Press Release 42U DirectNET once again achieves Platinum Elite VAR status with Avocent

Broomfield, CO – January 26, 2005: Avocent Corporation, the nation’s largest supplier of enterprise KVM and connectivity solutions, has applauded 42U DirectNET, a National Value-Added Reseller (VAR) of KVM Switch Solutions, for once again achieving the Platinum Elite VAR status for a second consecutive year. The Platinum Elite VAR status is only given to the top five VARs who generate the most sales for Avocent within a given year.

"On behalf of Avocent, I would like to congratulate DirectNET on their continued growth and record sales year for our Take Command solutions” said Dudley DeVore, VP of Branded Sales America at Avocent. “Clearly DirectNET’s in-depth technical knowledge and superb customer service has paid off in 2004 and we expect even greater returns in 2005."

“The credit should go to both our enterprise KVM division, 42U, and our KVM ecommerce store, KVM Switches Online,” said Alan Mamane, CEO of DirectNET. “Our web sites, www.42u.com and www.kvm-switches-online.com provide the most current information on the KVM industry and our sales engineers are trained and certified regularly on the latest KVM and datacenter technology. This unparalleled level of expertise easily sets us apart from our competition.”

“We are pleased with our Avocent sales performance this year.” said Jon Inaba, Director of Sales and Operations for the 42U enterprise KVM division. “Avocent continues to provide innovative KVM solutions to the datacenter. With the newly released DSView 3.0 Datacenter Management Software and expansion of the DS Series KVM over IP product lines, we are confident that we will see greater growth in our enterprise Avocent sales for 2005.”


DirectNET (www.DirectNET.us), founded in 1995, is comprised of three independent business units: 42U, Server Racks Online and KVM Switches Online. 42U (www.42U.com) is the leading VAR of enterprise KVM Switch Solutions. KVM Switches Online (www.KVM-SWITCHES-ONLINE.com) is the largest KVM Switch e-commerce store in the US. Server Racks Online (www.SERVER-RACK-ONLINE.com) is the one and only online rack superstore in the US. All three companies were developed as a response to the overwhelming need for independent datacenter and server management solutions. As a result of the success of all three business units, DirectNET has over the last couple of years, become the number one reseller of the major KVM and server rack brands in the market.

To purchase Avocent KVM switches, please visit our ecommerce store KVM Switches Online or contact 42U for your free KVM or KVM over IP consultation.

About Avocent Corporation
Avocent (www.Avocent.com) was formed in 2000 from the merger of the world’s two largest KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) switch manufacturers: Apex and Cybex Computer Products Corporation. Today, with more than two decades of experience, Avocent is the leading global provider of KVM switching and network connectivity solutions for data centers of all sizes. Avocent has grown through product innovations, global expansion and strategic acquisitions.

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Safe Harbor Statement
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.

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