Avocent Increases Broadcast Studio Efficiency with New DVI and USB Matrix Switching System

Huntsville, AL April 14, 2008 - Avocent Corporation (NASDAQ: AVCT), today announced digital KVM and USB matrix switching for the Emerge® ECMS4000 extender and Emerge DM2000 desktop manager products. The Emerge family of products now offer switching and extension of audio, digital video, mass storage, and USB human interfaces for use within high definition video edit suites, allowing strategic placement of business critical workstations. These leading-edge digital KVM matrix switching products allow valuable equipment to be secured in the machine room where it is kept cool and clean, and is secure from physical interference and unwanted software downloads. Based on a Gigabit Ethernet switch fabric, computer resources can be accessed on-demand by engineers, designers, and support personnel. Graphics and sound editors are able to interact with edit systems within the critical viewing and listening environment of their edit suites, while support engineers have direct management access to systems from the convenience of their desks.

“Avocent is at the forefront of IT and AV convergence and we believe the addition of digital KVM matrix switching will enable broadcast customers to better manage and utilize their new HD systems,” said Mitch Friend, senior vice president and general manager of Avocent. “In addition, our digital matrix products allow for flexibility so studios can add additional users or servers as required without the need to purchase a fixed-sized switch.”

The Avocent Emerge DM2000 desktop manager provides centralized management and control of Emerge ECMS4000 extender transmitters and receivers, allowing them to serve as endpoints of a high performance managed AV infrastructure. This solution provides media professionals with switched KVM access to business critical broadcast and post-production video editing systems. Based on Gigabit Ethernet and highly optimized extension technology, the Avocent ECMS4000 extender and the DM2000 desktop manager products provide high image quality with dual-head 1920x1200 resolution DVI graphics and superior USB 2.0 responsiveness. The Emerge ECMS4000 product provides users with a full desktop computer experience from anywhere on a gigabit TCP/IP network. The ECMS4000 extender provides today's digital content creation professionals with high resolution digital DVI video, rich color depth, high responsiveness, CD quality audio, and compatibility with a wide range of USB interface devices - while mission critical systems are securely maintained and centrally managed.

The new Emerge ECMS4000T transmitter and ECMS4000R receiver are now shipping and available at an MSRP of $1,235 and $1,260 respectively. The DM2000 desktop manager is available at a MSRP of $4495. The Matrix support will be available by the end of this quarter. Demonstrations of Avocent’s new digital KVM matrix solution will take place at the 2008 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) tradeshow at the Avocent booth (#SL13016) in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 14th – 17th, 2008.

About Avocent Professional A/V Products

The Avocent connectivity and control division offers managed AV infrastructure solutions for professional audio/video and broadcast markets. Our Emerge product family allows industry professionals to deliver innovative wired and wireless solutions for AV and KVM extension, switching, distribution, and signal processing needs. For additional information: www.connectivity.avocent.com

About Avocent Corporation

Avocent delivers IT infrastructure management solutions that reduce operating costs, simplify management and increase the availability of critical, "always on" IT environments via integrated, centralized in-band and out-of-band hardware and software. 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 Emerge are registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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