BELL MICROPRODUCTS UNVEILS QLOGIC 8GB FIBRE CHANNEL SWITCHES.

Bell Microproducts Inc. (Pink Sheets:BELM), San Jose, Calif., one of the world's largest value-added distributors of storage and computing technology, has unveiled QLogic(r) SANbox(r) 5800 Series 8Gb Fibre Channel switches and QLogic 2500 Series 8Gb Fibre Channel HBAs. Together, QLogic switches and HBAs form the first end-to-end 8Gb Fibre Channel network that channel partners can order and deliver to their customers.

According to QLogic, the QLogic SANbox 5800 is the industry's first 8Gb Fibre Channel stackable switch and the first switch to incorporate 20Gb Fibre Channel. QLogic 2500 Series 8Gb Fibre Channel HBAs are the first 8Gb HBAs with Dynamic Power Management technology to power down PCI-Express lanes for energy efficiency and the first 8Gb HBAs with Cool HBA(tm) technology to eliminate power-hungry cooling fans.

"QLogic is a preferred brand for HBAs and switches with their continued Fibre Channel HBA market share leadership and innovative stackable switch technology," said Gary Gammon, senior vice president of marketing, enterprise products at Bell Microproducts. "By delivering the industry's only end-to-end 8Gb Fibre Channel network infrastructure, we are able to maintain our reputation as the leading value-added distributor in storage."

"Our end-to-end 8Gb suite of Fibre Channel products are backward-compatible with existing 4Gb and 2Gb Fibre Channel for complete investment protection," said Frank Berry, vice president of marketing, QLogic Corp. "As customers keep pace with bandwidth-hungry applications like backup and HD video production, they can unleash the power of their 20Gb Fibre Channel 'bandwidth on demand' SANbox 5802V license without any interruptions like changing cables. It's like upgrading an entire SAN with the click of a mouse, and customers don't have to pay ahead of time for unused functionality. Our partnership with Bell Microproducts will significantly expand our reach into the channel."

QLogic 2500 Series HBAs are designed for next generation virtualized data centers with powerful multi-processor, multi-core servers and are optimized for virtualization, power, RAS (Reliability, Availability, Serviceability), security and management to transform server connectivity into competitive advantage. The 2500 Series provides complete investment protection by maintaining backward compatibility to previous Fibre Channel network and PCIe host bus speeds.

SANbox 5800 Series 8Gb Fibre Channel switches are designed to provide the most cost-efficient way to scale a storage network. In addition to blazing 8Gb performance, SANbox 5800 Series switches help eliminate the cost and complexity of trunking inter-switch links (ISLs) with QLogic 20Gb Fibre Channel stackable switch technology. SAN architects can scale a fabric with no wasted ports for ISLs, fees for trunking, or disruption to the fabric.

The QLogic 8Gb Fibre Channel portfolio is now available through Bell Microproducts. Please call 1-800-800-1513 or visit http://www.bellmicro.com for more information.

About Bell Microproducts Inc.

Bell Microproducts (Pink Sheets:BELM) is an international, value-added distributor of a wide range of high-tech products, solutions and services, including storage systems, servers, software, computer components and peripherals, as well as maintenance and professional services. An industry-recognized specialist in storage products, this Fortune 1000 company is one of the world's largest storage-centric value-added distributors.

Bell Microproducts is uniquely qualified with deep technical and application expertise to service a broad range of information technology needs. From design to deployment, its products are available at any level of integration, from components to subsystem assemblies and fully-integrated, tested and certified system solutions.

For more information, visit http://www.bellmicro.com or call 408/492-1470.