Avnet Partner Solutions Announces Expansion of Distribution Agreement

    Business Editors/High-Tech Editors

    SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2005--Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Americas, the leading value-added distributor of IBM enterprise computing products, storage, software and services, and a division of Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT), today announced a significant expansion of its distribution agreement with Novell. Avnet will now offer Novell's full range of Linux solutions to the IBM solution provider community. This expanded distribution agreement includes the award-winning SUSE LINUX products and the soon-to-be-released Open Enterprise Server.
    "We are excited about the opportunity to increase our partnership with Novell and to further enable our partners' success in the Linux market," said Sara Jensen, vice president of product marketing. "Avnet and our partners continue to outpace industry forecasts, thanks to the combined focus and experienced resources we have dedicated to developing and delivering Linux solutions."
    Avnet's Linux portfolio from Novell includes SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, based on the newest Linux 2.6 kernel, as well as the brand new release of Novell Open Enterprise Server, which incorporates the best of both NetWare and SUSE LINUX in a single offering. Avnet partners are strategically positioned to deliver solutions that migrate end user customers from legacy UNIX environments to Linux on x86.
    Novell, IBM and Avnet announced their partnership at LinuxWorld in January. "With our SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server, our Novell Linux Desktop, and our soon-to-be-released Novell Open Enterprise Server, Novell can provide a full range of Linux solutions for customers," said Mark Hardardt, vice president and general manager, worldwide channel and partners for Novell. "These solutions provide a viable alternative for existing proprietary offerings. We are working hand in hand with IBM and Avnet to demonstrate the value of Novell's Linux solutions on IBM platforms."
    Bob Arfman, worldwide program director, Linux business partner marketing for IBM, agrees that the synergistic relationship has great potential for IBM's and Avnet's channel partners. "Novell has been actively engaged with IBM to demonstrate the value of running Novell's SUSE LINUX on IBM eServer products, which translates to increased opportunity for our channel partners," he said.
    According to Jensen, one of the key benefits of the enhanced relationship with Novell is the ability for partners to gain direct access to its pre-sales and technical resources. She notes that partners will also benefit from no-charge access to Novell's PartnerNet Program for one year, which provides Linux training and support. In addition to Avnet's dedicated Linux programs and resources, including Linux "Load n Run" CD which provides end user customers a fast and simple way to validate Linux applications in their environment, Avnet also provides sales training, and offers demand generation campaigns.
    "Avnet's enhanced relationship with Novell will help fuel strategic growth across all the IBM eServer brands we support," said Dean Thiede, executive vice president of ProActive Solutions, an IBM Premier Business Partner with offices in Kansas City, Atlanta and Detroit. As an Avnet partner who has developed solutions around Novell's SUSE LINUX and IBM's eServer platforms, ProActive has experienced growth in both Linux sales and lead opportunities. "Only Avnet can provide me a direct link to Novell when the answers to technical questions are critical to closing a deal," he explained. "And with Avnet's dedicated Linux product manager, we are more confident in proposing a Linux solution. We know we will get all the support and resources we need to be successful."
    According to recent server market forecasts, Linux has been and will continue to be the fastest growing operating system in the foreseeable future. Linux is expected to increase its volume competitiveness with Windows, by capturing more than 30% of the marketplace by 2008. In addition, blade servers will continue to be the fastest growing platforms in the Linux server market. SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 from Novell is certified on all IBM eServer platforms, including xSeries, iSeries, pSeries, zSeries and the new OpenPower Servers, as well as BladeCenter systems.

    About Avnet Partner Solutions

    Headquartered in San Antonio, Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Americas is the industry-leading, value-added distributor of IBM enterprise servers, storage, software and services, marketing exclusively to the reseller channel in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
    Avnet Partner Solutions, IBM Americas is part of the Avnet Technology Solutions operating group of Avnet Inc. Avnet enables success from the center of the technology industry, providing cost-effective services and solutions vital to a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and 250 suppliers. The company markets, distributes and adds value to a wide variety of electronic components, enterprise computer products and embedded subsystems. Through its premier market position, Avnet brings a breadth and depth of capabilities that help its trading partners accelerate growth and realize cost efficiencies. Avnet generated more than $10 billion in revenue in fiscal 2004 (year ended July 3, 2004) through sales in 68 countries. Visit www.avnet.com/.

    Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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CONTACT: Avnet Michelle Gorel, 480-794-6943 michelle.gorel@avnet.com

KEYWORD: ARIZONA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE SOFTWARE INTERNET E-COMMERCE MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Avnet Partner Solutions

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