Bell Microproducts and BakBone Software Announce Distribution Agreement.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003

NetVault Backup & Restore Software Offered to Bell Microproducts

North American Storage Resellers

Bell Microproducts Inc. (NASDAQ: BELM) and BakBone Software(TM) (TSX: BKB) (OTCBB: BKBOF) jointly announced today an agreement to distribute BakBone's NetVault 7.0 line of data backup and disaster recovery software. Under this new agreement, Bell Microproducts will distribute BakBone's data recovery software to its storage resellers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin America.

"BakBone's strong support of heterogeneous storage networks is perfect for our resellers," said Gary Gammon, senior vice president of Enterprise Storage Marketing for Bell Microproducts. "While traditional monolithic backup software lacks the flexibility to quickly adapt to today's changing storage requirements, NetVault features a modular architecture designed to provide the versatility needed today for a wide range of server platforms and storage systems -- from small offices to large enterprises."

"Our partnership with Bell Microproducts allows us to deliver NetVault through one of the country's most pre-eminent storage solution providers," said Scott Petersen, vice president of North American Sales for BakBone Software. "We will offer the industry's most powerful solution for data recovery across storage networks through Bell Microproducts' proven VAR program -- a combination that will ensure customers lower total cost of ownership (TCO) while exceeding service level expectations."

BakBone's NetVault recovery software works seamlessly to help IT departments lower costs and improve service to end-users. NetVault provides Bell Microproducts' storage resellers with a software solution that simplifies implementation and deployment of data protection projects. Backed by Bell Microproducts' Storage Solutions Centers in North America, resellers can leverage Bell Microproducts' world-class storage configuration and design support for BakBone implementations.

Bell Microproducts will support BakBone's NetVault through its Premier Storage Solution VAR and other programs. Bell Microproducts' Premier Storage Solution VAR Program participants benefit from tangible business-building programs, including product supplier authorization training programs, state-of-the-art product strategy summits, on-line customer technical information community, special finance programs, marketing aids and access to the Solution Center and tech support services.

About Bell Microproducts

Bell Microproducts is an international, value-added provider of a wide range of high technology products, solutions and services to the industrial and commercial markets. The company's offering includes semiconductors, computer platforms, peripherals and storage products of various types including desktop, high-end computer and storage subsystems, fibre channel connectivity products, RAID, NAS and SAN storage systems, back-up products, storage management software and extensive support, integration and installation services. Bell Microproducts is an industry-recognized specialist in storage products and is one of the world's largest storage-centric value-added distributors.

The company's products are available at any level of integration, from components to subsystem assemblies and fully-integrated, tested and certified system solutions. The company adds value with a broad range of services including testing, software loading, kitting, mass storage system integration and computer system integration. Trained and certified technical personnel complete each of these processes at Bell Microproducts' ISO 9002 facilities. Bell Microproducts markets and distributes more than 125 brand name product lines, as well as its own Rorke Data storage and Trademark(R) computer brands, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contract electronic manufacturing services (EMS) customers, value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators in the Americas and Europe. More information can be found in the company's SEC filings, or by visiting the Bell Microproducts Web site at www.bellmicro.com.

About BakBone Software Inc.

BakBone Software is a leading international data recovery solution provider that develops and distributes data backup, restore and disaster recovery software for network storage and open-systems environments. BakBone delivers scalable solutions that address the complex demands of large enterprise environments, as well as small to medium sized businesses. Founded in 2000, BakBone products are used by Fortune 1000 corporations and domestic and international government entities. Distributed through a select global network of OEM partners, resellers and solution providers, you can learn more information about BakBone's products and services at www.bakbone.com or e-mail [e-mail].

Safe Harbor 

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect current views of future events and financial performance, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or facts to differ materially from such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to: the ability to successfully integrate the operations of recent acquisitions, industry conditions, changes in product supply, pricing, and customer demand, competition, other vagaries in the computer, storage management and electronic components markets, changes in relationships with key suppliers, foreign currency fluctuations and the other risks described from time to time in reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administration (SEDAR). Investors should take such risks into account when making investment decisions. Shareholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. There is no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

BakBone, BakBone Software, NetVault, Application Plugin Module, APM and the BakBone logo are all trademarks or registered trademarks of BakBone Software Inc., in the United States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products or service names are or may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of, and used to identify, products or services of their respective owners.