Sydney, 14 September 2006 - Network Appliance, Inc. (NetApp®), a world leader in unified

storage solutions, today announced it has signed a distribution agreement with Avnet Partner Solutions, a leading value-added distributor in Australia.

The distribution agreement enables Avnet to distribute the complete range of NetApp storage solutions in Australia and help a broad range of value-added resellers (VARs) market and sell NetApp enterprise storage solutions.

Network Appliance’s best-of-breed technology combined with Avnet’s operational excellence will now deliver even more value to both existing and new resellers in Australia. Business Partners will benefit from the vast array of storage solutions available for immediate distribution. 

As a value-added distributor, Avnet will build a storage practice around the NetApp solutions with a dedicated staff covering business development, technical support and customer service for NetApp Gold and Preferred Partners.

Colin McKenna, managing director, Avnet Partner Solutions, Australia, said: “We are delighted about the relationship with Network Appliance and its commitment to the Australian channel. Being the first contracted distributor in Australia demonstrates the unique proposition that Avnet brings to Network Appliance and enables us to take a leading role in the storage solutions distribution space, particularly in the mid-tier market.

“The NetApp range of storage products complements our existing portfolio of market leading solutions. NetApp solutions contain software that address true business needs, such as protecting data and quickly restoring data in disaster-recovery situations,” McKenna added. “From an Avnet perspective, selling storage as an independent solution is a key driver for Avnet and our channel.   As our partners build solutions to business problems such as regulatory compliance, data security, information lifecycle management and disaster recovery, working with Network Appliance will allow them to complete the solution gap in the current market place.

“Network Appliance has a stated goal to have its channel business grow at double the rate of its business in FY2006/07, and that is a goal Avnet feels will prove attractive to new and existing partners,” added McKenna.

Peter O’Connor, managing director, Network Appliance, Australia and New Zealand, said: “Avnet has been doing business with NetApp in the US for about three years, and the relationship has proven highly successful, so it makes sense to extend this partnership into Australia.  Avnet has a clear understanding of our products, and the energy and focus to really grow our business and look after our resellers.”

About Avnet Partner Solutions, Australia

Avnet Partner Solutions, Australia is an industry-leading, value-added distributor and provider of enterprise servers, storage, software and services. Avnet Partner Solutions Australia provides solutions from industry-leading manufacturers including, HP, IBM, Oracle, Enterasys Networks and Novell’s Suse Linux -- driving growth for partners and manufacturers. Avnet Partner Solutions is a division of Avnet Pacific Pty Limited, and a part of the Avnet Technology Solutions operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT). For more information, visit: www.avnetpartnersolutions.com.au

Avnet (NYSE:AVT) 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 1, 2006, Avnet generated $14.25 billion in revenue through sales in approximately 70 countries.

About Network Appliance

Network Appliance is a world leader in unified storage solutions for today’s data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance has delivered technology, product, and partner firsts to simplify data management. Information about Network Appliance™ solutions and services is available at www.netapp.com.

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Media Contacts:

Mark Heers

Director Marketing and Alliance

Network Appliance

Tel: +61 2 9979 5623                                                       

mheers@netapp.com

Michael Costigan

Marketing Director
Avnet Partner Solutions

Tel: + 61 (0)2 8877 0751

michael.costigan@avnet.com