Force10 Networks and AFORE Sign Global Reseller Agreement to Drive Cloud Networking Intiatives.

Combined Solution to Virtualize Physical Boundaries in Multi-Site Data Center Environments

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Force10 Networks, a global technology leader that data center, service provider and enterprise customers rely on when the network is their business, today announced it will resell the Advanced Service Edge (ASE) products of AFORE, a provider of data center virtualization extension solutions, as an integral part of its industry-leading portfolio. The combined solution enables dynamic allocation of SANs and CPU resources across physical boundaries thereby making applications available regardless of location. Combining Force10 switching and routing solutions, with AFORE's network extension products enable multi-site, virtual data center solutions to seamlessly migrate to cloud computing environments. By deploying this unique cloud networking solution, providers can now capitalize on public, private and hybrid cloud architectures.

"Force10's strength in building high-performance data centers has been long realized with industry-leading, core-to-rack-edge solutions," said James Hanley, president, field operations, Force10. "This new resale partnership with AFORE extends that reach and scope by delivering a true end-to-end virtualized distributed infrastructure that facilitates application agility beyond a single site. AFORE's wide area virtualization extension solutions enhance our Virtualization Framework and provide a key cornerstone of our cloud networking strategy and solution offering."

AFORE's ASE technology, a "Best of VMWorld 2009" finalist in the Hardware for Virtualization category, is the first networking platform specifically targeting data center virtualization extension over Ethernet and IP WANs. Its VirtualWIRE and VirtualFIBER technology enhances Force10's industry-leading data center Ethernet switching products by providing lossless, transparent and secure fabric extension, interconnecting computing and storage networks over WANs, to enable live Virtual Machine migration, storage replication, disaster recovery, and improved application availability.

"Cloud computing and virtualization are transforming traditional WANs. Today's enterprises require comprehensive solutions to effectively handle the dynamic nature and high availability of modern data centers. AFORE's ASE technology enables customers to leverage existing wide area solutions, transforming them to be cloud-ready," said AFORE CEO Alex Berlin. "We are proud to strategically partner with a technology leader like Force10 to provide customers with solutions that effectively answer market needs."

The combined technologies of both companies help enable next generation, geographically distributed, and secure cloud services, leveraging existing wide area investments and virtualizing the physical boundaries of solution providers. Facilitating a new wave of network-delivered solutions, Force10 and AFORE's solutions are ideal for enterprises, managed service providers, and government applications.

Force10 partners with leading vendors to provide complete solutions that optimize data center infrastructure. For additional information on the Force10 data center partner ecosystem, please visit the company's Technology Alliance Partner Program web page, including its partnership with AFORE.

About Force10 Networks

Force10 Networks is the global technology leader that data center, service provider and enterprise customers rely on when the network is their business. Force10's products deliver the scalability, reliability and application awareness to cost-effectively provide content from the enterprise or converged network to the mobile business user or consumer. For more information on Force10 Networks, please visit www.force10networks.com.

About AFORE Solutions

AFORE is a leading provider of long distance virtualization and networking technology solutions. Our unique blend of ASE Virtual Fiber and Virtual Wire technology, InterPort[TM] technology, and system solutions enable network equipment providers, service providers and enterprises to accelerate innovation and deployment of advanced networking applications. For more information, visit www.aforesolutions.com.