Exhibit 99.7

       Acquisition Adds Wireless KVM Switching and Extension Capabilities


    HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avocent Corporation
(Nasdaq: AVCT) today announced that it signed a definitive agreement to
acquire Crystal Link Technologies, a privately-held company located in
Escondido, California. The acquisition is subject to Crystal Link shareholder
approval. The acquisition is expected to close during the fourth quarter and
will not have a material effect on Avocent's fourth quarter results. The
agreement provides for a total purchase price of $13.2 million consisting of
an initial payment of $8.2 million in a combination of cash and Avocent stock
with additional earn-out payments possible of up to $5 million based on future
technical enhancement and sales related performance goals.

    "The Crystal Link acquisition accelerates Avocent's development of
wireless technology for KVM switching and extension products," stated John R.
Cooper, president and chief executive officer of Avocent Corporation. "We
believe there are significant growth opportunities for Avocent with the
addition of Crystal Link's wireless technology that parallels the growth in
other wireless PC and server applications. By combining industry standard
wireless devices with proprietary digital processing and data compression
technology from Crystal Link, we have a platform that is applicable to a wide
range of new and existing product applications for Avocent.

    "We look forward to introducing the industry's first wireless KVM extender
to new customers this quarter. This new technology will enable wireless
extension of computer keyboard, mouse, digital audio and VGA video signals. We
expect to introduce additional wireless products in the first quarter of 2004
that will further expand opportunities for wireless applications."

    Commenting on the transaction, Rick Moore, founder and president of
Crystal Link Technologies, stated, "We are excited to join with Avocent to
continue their demonstrated leadership in new product innovation. Avocent's
innovative work environment will enable our entrepreneurial spirit to thrive.
The strong relationship between our two companies has already been
demonstrated with the announcement of the LongView(R) Wireless, the industry's
first wireless KVM product. We are already working on technology advancements
and new products that will not only satisfy the needs of Avocent's traditional
customers, but will create opportunities in new markets."

    Crystal Link's wireless technology uses industry standard 802.11a wireless
protocols to take advantage of mass-production RF devices to provide an
economical platform for its proprietary digital processing and data
compression technology that is virtually identical to wired devices in terms
of speed and data transmission. The current technology supports 24 bit color,
screen resolutions of 1024 x 768 and video at 30 frames per second.

    Avocent's first wireless KVM product, LongView(R) Wireless, includes a
wireless keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) extender that connects remote
monitors, keyboards, mice and audio devices to a computer without cables. The
device uses industry standard technology that is essentially plug-and-play and
requires no drivers or application software. The advantages of reduced cabling
and simplified installation will be major selling points for the new wireless
KVM solutions.


    About Crystal Link Technologies

    Crystal Link Technologies was founded in 2002 and designs, manufactures
and sells a family of wireless, industry standard PC video solutions. The
Company's patent pending wireless solutions combine proprietary digital
processing and data compression technology with the latest broadband digital
RF transmission enabling performance that is virtually identical to
traditional wired displays.


    About Avocent Corporation

    Avocent Corporation is the leading supplier of connectivity solutions for
enterprise data centers, service providers, and financial institutions
worldwide. Branded products include switching, extension, remote access, and
video display solutions. Additional information is available at:
www.avocent.com.


    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements
as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
include statements regarding the development and introduction of new products
and technologies, the size and growth of the potential markets for these
products and technologies in the future, the revenue for these new products
and technologies in the future, and engineering and design activities. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including
the risks associated with general economic conditions, risks attributable to
future product demand, sales, and expenses, risks associated with reliance on
a limited number of customers, component suppliers, and single source
components, risks associated with product design efforts and the introduction
of new products and technologies, and risks associated with obtaining and
protecting intellectual property rights. Other factors that could cause
operating and financial results to differ are described in Avocent's annual
report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March
27, 2003. Other risks may be detailed from time to time in reports to be filed
with the SEC. Avocent does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its
forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date
hereof.



SOURCE  Avocent Corporation
    -0-                             11/17/2003
    /CONTACT:  Dusty Pritchett, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief
Financial Officer of Avocent Corporation, +1-256-217-1300/
    /Web site:  http://www.avocent.com /
    (AVCT)

CO:  Avocent Corporation; Crystal Link Technologies
ST:  Alabama
IN:  CPR MLM
SU:  TNM