<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>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<CASH>                                          19,163
<SECURITIES>                                     3,680
<RECEIVABLES>                                   44,614
<ALLOWANCES>                                       796
<INVENTORY>                                     12,631
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                84,610
<PP&E>                                          49,472
<DEPRECIATION>                                  32,183
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 112,650
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           33,774
<BONDS>                                          1,481
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           235
<OTHER-SE>                                      77,160
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   112,650
<SALES>                                         81,299
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               115,838
<CGS>                                           28,259
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   48,090
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                18,367<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 176
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,957
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,725
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              7,232
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     7,232
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .28
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT PRESENTED REPRESENTS ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE
</FN>