<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                          14,190
<SECURITIES>                                       760
<RECEIVABLES>                                   36,405
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,233
<INVENTORY>                                     17,142
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                72,437
<PP&E>                                          45,254
<DEPRECIATION>                                  29,026
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  99,977
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           32,444
<BONDS>                                          1,725
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           228
<OTHER-SE>                                      65,580
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    99,977
<SALES>                                         25,757
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                36,913
<CGS>                                            8,612
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   15,099
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,934<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  46
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,088
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,391
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              2,697
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,697
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .12<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .11
<FN>
<F1>Amount presented represents engineering and development expense.
<F2>Amount presented represents basic EPS.
</FN>