<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION AS
OF AND FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000701319
<NAME> COMPUTER NETWORK
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-31-2001
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-2000
<CASH>                                          67,318
<SECURITIES>                                    78,533
<RECEIVABLES>                                   37,701
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,776
<INVENTORY>                                     18,524
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               213,101
<PP&E>                                          59,025
<DEPRECIATION>                                  35,729
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 244,804
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           46,430
<BONDS>                                          2,028
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           290
<OTHER-SE>                                     196,056
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   244,804
<SALES>                                         92,279
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               129,146
<CGS>                                           38,597
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   60,517
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                16,742<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,352
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 246
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,056
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,299
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,757
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (3,169)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,588
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .28
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT REPRESENTS ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE.
</FN>