Avnet Partner Solutions Introduces Datacenter in a Box™ to Simplify and Accelerate HP Server Consolidation Solutions; Complete, Integrated Solution Offers Rapid Installation at Cost-Effective Price Point

Business Wire, Dec 13, 2005

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Avnet Partner Solutions, a leading value-added distributor of enterprise computing products, storage, software and services, today announced immediate availability of Datacenter in a Box(TM), a unique blade server offering based on HP BladeSystem technology, Brocade 4Gb SAN switch and VMware virtualization software.

Datacenter in a Box offers customers a single part number for a total integrated IT consolidation solution that is bundled with installation and maintenance services, making it easy for solution providers to sell and deploy. By working with HP and the HP BladeSystem Solution Builder Program, Brocade and VMware, Avnet has designed an integrated solution with standardized components that can be ordered in three sizes to fit the customers' specific solution requirements.

"Avnet has made it easy for us to demonstrate the financial benefit of consolidation to our customers. Because it is fully integrated and includes installation and maintenance, we can deliver a complete, functional solution that fits within the budget requirements of most businesses," said Fred Cannataro, president, Lewan & Associates Inc.

The solution provides customers with one-stop shopping for consolidation solutions by combining the following components:

--HP BladeSystem

--HP StorageWorks SAN

--VMware ESX Server software

--Brocade SAN switch

--Assessment, installation and three-years of maintenance services.

In addition, the solution allows customers to consolidate multiple operating systems and applications in virtual machines on the same server. Server consolidation enables increased utilization rates while decreasing costs, making it straightforward to realize rapid return on investment.

Avnet introduced the solution as part of its initiative to drive growth with the HP BladeSystem Solution Builder Program for HP solution providers in the consolidation market. Avnet supports solution providers in server and storage consolidation through a combination of services, including:

--Business and Market Intelligence resources

--Technical training and certification

--Sales and marketing tools

--IT services for pre- and post-sales

--Professional implementation services

--Compliance consulting services

--Pre-configured and validated bundled solutions

"IT costs are projected to continue to increase as a part of a business' capital expenditure. Server consolidation can help businesses reduce IT costs, but can be very complex solutions to design and implement. Datacenter in a Box offers our partners a simple, easy to deploy solution that end-users will find very attractive in many ways," said Jim Kleeman, vice president and general manager, Avnet Partner Solutions, HP Business Unit.

"Our unique design of HP BladeSystem meets distinct customer needs and demonstrates HP's ongoing commitment to delivering a modular, intelligent infrastructure across the enterprise," said Mark Potter, vice president, BladeSystem Division, HP. "IT consolidation is one such customer need, where HP works with partner companies through our HP BladeSystem Solution Builder Program, to incorporate industry knowledge and experience into integrated solutions which enable customers to quickly and easily deploy blade technology."

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 Partner Solutions, Americas is part of the Avnet Technology Solutions operating group of Avnet Inc. (NYSE:AVT), which 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 the 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 70 countries. Visit http://www.avnet.com.

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