BakBone and Network Appliance Announce Support for Novell's SUSE LINUX(R) Enterprise Server 9

SAN DIEGO, August 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BakBone Software (TSX: BKB; OTC Bulletin Board: BKBOF), a global provider of data protection software, and Network Appliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTAP), the leader in advanced networked storage solutions for today's data-intensive enterprise, today announced joint support of NetVault 7 on NetApp(R) storage systems for Novell Inc.'s (Nasdaq: NOVL) SUSE LINUX(R) Enterprise Server version 9. The companies' joint support for SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 will provide enterprise customers with seamless integration and an improved customer experience in the deployment of SUSE LINUX in NetApp unified storage environments. The result is a scalable storage solution that lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO), enhances the ease of use, and delivers industry-leading performance through NetVault, NetApp enterprise storage, and SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9.

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Now available, SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 marks a milestone for companies who want to take advantage of the performance benefits and sizeable reductions in operating and outlay expenses that Linux offers, and still ensure reliable data recoverability. BakBone and Network Appliance provide users with the ability to fully realize the cost savings and flexibility associated with Linux, regardless of whether a customer's IT infrastructure comprises industry-standard 32-bit architecture or 64-bit Intel(R) Itanium(R) 2 systems, AMD Opteron, or IBM pSeries.

According to IDC, Linux adoption continues to penetrate the database tier within mission-critical IT environments. Building on BakBone's Linux Advantage(TM) initiative announced early this year, the combination of BakBone, NetApp, and SUSE LINUX gives customers the benefits of trusted 24x7 support and greater ease of deployment for their data protection needs. Overstock.com is one such customer that currently benefits from the partnership between BakBone, Network Appliance, and SUSE LINUX.

"As the Internet leader for name brands at clearance prices, Overstock.com offers its customers a huge inventory of merchandise while providing its suppliers with an alternative inventory liquidation distribution channel. The ability to back up and restore our critical inventory data with speed and accuracy is key to our business," said Steve Briggs, director of engineering at Overstock.com. "BakBone's NetVault managing NetApp storage systems running on Enterprise Server 9 enables us to embrace the cost advantages of Linux while satisfying our needs for high levels of scalability, data reliability, and availability."

"Linux penetration in mission-critical enterprise computing environments is rapidly growing worldwide," said Holger Dyroff, VP Product Management and Marketing, SUSE LINUX for Novell. "Certified by top enterprise software and hardware providers like BakBone and Network Appliance, Novell's SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server delivers the highest levels of reliability and value --bringing together the innovation of open source technology and the stability of a true enterprise class platform."

With more than seven years of support for SUSE LINUX, BakBone continues to set the market pace for Linux distribution interoperability and support, delivering the industry's broadest support for platforms and applications in heterogeneous environments. While equally supporting both UNIX(R) and Windows(R) platforms, BakBone now also gives customers an expanded Linux choice with SUSE's latest Enterprise platform for high performance computing environments.

"NetApp remains dedicated to meeting the increased enterprise demand and adoption of Linux across its unified storage portfolio," said Patrick Rogers, vice president of Marketing, Network Appliance. "Our joint support for SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 demonstrates a commitment that extends to our customers. Together BakBone and NetApp provide low TCO and increased reliability without compromising our customers' data protection strategies."

"BakBone is pleased to be working with Novell and Network Appliance as part of its commitment to ongoing collaboration with its Linux Advantage partners across the entire enterprise solution stack," said Adrian Jones, senior vice president, worldwide OEMs and alliances, BakBone Software. "NetVault enables customers to confidently run and deploy business critical applications on SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 across their complete enterprise-computing infrastructure -- without compromising their backup and recovery needs."

BakBone engineers conducted extensive interoperability tests to ensure seamless and comprehensive data protection for joint customers using NetApp enterprise storage in a SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 environment. BakBone's NetVault 7 delivers an easy-to-deploy, affordable solution for Linux that eliminates the need for costly professional service charges and administrative training demanded of competitive solutions.

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 is the first enterprise-class server to support the Linux 2.6 kernel. Backed by Novell's global ecosystem of enterprise-level consulting, training and support, SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 supports all relevant system architectures with a uniform code base. This provides IT professionals a consistent, familiar platform to deploy across heterogeneous environments and affords end users considerable cost savings. Security and software updates are provided uniformly from Novell, which reduces the burden on IT when deploying updates across different hardware and systems architectures. About Network Appliance

Network Appliance is a world leader in unified storage solutions for today's data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance has delivered technology, product, and partner firsts that continue to drive "The evolution of storage.(TM)" Information about Network Appliance(TM) solutions and services is available at http://www.netapp.com. About BakBone Software, Inc.

BakBone Software is a leading international data protection solution provider that develops and distributes data backup, restore, and disaster recovery software for network storage and open-systems environments. BakBone delivers scalable solutions that address the complex demands of large enterprise environments, as well as small to medium sized businesses. Founded in 2000, BakBone products are used by Fortune 1000 corporations and domestic and international government entities. Distributed through a select global network of OEM partners, resellers and solution providers, interested companies can learn more information about BakBone's products and services at http://www.bakbone.com or email info@bakbone.com. Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause BakBone's results to differ materially from historical results, or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, competition in our target markets; potential capital needs; management of future growth and expansion; risk of third-party claims of infringement; protection of proprietary information, customer acceptance of the company's products and fee structures; the success of BakBone's brand development efforts; risks associated with strategic alliances; reliance on distribution channels; product concentration; need to develop new and enhanced products; potential product defects; our ability to hire and retain qualified employees and key management personnel; and risks associated with changes in domestic and international market conditions and the entry into and development of international markets for the company's products. Our forward-looking statements should be considered in the context of these and other risk factors disclosed in our most recent report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be found at http://www.sec.gov, as well as those risk factors disclosed in the current report filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators, which is available on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. All future written and oral forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf are also subject to these factors. BakBone assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made. BakBone, BakBone Software, NetVault, Application Plugin Module, APM and the BakBone logo are all trademarks or registered trademarks of BakBone Software, Inc., in the United States and/or in other countries. NetApp is a registered trademark and Network Appliance and The evolution of storage are trademarks of Network Appliance, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other brands, products or service names are or may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of, and used to identify, products or services of their respective owners. BakBone contact: Network Appliance, Inc. contact:

Dani Kenison Katryn McGaughey

Manager, Public Relations PR Program Manager

858-795-7584 408-822-3856

dani.kenison@bakbone.com katrynm@netapp.com