Avocent's KVM over IP Switching System Chosen for Microsoft Technology Center in Reading, England.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

READING, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 15, 2003

Avocent Corporation (NASDAQ/NM: AVCT) today announced the deployment of its DS Series KVM over IP switching systems in the Microsoft(R) Technology Center (MTC) in Thames Valley.

Microsoft's technical staff will use Avocent's comprehensive IP-based switching system to access and control the servers running Microsoft's newest product, Windows Server(TM) 2003, including the core data center and their new envisioning center. With DSView management software, administrators can easily manage and troubleshoot the MTC servers on-site at Reading or from any remote location.

MTCs provide Strategy Briefings, Architecture Design Sessions (ADS) and Proof of Concept (POC) engagements that allow enterprise customers to envision, architect and customize solutions that meet their needs.

"The MTC in Reading is the first Microsoft Technology Center in Europe to combine our digital KVM over IP solution and PCI Extension Technology with a high speed connection to operate multiple devices from a single slot on a PC," said Gary Johnson, Avocent's senior vice president of worldwide branded sales. "Our technology gives Microsoft the ability to easily add servers or administrators, as well as the ability to access and control their technology centers from any location."

"Using Avocent's KVM over IP digital products means that we will use about 200 fewer cables than with our conventional switching system." says Lars Lindstedt manager of the MTC in Reading. "Avocent's DS Series provides us with a great deal of flexibility and cost savings."

About Avocent Corporation

Avocent (NASDAQ: AVCT) is the leading worldwide supplier of KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) switching, remote access and serial connectivity solutions that provide IT managers with access and control of multiple servers and network data center devices. Avocent's KVM solutions are distributed by the world's largest server manufacturers and installed in Fortune 100 companies around the world. For more details, visit www.avocent.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding market opportunity, product development, engineering and design activities, and product availability and operability. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including the risks associated with general economic conditions, risks attributable to future product demand, sales, and expenses, risks associated with product design efforts and the introduction of new products and technologies, risks associated with reliance on a limited number of component suppliers and single source components, and risk associated with obtaining and protecting intellectual property rights. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described in Avocent's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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