Features - Storage Innovations:

RORKE DATA RELEASES UNIQUE SAN SOLUTION AIMED AT MAC OSX

Rorke Data, a subsidiary of San Jose-based Bell Microproducts Inc, and a leader in SAN, RAID, and Archive storage solutions for the digital Post-Production, Broadcast, Prepress, and Medical Imaging industries, announced recently that it has released the storage industry's first Storage Area Network (SAN) file management application ImageSAN OSX, specifically designed for Apple Computer's OS X operating system.

"ImageSAN OSX harnesses the power of Apple's OS X platform," said Bob Herzan, vice president of Sales for Rorke Data's Video & Broadcast Division. Herzan continued, "It is simple to use and straight forward to install. Our software design approach centers on Mac users that are creative professionals on the one hand, and very much part of a serious business environment on the other. ImageSAN is a cost-effective enabling technology for sharing files, distributing content creation from the workflow perspective, and ultimately improving artistic collaboration." Joe Rorke, Rorke Data's vp of Marketing, noted that as a subsidiary of storage industry leader Bell Microproducts, Rorke is in a unique position working with key data storage OEMs such as Seagate, Brocade, ATTO and Storagetek to provide complete SAN solutions for the entertainment and content markets. "ImageSAN OSX is in alignment with our supplier's goals to grow revenues in the storage hungry vertical markets like Broadcast and Digital Video. ImageSAN-OSX gives our storage partners unique leverage to gain market share in these Apple dominated sectors."

"Over the last 4 years, ATTO Technology and Rorke Data proved the technology benefits and consequent ROI of a SAN-based workflow for content creators," said Sherri Robinson, Markets Manager ATTO Technology, "We are excited to see a worldwide partner like Rorke Data develop and deliver a SAN file management application for the OS X platform. ImageSAN OSX, together with ATTO's fibre-channel connectivity hardware provides a complete SAN solution, designed for high-bandwidth applications like non-linear editing and effects creation, just in time for the users as they fully migrate to OS X."

"SAN is an established, often required storage and network topology that underpins professional post production workflow," said John Abt, president of AJA Video, "The customers that rely on our capture board technology, often require the high-speed of a SAN environment for collaborative work. We are proud that AJA products are fully migrated to OS X, and with Rorke's ImageSAN product now launched, our users can leverage the benefits of SAN-based infrastructure with this powerful, new Apple OS."

Rorke Data, in partnership with its sister organization, Bell Microproducts Enterprise Solutions Europe, located in Almere, The Netherlands, will now accept orders from their collective, worldwide authorized reseller network.

Free evaluation software is available at www.imagesan.com.

About Rorke Data

Rorke Data is a full digital storage solutions provider with expertise in Fibre-Channel RAID, SAN, DVD, tape and optical libraries, Unix, NT and Mac environments, high bandwidth networks, and related professional services. Founded in 1985, Rorke Data, is a subsidiary of Bell Microproducts, San Jose, CA, and is composed of four divisions: Medical Diagnostic Imaging, Digital Video & Broadcast, Digital Prepress & Publishing, as well as a Technical Services division. More information about Rorke Data can be found at www.rorke.com. Rorke Data is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bell Microproducts Inc.

About AJA Video

AJA Video Systems Inc is a leading manufacturer of professional digital video interface and conversion solutions for both standard and high definition systems. Products include uncompressed SD and HD capture cards, stand-alone converters, and a complete line of rackmount interface cards and frames. Since 1993, AJA has brought high-quality, low-cost digital video products to the professional broadcast and post-production markets. With headquarters located in Grass Valley, California, AJA designs and manufactures all of its products locally, while maintaining a sales network of dealers and systems integrators around the world.

About Bell Microproducts

Bell Microproducts is an international value added provider of a wide range of high technology products, solutions, and services to the industrial and commercial marketplace. The company's offering includes semiconductors, computer platforms, peripherals, and storage products of various types including desktop, high-end computer and storage subsystems, Fibre-Channel connectivity products, RAID, NAS and SAN storage systems and back-up products. Bell Microproducts is an industry-recognized specialist in storage products and is one of the world's largest storage-centric value-added distributors.

The company's products are available at any level of integration from components, to subsystem assemblies, to fully integrated, tested and certified system solutions. The company adds value with a broad range of services including testing, software loading, kitting, mass storage system integration, and computer system integration. Trained and certified technical personnel complete each of these processes at Bell Microproducts' ISO 9002 facilities. Bell Microproducts markets and distributes more than 150 brand name product lines, as well as its own BellStor storage and TradeMark computer brands, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contract electronic manufacturing services (EMS) customers, value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators in the Americas and Europe. More information can be found in SEC filings, or by visiting the Bell Microproducts Web site at www.bellmicro.com.

Contact: Rorke Data Inc, 9700 West 76th Street, Eden Prairie, MN 55344; 800-328-8147 or 952-829-0300; fax: 952-829-0988; Web site: www.rorke.com.