QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT

    THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT (the
"Agreement") is made and entered into as of October 31, 2000, by and among
Avocent Employment Services Co. (formerly known as Polycon Investments, Inc.), a
Texas corporation ("Employer"), Avocent Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and
Stephen F. Thornton (the "Employee").

RECITALS

    WHEREAS, the Employer is a direct or indirect subsidiary of Avocent
Corporation engaged in the business of leasing employees to Avocent Corporation
and its affiliates, including Apex Inc. ("Apex") and Cybex Computer Products
Corporation ("Cybex");

    WHEREAS, Avocent Corporation and its affiliates (collectively referred to in
this Agreement as "Avocent") are engaged in the business of designing,
manufacturing, and selling stand-alone console/ KVM switching systems,
console/KVM remote access products, and integrated server cabinet solutions for
the client/server computing market;

    WHEREAS, Employee, Employer, and Cybex entered into that certain Employment
and Noncompetition Agreement dated July 1, 1999, as amended by that certain
First Amendment dated March 7, 2000 (collectively, the "Original Employment
Agreement"); and

    WHEREAS, on March 8, 2000, Apex, Cybex, and Avocent Corporation entered into
an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated March 8, 2000 (the "Reorganization
Agreement"). Pursuant to the Reorganization Agreement, (i) Apex Acquisition
Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avocent, merged with and into Apex on
July 1, 2000 (the "Apex Merger"), and upon the Apex Merger, Apex became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Avocent, and (ii) Cybex Acquisition Corp., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Avocent, merged with and into Cybex (the "Cybex
Merger") on July 1, 2000, and upon the Cybex Merger, Cybex also became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Avocent; and

    WHEREAS, for and in consideration of an increase in base pay, certain
incentive bonus eligibility and awards, and an award of stock options that would
not otherwise be made to Employee, Employer, Employee, Cybex, and Avocent now
wish to amend and restate the Original Employment Agreement with this Amended
and Restated Employment and Noncompetition Agreement.

AGREEMENT

    THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

    1.  DUTIES.  During the term of this Agreement, the Employee agrees to be
employed by Employer and to serve Avocent as its Chairman of the Board,
President, and Chief Executive Officer, and Employer agrees to employ the
Employee and lease the Employee to Avocent to serve Avocent in such capacities.
The Employee shall devote such of his business time, energy, and skill to the
affairs of Avocent and Employer as shall be necessary to perform the duties of
Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer. The Employee
shall report only to the Boards of Directors of the Employer, Cybex, and Avocent
Corporation and at all times during the term of this Agreement, the Employee
shall have powers and duties at least commensurate with his position as Chairman
of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Avocent Corporation.

    2.  TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.

    2.1  DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Agreement the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

    (a) "TERMINATION FOR CAUSE" shall mean termination by the Employer of the
Employee's employment by the Employer by reason of the Employee's willful
dishonesty towards, fraud upon, or deliberate injury or attempted injury to, the
Employer or Avocent or

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by reason of the Employee's willful material breach of this Agreement which has
resulted in material injury to the Employer or Avocent.

    (b) "TERMINATIONS OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE" shall mean termination by the
Employer or Avocent Corporation of the Employee's employment by the Employer
(other than in a Termination for Cause) and shall include any constructive
termination of the Employee's employment by reason of material breach of this
Agreement by the Employer or Avocent, such constructive termination to be
effective upon thirty (30) days written notice from the Employee to the Employer
of such constructive termination.

    (c) "VOLUNTARY TERMINATION" shall mean termination by the Employee of the
Employee's employment by the Employer other than (i) constructive termination as
described in subsection 2.1(b), (ii) "Termination Upon a Change in Control" as
described in Section 2.1(e), and (iii) termination by reason of the Employee's
disability or death as described in Sections 2.5 and 2.6.

    (d) "TERMINATION UPON A CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean (i) a termination by
the Employee of the Employee's employment with the Employer or services to
Avocent within six (6) months following any "Change in Control" other than any
"Change in Control" contemplated by or described in the Reorganization Agreement
and/or resulting from the closing of the transactions described in the
Reorganization Agreement including, without limitation, the Cybex Merger, the
Apex Merger, and the Merger (as such terms are defined in the Reorganization
Agreement), or (ii) any termination by the Employer or Avocent Corporation of
the Employee's employment by the Employer (other than a Termination for Cause)
within eighteen (18) months following any "Change in Control" other than any
"Change in Control" contemplated by or described in the Reorganization Agreement
and/or resulting from the closing of the transactions described in the
Reorganization Agreement including, without limitation, the Cybex Merger, the
Apex Merger, and the Merger (as such terms are defined in the Reorganization
Agreement).

    (e) "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean any one of the following events:

     (i) Any person (other than Avocent) acquires beneficial ownership of
Employer's, Cybex's, or Avocent Corporation's securities and is or thereby
becomes a beneficial owner of securities entitling such person to exercise
twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of Employer's,
Cybex's, or Avocent Corporation's then outstanding stock. For purposes of this
Agreement, "beneficial ownership" shall be determined in accordance with
Regulation 13D under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any similar
successor regulation or rule; and the term "person" shall include any natural
person, corporation, partnership, trust or association, or any group or
combination thereof, whose ownership of Employer's, Cybex's, or Avocent
Corporation's securities would be required to be reported under such
Regulation 13D, or any similar successor regulation or rule.

