Novell and Avnet Partner to Deliver Virtualization and Data Center Management Solutions

Collaboration offers sales support, training and market-leading products to solution providers and VARs, enabling them to deliver a more complete data center solution to their customers

10 December 2008

Novell and Avnet Technology Solutions, an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) have announced a strategic relationship to provide virtualization and workload management solutions to data center customers. This relationship leverages Novell's strength in delivering full lifecycle management capabilities for multi-platform data centers provided by the company's PlateSpin brand of workload management products. Combined with Avnet's leadership position as a global technology distributor and extensive partner network, Novell’s technology will allow Avnet’s partners in the U.S. and Canada to differentiate themselves in the marketplace with best-in-class solutions.

"This relationship further demonstrates Novell's commitment to expanding relationships with solutions distributors, such as Avnet, and to driving sales by enabling solution providers and value–added resellers (VARs)," said Javier Colado, general manager of partners at Novell. "Avnet's selection of Novell to provide workload management and virtualization solutions is a testament to the strength of our products and reputation in the marketplace. We view our distributor and VAR partners as more than vehicles to customers – we see them as a point of differentiation. The strengths our partners bring to the table will give our customers the complete package – a better overall product, service and support experience."

Tim FitzGerald, director of the virtualization practice at Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, said, "Avnet and Novell have a strong vision for enabling high quality virtualization and data center management offerings that can be delivered by our community of value-added partners. By working with Novell, Avnet will be able to supply its partners with a comprehensive portfolio of products that delivers complete workload lifecycle management and virtualization across physical and virtual infrastructures."

Under the terms of the agreement, Avnet will sell PlateSpin® workload management products including PlateSpin Recon, PlateSpin Migrate, PlateSpin Protect and PlateSpin Orchestrate to its community of partners. Both companies will also work together to provide world-class training and sales support for solution providers and value-added resellers. As a result, customers will have access to a greater number of expert solution providers and VARs, resulting in a faster time-to-value and return on investment for their virtualization and data center initiatives.

About Novell

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers the best engineered, most interoperable Linux platform and a portfolio of integrated IT management software that helps customers around the world reduce cost, complexity and risk. With our infrastructure software and ecosystem of partnerships, Novell harmoniously integrates mixed IT environments, allowing people and technology to work as one. For more information, visit www.novell.com.

About Avnet Technology Solutions

Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. As a global technology sales and marketing organization, Avnet Technology Solutions has sales divisions focused on specific customer segments and a select line card strategy enabling an exceptional level of attention to the needs of its customers and suppliers. For fiscal year 2008, the group served customers in more than 30 countries and generated US $7.6 billion in annual revenue. The group's Web site is www.ats.avnet.com.

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology in the world. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of more than 100,000 customers and providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, Avnet generated revenue of $17.95 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com.

Novell and PlateSpin are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. *All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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