<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMPUTER NETWORK TECHNOLOGY AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTRIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999
<CASH>                                          21,662
<SECURITIES>                                       673
<RECEIVABLES>                                   34,849
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,233
<INVENTORY>                                     15,803
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                77,071
<PP&E>                                          47,829
<DEPRECIATION>                                  30,715
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 105,192
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           32,509
<BONDS>                                          1,604
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           234
<OTHER-SE>                                      70,845
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   105,192
<SALES>                                         52,134
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                74,769
<CGS>                                           17,663
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   30,672
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                12,093<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 102
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,792
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,309
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,483
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,483
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .20<F2>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .17
<FN>
<F1>Amount presented represents engineering and development expense.
<F2>Amount presented represents basic EPS.
</FN>