Avocent Launches Industry's First Matrix Switching System to Ensure Business Continuity.

Allows Automatic Failover for Improved Continuous Business Operations 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Avocent([R]) Corporation (Nasdaq: AVCT) today launched the industry's first dual analog KVM matrix switching system, the AMX([R]) switching system, with redundancy and automatic failover, ensuring continuous connectivity to critical IT systems for data centers and test labs. This enhancement, available at no additional cost to most existing AMX switching system owners, improves business continuity by allowing users to stay connected to critical IT assets even if a matrix switch fails.

For example, with three users, two switches and one server, all three users are connected to both switches to access the server. If one switch happens to fail, the connection automatically fails over to the second switch. The connections provide remote simultaneous real-time user access to a wide range of server platforms and serial devices. The computer equipment is stored in a separate room from the user, reducing the noise level, and allowing equipment to reside in a cooled, secure environment.

"Other matrix switching systems require connectivity through more hardware increasing the cost and the risk of failure," said Mark Nicolas, KVM product manager for Avocent. "By allowing direct access between the user and multiple switches, the Avocent system yielding more uptime, improved productivity and a seamless end-user experience."

"IT managers increasingly face the challenge of being a service organization to improve the business operation. A switching system that offers failsafe connectivity helps IT meet that challenge," said Nicolas. "If measured properly, companies will find a return on the investment because there is a more constant state of productivity by the workforce."

Also new is superior video support for widescreen resolutions up to 1920 x 1200, a key addition for multimedia applications. The AMX dual analog matrix KVM switching system connection is made through UTP cabling from user to server, and can be managed either through an on-screen graphical interface or an advanced Java-based administration tool. The system supports non-blocking configurations to allow users to reach attached servers regardless of how other users are connected. Users can connect in share modes or private modes for either collaborative or independent work.

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 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 reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Avocent, the Avocent logo and AMX are registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.