Microsoft’s Enterprise Engineering Centre Selects Avocent Analogue Matrix Technology

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., December 15, 2003 – Avocent Corporation (NASDAQ/NM: AVCT) today announced the deployment of its AMX analogue matrix switching systems in Microsoft’s Enterprise Engineering Centre (EEC) in Redmond, Washington. Fortune 1000 customers will use the AMX solutions and Microsoft’s Windows Server 2003 Platform to test multiple LAN/WAN infrastructures as they simulate a global real-world environment.

Avocent’s AMX analogue matrix system connects to more than 1,200 ports on servers within the EEC that run the latest Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Operating System.  The AMX system allows administrators in the EEC to access and control servers up to 1000 feet away, and to easily customise configurations to set up test systems for Fortune 1000 clients. 

“Avocent’s AMX system will allow the EEC to properly manage all of our servers in a highly visible customer test engagement environment,” said Chris Burroughs, product unit manager for the EEC in Redmond. “Superior video quality and performance, along with Avocent’s commitment to customer support, were key factors in determining the right technology partner to incorporate into our customer environment. Avocent’s AMX system is the obvious choice to meet the solution needs of our group and our Fortune 1000 customers.”

Microsoft’s EEC houses six Enterprise Computing Labs (ECLs), which Microsoft transforms into scaled representations of a customer’s infrastructure, called an Enterprise Lifecycle Model. Customers stage and test their own infrastructure models in the ECLs against the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 platform that has been pre-staged in the ECL to emulate the customer’s current office configuration. The model can automate and measure the customer’s business uses and operations before, during and after the Windows Server 2003 rollout. Avocent’s AMX system makes the whole process run smoothly, enabling Microsoft’s EEC engineers to administrate, check status and make configuration changes to any of the six ECLs at any given time.

This hands-on experience results in direct feedback from the customer to the Windows development teams.  “We’re pleased that Avocent’s AMX system was selected for this project.  This installation at the EEC in Redmond will allow Fortune 1000 customers to experience first-hand the superior video and expansion capabilities of the AMX system in a real world environment,” said Gary Johnson, Avocent’s senior vice president of worldwide branded sales. “As a Microsoft Partner, we are glad to provide the EEC with the advanced KVM technology that fits the needs of Microsoft and their customers.”

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 centre 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

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 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.