Bell Microproducts to Distribute Silverback Systems iSCI Host Bus Adapters
Silverback iSNAP Acceleration Technology Expands Leading Value-Added Distributor’s Network Storage Product Portfolio

Campbell and San Jose, CA | 7.10. 06 — Silverback Systems, Inc., a technology leader in advanced TCP and iSCSI acceleration and Bell Microproducts Inc. (NASDAQ: BELM), the world’s largest value-added distributor of leading-edge network storage technology, announced today that Bell Microproducts will distribute Silverback’s line of iSNAP-based host bus adapters (HBAs) in North America.

This new distribution relationship enables Bell Microproducts to market Silverback iSCSI HBAs, which provide optimal price and performance to IP-based storage networks, to its extensive base of value-added resellers (VAR’s) and system integrators throughout the United States and Canada. Small and medium enterprise (SME) customers can now take advantage of Silverback’s advanced, feature-rich TCP/iSCSI acceleration technology at very competitive price points.

“Bell Microproducts has consistently proven its unique ability to engage and align its vast and proven distribution capabilities with innovative network-storage technology companies,” said Phil Roussey, executive vice president of enterprise solutions at Bell Microproducts. “The robust feature set, market-leading price/performance positioning and Silverback’s vision to provide low-cost network acceleration for IP-based networks was a natural fit with our commitment to offer cost-effective, industry-leading solutions to its customers.”

“Bell Microproducts’ outstanding reputation, wide market reach and focus on cutting-edge network storage solutions were key factors in making them the obvious choice as the lead partner in Silverback’s aggressive market strategy for North America,” said Ahmet Houssein, CEO and president of Silverback Systems. “Their extensive storage program offerings along with their proven background and expertise will enable Bell Microproducts and Silverback to accelerate the growth of the iSCSI market.”

Silverback HBA products are based on the company’s patented iSNAP technology, which accelerates the performance of servers, iSCSI storage devices, NAS appliances, blade servers, and multi-protocol storage and routers, while providing flexibility, scalability, resiliency, and high availability under the most extreme transaction-oriented traffic conditions. The iSNAP technology dramatically speeds access to IP storage in a variety of different configurations by offloading both networking and upper-layer protocols such as iSCSI and RDMA.

Silverback’s dual-port gigabit HBA is capable of delivering up to 440MB/s throughput and up to 250 IOPS (iSCSI I/Os per second). The iSNAP 2110 HBA outperforms competitive offerings (measured in throughput) by 100 percent and is priced 25 percent lower than current alternatives. The iSNAP 2110 HBA is the only solution with the underlying architecture and firmware scalable to 10Gb/s and beyond, and the ability to support emerging storage and networking technologies and protocols as they become deployed.

For more information on Silverback’s line of iSNAP-based iSCSI host bus adapters, please contact Bell Microproducts at 1-800-800-1513

About Bell Microproducts Inc.
Bell Microproducts is an international, value-added provider of a wide range of high-technology products, solutions, and services to the industrial and commercial markets. Our offering includes RAID, NAS and SAN storage systems, servers, fibre channel, software, computer components, peripherals and a wide range of maintenance and professional services. Bell Microproducts is an industry-recognized specialist in storage products and is one of the world’s largest storage-centric value-added distributors.

Our products are available at any level of integration, from components to subsystem assemblies and fully-integrated, tested and certified system solutions. We add value with a broad range of services including design and configuration, testing, software loading, kitting, mass storage and computer system integration and custom server manufacturing. Trained and certified technical personnel perform these processes at Bell Microproducts’ ISO 9001:2000 facilities.

We market and distribute more than 140 brand name product lines, as well as our own Rorke Data and Hammer Storage brands, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), system integrators, contract electronic manufacturing services (CEMS) customers, value-added resellers (VARs) and retailers in the Americas and Europe. More information can be found in the company’s SEC filings, or by visiting the Bell Microproducts website at www.bellmicro.com.

About Silverback Systems, Inc.
Silverback Systems, Inc. designs, develops and markets iSNAP network acceleration processors and HBAs for the IP networking market. The company is based in Campbell, California, with offices in Rochester, Minnesota and Netanya, Israel.

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