLARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95051
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-04</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001078271</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXTREME NETWORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195839</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARINALLI CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3585 MONROE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95051</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-12-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock pursuant to the Extreme Networks, Inc. 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.  Vests in full on the date one year after the date of grant (or, if earlier, the date of the next subsequent annual meeting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Vests in full on the date one year after the date of grant (or, if earlier, the date of the next subsequent annual meeting).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathleen Swift fbo Charles Carinalli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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