Avocent Becomes Member of Elite Microsoft Global Alliance Program.

Avocent Remote IT Management Solutions Deployed in Every Microsoft Technology Center around the World

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Avocent Corporation (Nasdaq: AVCT) today announced it is expanding its alliance with Microsoft and has accepted an invitation to become a member of the Global Microsoft([R])Technology Centers (MTC) Alliance, an honor extended to a handful of select technology providers working with the MTCs. As part of its expanded role, Avocent has deployed its remote IT management solutions in all 12 of the Microsoft Technology Centers around the world. The relationship provides IT professionals with an outlet for testing and deploying customized Microsoft applications and new integrations using Avocent's remote management tools.

"The expansion of Avocent's role is really a reflection of the strength of our relationship over the past four years, which began when Avocent technology deployed in two of our centers and has now expanded into every one," said John Mathieu, worldwide MTC alliance senior program manager for Microsoft. "With this new role, in addition to incorporating Avocent's technology into customized solutions for enterprise customers, our team is able to leverage Avocent's technology to remotely manage configurations and applications for multiple customers simultaneously in the MTCs."

The MTCs provide facilities and resources around the world to help enterprises design and evaluate customized Microsoft and partner solutions prior to deploying them in their own IT environments. Avocent's technology enables the MTC staff and enterprise customers to remotely access, monitor and control any device within the MTC environment, demonstrating how the technology will perform in a local or remote environment.

Each MTC is now equipped with Avocent DSR([R]) KVM-over-IP switches, which let users remotely manage data centers and branch locations by providing access and control to any connected server or device. DSR switches let users remotely manage and power cycle connected devices, access and control servers over IP, and conduct file transfers, patches and diagnostics. Avocent has also made available its ACS serial console managers, in addition to its DSView([R])3 management software, which manages the switches and console managers through a single interface. The entire system can operate either in-band or out-of-band, to provide full remote access to data centers even if the network is not available. Avocent will update the software as new releases become available.

"Building customized corporate solutions can be complicated. Microsoft is enabling companies worldwide to better build and test-drive tailored IT systems on a small scale in a fully equipped test environment before deploying them in their own corporate environments on a massive scale," said Dudley DeVore, senior vice president of global branded markets for Avocent. "By collaborating to customize applications and platforms to meet individual organizations' specific business objectives, the Microsoft Technology Centers help enterprises reduce cost and increase productivity. We're pleased to have been one of a few companies selected to participate in this initiative."

MTCs are located in Austin, Texas; Chicago; Mountain View, Calif.; Reston, Va.; Waltham, Mass.; Bangalore, India; Beijing; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Munich, Germany; Paris; Taipei, Taiwan; and Thames Valley, U.K.

As part of the relationship, Avocent can use the MTCs for training and demonstrations with any customer or partner. Avocent will continue its active support of the centers through Microsoft's Global MTC Alliance, rolling out its remote management solutions to new MTC locations as they are established.

About Avocent Corporation

Avocent delivers IT operations and infrastructure management solutions for enterprises worldwide, helping customers reduce the cost and simplify the management of complex IT environments via integrated, centralized in-band and out-of-band hardware and software. Through LANDesk, Avocent also is a leading provider of systems, security, and process management solutions. Additional information is available at: 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 the development of new systems and management solutions and Avocent's growth and expansion into these and other new markets. 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 the integration of the LANDesk businesses and technologies, 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, 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 reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Avocent, the Avocent logo, The Power of Being There, DSR and DSView are registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.