Brocade: Avnet Joins Brocade's Alliance Partner Network Programme Avnet Technology Solutions signs up as first UK distributor, helping channel resellers and end users optimise networking opportunities

Brocade (Nasdaq: BRCD) today announced that it has selected Avnet Technology Solutions as a Brocade Alliance Partner Network Distributor, helping to expand its existing data centre distribution network to enterprise IP networking products via channel reseller partners. Brocade selected Avnet Technology Solutions (Avnet) for its ability to efficiently deliver networking solutions to channel reseller partners, as well as its extensive knowledge, skills, and expertise in the networking industry.

The selection of Avnet as a distributor is one element of Brocade's global Alliance Partner Network programme. The channel reseller programme consists of four distinct partnership levels: distributor, elite, premier, and select. All levels have been designed with specific requirements and benefits to help partners leverage and be rewarded for their networking product knowledge and solution support expertise. As part of this partner-enablement strategy, Brocade will provide partners deal registration to help ensure project and investment protection. In addition, Brocade has extensively expanded its dedicated sales, marketing, and technical support model to support these high-quality partnerships.

"Brocade is pleased to be partnering with Avnet in order to expand our route to market for industry-leading networking products. Customers will now be able to purchase enterprise IP networking products and services through channel resellers via our new UK distribution partner, in addition to OEMs and direct from Brocade," said Amanda Giddins, EMEA Channel Sales Director at Brocade. "By partnering with Avnet, Brocade channel resellers will be able to leverage their extensive data centre networking and enterprise IP networking product expertise and solution support to help customers build extraordinary networks."

"Avnet has been a long standing Brocade distributor in the storage networking market and is proud to have been awarded 'EMEA Distributor of the Year' for the last four years. We are delighted that we are now able to build on this successful relationship with Brocade's IP networking portfolio," said Mark Walker, EMEA Director of the Storage Product Business Group at Avnet Technology Solutions. "Our partners will benefit from end-to-end networking solutions incorporating Brocade's full range of products, supported by Avnet's extensive assessment, integration, and implementation services."

About Brocade

Brocade (Nasdaq: BRCD) develops extraordinary networking solutions that enable today's complex, data-intensive businesses to optimise information connectivity and maximise the business value of their data.

About Avnet Technology Solutions

Avnet Technology Solutions is an operating group of Phoenix-based Avnet, Inc. As a global technology sales and marketing organisation, 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. Visit: www.ts.avnet.com/emea/

Brocade, the B-wing symbol, BigIron, DCX, Fabric OS, FastIron, IronPoint, IronShield, IronView, IronWare, JetCore, NetIron, SecureIron, ServerIron, StorageX, and TurboIron are registered trademarks, and DCFM, Extraordinary Networks, and SAN Health are trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., in the United States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of their respective owners.

2009 Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved

CONTACT: Richard Merrin, Spreckley Partners Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7388 9988 e-mail: merrin@spreckley.co.uk Richard Warner, Account Manager, Spreckley Partners Ltd Tel: +44 (0)20 7388 9988 e-mail: warner@spreckley.co.uk WWW: http://www.spreckley.co.uk Brocade WWW: http://www.brocade.com

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