Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
Kienast Kay E
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AVOCENT CORP [AVCT]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP - Chief Marketing Officer
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
4991 CORPORATE DRIVE
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/22/2009
(Street)

HUNTSVILLE, AL 35805
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 01/22/2009   M   3,500 (3) A $ 14.97 18,555 (1) D  
Common Stock 01/22/2009   D   437 (4) D $ 14.97 18,118 (1) D  

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Performance-share Award with Market Conditions $ 14.97 01/22/2009   M     3,500 01/22/2009(2) 02/19/2018 Common Stock 3,500 $ 0 5,250 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
Kienast Kay E
4991 CORPORATE DRIVE
HUNTSVILLE, AL 35805
      EVP - Chief Marketing Officer  

Signatures

 Richard K Hempstead Attorney-in-Fact for Kay Kienast   01/26/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Includes time-based and performance-based (now deemed earned) restricted shares awarded on June 6, 2008. 5,000 shares vest on January 1, 2010, and 4,999 shares vest on January 1, 2011. This also includes 5,000 shares of restricted stock units granted on July 14, 2008. These shares vest on the earlier of the first anniversary of the grant date or the closing price of Avocent's common stock being at or above a specified level for each trading day during any consecutive 30 calendar day period.
(2) Earned Date; These are Performance Shares granted on February 19, 2008 now deemed earned at fifty percent. 1,167 shares will vest on January 22, 2009 with the remaining two-thirds vesting in equal amounts on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011.
(3) These are Market-Condition based Performance Shares granted on February 19, 2008 now deemed earned at fifty percent. 1,167 shares will vest on January 22, 2009 with the remaining two-thirds vesting in equal amounts on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011.
(4) 437 shares were withheld as payment for taxes at the release of restricted shares on January 22, 2009.

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