    (ii) Within any twenty-four (24) month period, the individuals who were
Directors of Avocent Corporation at the beginning of any such period, together
with any other Directors first elected as directors of Avocent Corporation
pursuant to nominations approved or ratified by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the
Directors in office immediately prior to any such election, cease to constitute
a majority of the Board of Directors of Avocent Corporation.

    (iii) Avocent Corporation's stockholders approve:

    (1) any consolidation or merger of Avocent Corporation in which Avocent
Corporation is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which

2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

shares of Avocent Corporation common stock would be converted into cash,
securities or other property, other than a merger or consolidation of Avocent
Corporation in which the holders of Avocent Corporation's common stock
immediately prior to the merger or consolidation have substantially the same
proportionate ownership and voting control of the surviving corporation
immediately after the merger or consolidation; or

    (2) any sale, lease, exchange, liquidation or other transfer (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the
assets of Avocent Corporation.

Notwithstanding subparagraphs (e)(iii)(1) and (e)(iii)(2) above, the term
"Change in Control" shall not include a consolidation, merger, or other
reorganization if upon consummation of such transaction all of the outstanding
voting stock of Avocent Corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, by a
holding company, and the holders of Avocent Corporation's common stock
immediately prior to the transaction have substantially the same proportionate
ownership and voting control of such holding company after such transaction.

    (iv) Cybex's stockholders approve:

    (1) any consolidation or merger of Cybex in which Cybex is not the
continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares of Cybex common
stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a
merger or consolidation of Cybex (including a merger of Cybex into Avocent
Corporation) in which the holders of Cybex's common stock immediately prior to
the merger or consolidation have substantially the same proportionate ownership
and voting control of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger or
consolidation; or

    (2) any sale, lease, exchange, liquidation or other transfer (in one
transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the
assets of Cybex.

Notwithstanding subparagraphs (e)(iv)(1) and (e)(iv)(2) above, the term "Change
in Control" shall not include a consolidation, merger, or other reorganization
if upon consummation of such transaction all of the outstanding voting stock of
Cybex is owned, directly or indirectly, by a holding company, and the holders of
Cybex's common stock immediately prior to the transaction have substantially the
same proportionate ownership and voting control of such holding company after
such transaction.

    2.2  BASIC TERM.  The term of employment of the Employee by the Employer
shall be for the period beginning immediately prior to the closing of the Cybex
Merger (as described in the Reorganization Agreement) on July 1, 2000, and
ending on December 31, 2004, unless terminated earlier pursuant to this
Section 2. At any time before December 31, 2004, the Employer and the Employee
may by mutual written agreement extend the Employee's employment under the terms
of this Agreement for such additional periods as they may agree.

    2.3  TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.  Termination For Cause may be effected by the
Employer at any time during the term of this Agreement and shall be effected by
thirty (30) days written notification to the Employee from the Boards of
Directors of Employer and Avocent Corporation stating the reason for
termination. Upon Termination For Cause, the Employee immediately shall be paid
all accrued salary, vested deferred compensation, if any (other than pension
plan or profit sharing plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the
applicable plan), any benefits under any plans of Employer or Avocent in which
the Employee is a participant to the full extent of the Employee's rights under
such plans, accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred
by the Employee in connection with his duties hereunder,

3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

all to the date of termination, but the Employee shall not be paid any other
compensation or reimbursement of any kind, including without limitation,
severance compensation.

    2.4  TERMINATION OTHER THAN FOR CAUSE.  Notwithstanding anything else in
this Agreement, the Employer may effect a Termination Other Than For Cause at
any time upon giving thirty (30) days written notice to the Employee of such
termination. Upon any Termination Other Than For Cause, the Employee shall
immediately be paid all accrued salary, bonus compensation to the extent earned,
vested deferred compensation, if any (other than pension plan or profit sharing
plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the applicable plan), any
benefits under any plans of Employer or Avocent in which the Employee is a
participant to the full extent of the Employee's rights under such plans,
accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred by the
Employee in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the date of
termination, and all severance compensation provided in Section 4.2, but no
other compensation or reimbursement of any kind.

    2.5  TERMINATION BY REASON OF DISABILITY.  If, during the term of this
Agreement, the Employee, in the reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors of
Avocent, has failed to perform his duties under this Agreement on account of
illness or physical or mental incapacity, and such illness or incapacity
continues for a period of more than six (6) consecutive months, the Employer
shall have the right to terminate the Employee's employment hereunder by
delivery of written notice to the Employee at any time after such six month
period and payment to the Employee of all accrued salary, bonus compensation in
an amount equal to the average annual bonus earned by the Employee as an
employee of Avocent and its affiliates and predecessors in the two (2) years
immediately preceding the date of termination, vested deferred compensation, if
any (other than pension plan or profit sharing plan benefits which will be paid
in accordance with the applicable plan), any benefits under any plans of
Employer or Avocent in which the Employee is a participant to the full extent of
the Employee's rights under such plans (including having the vesting of any
awards granted to the Employee under any Cybex or Avocent stock option plans
fully accelerated), accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses
incurred by the Employee in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the
date of termination, with the exception of medical and dental benefits which
shall continue through the expiration of this Agreement, but the Employee shall
not be paid any other compensation or reimbursement of any kind, including
without limitation, severance compensation.

