Avnet Partner Solutions Helps Partners Target Growing High-Availability Market; Newest Offering, NEC's ExpressCluster, Delivers High-Availability Across Broad Array of Platforms

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2006--Recognizing the increased need to protect business data and operations with comprehensive business continuity solutions, Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas, today announced it has expanded its suite of high-availability offerings. A value-added distributor of enterprise servers, storage, software and services, Avnet has added NEC ExpressCluster(R) clustering software from NEC Solutions (America) Inc. to help solution providers target the x86 market with a high-availability solution that is compatible with a broad array of platforms. High-availability solutions serve as a natural extension to server consolidation products and services, giving solution providers additional sales opportunities with end-user customers interested in protecting their IT environments and preventing unplanned downtime.

"Server consolidation has been taking place for years, and the next evolutionary step is making sure the system stays up and disaster recovery is managed efficiently," said Jack Morris, vice president, Business Innovation, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas. "High-availability solutions are critical components of this, as well as in optimizing server utilization. Partners can rely on Avnet's expertise and leadership in high-availability solutions to target this fast-growing area and gain a natural add-on revenue stream to server consolidation."

According to market research firm IDC, 10 percent of all servers shipped will be part of a high-availability solution by 2009, accounting for 22 percent of all server revenue.(1) Avnet Partner Solutions has developed services, solutions and tools to help partners sell into this market segment. Avnet also assists partners entering this market with sales and technical enablement services to build a high-availability practice. Partners will additionally benefit from NEC Solutions America field sales support through the ExpressPartner(TM) Program to assist in developing opportunities.

"NEC ExpressCluster, an award-winning product at CeBIT 2004, is designed to meet the unique high-availability needs of the emerging x86 market, while also providing compatibility for all other major platforms," said Fumio Adachi, general manager of the Software Business Division, NEC Solutions America. "Expanding our relationship with Avnet to include NEC ExpressCluster strengthens and increases our routes to market."

Avnet added NEC ExpressCluster to its high-availability offerings to complement NEC Express5800(TM) Fault Tolerant (FT) Servers and Lakeview MIMIX(R) software, announced earlier this year. NEC ExpressCluster is an integrated application and data availability solution with continuous synchronous protection of business critical applications and information for planned and unplanned downtime. NEC ExpressCluster provides broad support for all x86 architectures including HP Proliant, IBM xSeries and blade servers. Targeted at server consolidation, NEC ExpressCluster is priced by CPU and not by virtual machine - allowing for a very compelling and cost-effective high-availability offering with virtualized solutions such as VMware. Avnet will offer NEC's complete family of ExpressCluster solutions including:

-- ExpressCluster LAN for cost-effective high-availability based on mirrored disk cluster

-- ExpressCluster SAN for scalable high-availability based on shared disk cluster

-- ExpressCluster WAN for disaster recovery based on geo-cluster.

"We are committed to developing solutions for our customers that help them run their business more efficiently and productively," said Todd Bowling, president, Solutions-II Inc. "The high-availability solutions available through Avnet complement our server consolidation offerings and will enable us to better meet our customers' needs, while generating a new revenue stream for us."

About NEC Solutions America

NEC Solutions (America) Inc. is a premier provider of integrated solutions for the Connected Enterprise in North America. As an affiliate of NEC Corp. (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.1), NEC Solutions America taps into a global resource network to help clients leverage technology to achieve a competitive edge. From corporate performance management and biometric security solutions to digital cinema and in-theater advertising systems, visual displays and server solutions, the expertise is delivered with the personal attention needed to address individual situations. With headquarters in Rancho Cordova, Calif., NEC Solutions America serves a wide range of markets, including the health care and public safety, financial services, cinema, retail and manufacturing markets. Information regarding NEC Solutions America can be found at www.necsam.com.

About Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas

Avnet Partner Solutions, Americas is part of the Avnet Technology Solutions operating group of Avnet Inc. An industry-leading, value-added distributor and provider of enterprise servers, storage, software and services, Avnet Partner Solutions serves value-added resellers, independent software vendors (ISVs) and systems integrators in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Avnet Partner Solutions provides enterprise solutions from industry-leading manufacturers, focusing on driving growth for partners and manufacturers. For more information, please visit www.aps.avnet.com.

Avnet (NYSE:AVT) 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 300 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. For fiscal year ended, July 2, 2005, Avnet and the recently acquired Memec (closed July 5, 2005) generated combined revenue in excess of $13 billion in the past year through sales in approximately 70 countries. Please visit www.avnet.com for more information.

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

(1) "Worldwide and U.S. High-Availability Server 2005-2009 Forecast and Analysis," Oct. 2005, IDC #34245