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                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kurt Adams or Ed Luboja
Vixel Corporation
425.806.5800
eluboja@vixel.com

              VIXEL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

        BOTHELL, WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 18, 2001 -- Vixel Corporation (Nasdaq:
VIXL), a leading provider of storage area networking (SAN) solutions, today
announced that it has adopted a stock repurchase program of up to $1 million.
The repurchase program will begin immediately. Repurchases are to be made at the
discretion of management as market conditions warrant and will continue through
the end of 2001.

        "The adoption of this program reflects the Company's confidence in its
long-term prospects and the prospects for the storage area networking
marketplace," stated James M. McCluney, Vixel's President and Chief Executive
Officer.

        Repurchases, if any, under Vixel's stock repurchase program may be made,
from time to time in the open market, through block trades or otherwise.

ABOUT VIXEL CORPORATION

        Vixel Corporation offers customers real world solutions for storage
networking. As a leading provider of Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions, the
company's comprehensive portfolio of multivendor certified solutions, switches,
hubs and integrated management software delivers reliable, interoperable
solutions to its customers and partners. SAN InSite(TM) is Vixel's comprehensive
open management software for SANs, providing remote control and diagnostics for
Fibre Channel switches, hubs and transceivers from a single console, reducing
the administration and overhead of implementing a SAN. Vixel products and
technology are used by major system suppliers including Avid Technologies,
Compaq, IBM, Lucent, Network

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Appliance and Sun Microsystems. Products are available worldwide through its
network of value-added resellers, alliances and OEMs. Vixel is an ISO 9001
certified company.

VIXEL SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

        Except for historical information contained herein, this news release
contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in
the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include
risks affecting performance and market acceptance of Vixel's products, Vixel's
ability to meet its quality and performance standards, development of the
storage area network, or SAN market, the competitiveness and performance of
Vixel's products in the rapidly changing SAN market and the ability of Vixel to
meet evolving product standards required by customers and others involved in the
distribution channel for SAN products. Further information on the factors and
risks that could affect Vixel's business, financial condition and results of
operations, are contained in Vixel's Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent
Form-10Q, which are available at www.sec.gov.

                                     * * * *

For more information, visit Vixel's web site at www.vixel.com. Vixel Corporation
is headquartered at 11911 North Creek Parkway South, Bothell, Washington 98011
and can be contacted by phone at 425-806-5509 or e-mail at marketing@vixel.com.




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