Microsoft selects Avocent's KVM OVER IP
Microsoft selects Avocent's KVM OVER IP switching technology to manage disaster recovery for Xbox Live Data Centers worldwide
Huntsville, AL, August 4, 2003 - Avocent Corporation (NASDAQ: AVCT), the leading global provider of KVM
switching and network connectivity appliances, today announced Microsoft has selected its KVM OVER IP switching system to centrally manage its worldwide network of online gaming servers that
host the new Xbox (tm) Live experience. Avocent's DSR4160, CPS1600 and its Equinox LAN-to-serial solutions were installed in data
center sites to manage multiple servers in Japan, the U.S. and the U.K to assist in performing and maintaining up time for mission critical servers.
Xbox Live required a solution that allowed multiple simultaneous system administrators located in Redmond, Washington, to easily manage
all of the gaming servers at any site world wide right from their desktops. Additionally, Xbox Live chose Avocent's KVM OVER IP switching solutions for its ability to leverage
existing network infrastructure that require minimal rack space.
Within the Xbox data centers, Avocent's DSR4160s connect directly to existing LAN cabling to create a parallel, in-band service network so administrators can access and manage every server
from a remote console. CPS1600s and Equinox LAN-to-serial solutions add serial connectivity so administrators can continue to manage the network if it goes down or a server
powers-off. Using the DSView software on a management console in the Redmond Xbox Management Center or on a PC from another location, administrators can view, check status, reconfigure, and
even hard reboot servers.
"The winners in the Internet gaming business will clearly be those companies that can provide reliable, fast server access to gamers," said Gary Johnson, Avocent's senior vice president of
global branded sales. "We are confident our digital KVM OVER IP switching solutions will give Microsoft the ability to manage mission critical servers."
"Avocent's KVM OVER IP technology provided the only 24/7 solution that met the requirements for manageability, security, scalability and flexibility of design for the hundreds of servers we
have deployed around the world," said Nicky Pike, Operations Program Manager for Xbox Live, Microsoft. "Avocent's DSR4160 exceeded all of our expectations. Its use of KVM switching
over the network meets our crucial need for issues management for the Xbox Live online gaming service."
About Avocent Corporation
Avocent (NASDAQ: AVCT) is the leading worldwide supplier of KVM (keyboard, video and mouse)
switching, remote access and serial connectivity solutions that provide IT managers with access and control of multiple servers and network data center devices. Avocent's KVM solutions are
distributed by the world's largest server manufacturers and installed in Fortune 100 companies around the world. For more details, visit www.avocent.com.
About Xbox Live
Xbox Live is the first comprehensive, online gaming arena fully dedicated to fast-action broadband gaming experiences.
Xbox Live will allow gamers to play multiplayer Xbox games with other gamers everywhere via a high-speed Internet connection. With a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port, the Xbox
console was built from the ground up to be an online gaming system.
Xbox Live will enable all gamers to find and play with their friends easily, talk to other players during game play through the Xbox Communicator headset, and download current
statistics, new levels and characters to their Xbox hard drive.
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 the introduction and operation of new products and technologies, risks associated with product design efforts, and
risks associated with reliance on a limited number of component suppliers and single source components. Other factors that could cause operating and financial results to differ are described
in Avocent's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Avocent and KVM OVER IP are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avocent Corporation or its affiliates. Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries. All other trademarks or company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
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