Leader in Fibre Channel Fabrics Opens Two New European Offices to Support 200 Percent Market Growth in Storage Area Networking

LONDON and MUNICH, Germany, Dec. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (BROCADE(R)) (Nasdaq: BRCD), the leading supplier of Fibre Channel fabric solutions for Storage Area Networking, announced today that the company is expanding its focus on the European market through a significant investment in people, facilities, and new partnerships to meet the escalating demand worldwide for BROCADE products. To drive this expansion, BROCADE will open new European offices in Reading, U.K. and Munich, Germany, in early 2000.

"BROCADE's success in the storage area networking market has allowed us to accelerate our growth in international markets. We are increasing our European operations to meet the rapidly growing customer demand in Europe, building on our OEM and systems integration partnerships which are supported by BROCADE sales, marketing and support services," said Greg Reyes, BROCADE president and CEO.

BROCADE has already secured major OEM contracts in Europe with Groupe Bull and Siemens Computer Systems. In addition, BROCADE has established global OEM relationships with major vendors such as Compaq Computer, Data General, Dell Computer, IBM, and NEC.

"The expanded presence of companies such as BROCADE in the European market is indicative of the tremendous opportunity in the European community for storage area networking solutions. The BROCADE scalable, Fibre Channel fabric switches are aimed at providing a high performance networked model for storage in the enterprise. Businesses worldwide are looking for storage area network solutions to help reduce the overall cost of storage and optimize business continuity," said Claus Egge, research manager, IDC European Storage Systems Research.

Paul Trowbridge, newly-appointed BROCADE European marketing manager added, "As the market leader for scalable Fibre Channel fabric switches, BROCADE is once again taking a leadership role in helping our channel partners deliver Fibre Channel solutions and expertise to the European market."

In addition, BROCADE has recently entered into agreements with several leading systems integrator partners in Europe, including Kingswell Computer Company and Redstor in the U.K. and BASIS in Germany. "Expanding our relationships with independent systems integration partners is an important element of BROCADE's European market development strategy. We continue to invest in the development and education of this important channel for BROCADE products to help drive the implementation of scalable, heterogeneous storage area networks," commented Terry Ostridge, BROCADE European director of sales.

About Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
BROCADE is the leading supplier of open Fibre Channel fabric solutions that provide the intelligent backbone for Storage Area Networks (SANs). The BROCADE SilkWorm(R) family of Fibre Channel switches and BROCADE SAN management software are designed to optimize data availability in the storage enterprise. Using BROCADE solutions, companies can simplify the implementation of Storage Area Networks, reduce the total cost of ownership of data storage environments, and improve network and application efficiency and performance.

BROCADE is committed to maintaining open, standards-based solutions. Leading systems, applications, and storage vendors have selected BROCADE as their Fibre Channel connectivity standard, including Amdahl, CNT, Compaq Computer, Data General, Dell Computer, Groupe Bull, IBM, NEC, Network Appliance, Siemens Computer Systems, Silicon Graphics, and StorageTek. In addition, BROCADE counts industry leaders Computer Associates, Emulex, Hitachi Data Systems Inc., Legato, MetaStor Storage Solutions, QLogic, Tivoli Systems, and VERITAS among its strategic partners. For more information, visit the BROCADE website at www.brocade.com or contact the company at info@brocade.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. BROCADE's actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include risks surrounding the development of the emerging market for Storage Area Networks and for SAN switching products, the timely development, production and acceptance of new products and services, and BROCADE's ability to compete in a highly competitive and rapidly changing marketplace. These and other risks are detailed in BROCADE's prospectus dated May 24, 1999 and in the Form 10-Q, dated September 15, 1999 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. BROCADE assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

NOTE: BROCADE, SilkWorm, SilkWorm Express, Fabric Integrator, Fabric OS, Fabric Weaver, and QuickLoop are trademarks or registered trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems Incorporated, 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. SOURCE Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

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