    2.6  TERMINATION BY REASON OF DEATH.  In the event of the Employee's death
during the term of this Agreement, the Employee's employment shall be deemed to
have terminated as of the last day of the month during which his death occurs
and the Employer shall pay to his estate or such beneficiaries as the Employee
may from time to time designate all accrued salary, bonus compensation to the
extent earned, vested deferred compensation, if any (other than pension plan or
profit sharing plan benefits which will be paid in accordance with the
applicable plan), any benefits under any plans of Employer or Avocent in which
the Employee is a participant to the full extent of the Employee's rights under
such plans (including having the vesting of any awards granted to the Employee
under any Cybex or Avocent stock option plans fully accelerated), accrued
vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses incurred by the Employee in
connection with his duties hereunder, all to the date of termination, but the
Employee's estate shall not be paid any other compensation or reimbursement of
any kind, including without limitation, severance compensation.

    2.7  VOLUNTARY TERMINATION.  Notwithstanding anything else in this
Agreement, the Employee may effect a Voluntary Termination at any time upon
giving thirty (30) days written notice to the Employer of such termination. In
the event of a Voluntary Termination, the Employer shall immediately pay all
accrued salary, bonus compensation to the extent earned, vested deferred
compensation, if any (other than pension plan or profit sharing plan benefits
which

4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

will be paid in accordance with the applicable plan), any benefits under any
plans of Employer or Avocent in which the Employee is a participant to the full
extent of the Employee's rights under such plans, accrued vacation pay and any
appropriate business expenses incurred by the Employee in connection with his
duties hereunder, all to the date of termination, but no other compensation or
reimbursement of any kind, including without limitation, severance compensation.

    2.8  TERMINATION UPON A CHANGE IN CONTROL.  In the event of a Termination
Upon a Change in Control, the Employee shall immediately be paid all accrued
salary, bonus compensation to the extent earned, vested deferred compensation,
if any (other than pension plan or profit sharing plan benefits which will be
paid in accordance with the applicable plan), any benefits under any plans of
Employer or Avocent in which the Employee is a participant to the full extent of
the Employee's rights under such plans (including having the vesting of any
awards granted to the Employee under any Cybex or Avocent stock option plans
fully accelerated), accrued vacation pay and any appropriate business expenses
incurred by the Employee in connection with his duties hereunder, all to the
date of termination, and all severance compensation provided in Section 4.1, but
no other compensation or reimbursement of any kind. Employee acknowledges and
agrees that the transactions described in the Reorganization Agreement
including, without limitation, the Cybex Merger, the Apex Merger, and the Merger
do not constitute, and shall not be construed retroactively or otherwise as
constituting, a "Change in Control" as defined in Section 2.1(e) and that any
future termination of Employee's employment with Employer will not constitute a
"Termination Upon A Change in Control" under Section 2.1(d) or this Section 2.8
unless there is a Change in Control as defined in Section 2.1(e) of this
Agreement after the date of this Agreement.

    3.  SALARY, BENEFITS AND BONUS COMPENSATION.  

    3.1  BASE SALARY.  Effective July 1, 2000, as payment for the services to be
rendered by the Employee as provided in Section 1 and subject to the terms and
conditions of Section 2, the Employer agrees to pay to the Employee a "Base
Salary" at the rate of $350,000 per annum, payable in equal bi-weekly
installments. The Base Salary for each calendar year (or proration thereof)
beginning January 1, 2001 shall be determined by the Board of Directors of
Avocent Corporation upon a recommendation of the Compensation Committee of
Avocent Corporation (the "Compensation Committee"), which shall authorize an
increase in the Employee's Base Salary in an amount which, at a minimum, shall
be equal to the cumulative cost-of-living increment on the Base Salary as
reported in the "Consumer Price Index, Huntsville, Alabama, All Items,"
published by the U.S. Department of Labor (using July 1, 2000, as the base date
for computation prorated for any partial year). The Employee's Base Salary shall
be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee of
Avocent Corporation.

    3.2  BONUSES.  The Employee shall be eligible to receive a bonus for each
calendar year (or portion thereof) during the term of this Agreement and any
extensions thereof, with the actual amount of any such bonus to be determined in
the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of Avocent Corporation based upon
its evaluation of the Employee's performance during such year. All such bonuses
shall be payable during the last month of the fiscal year or within forty-five
(45) days after the end of the fiscal year to which such bonus relates. All such
bonuses shall be reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee of Avocent
Corporation.

    3.3  ADDITIONAL BENEFITS.  During the term of this Agreement, the Employee
shall be entitled to the following fringe benefits:

    (a)  THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.  The Employee shall be eligible to participate
in such of Avocent's benefits and deferred compensation plans as are now
generally available or later made generally available to executive officers of
or Avocent, including, without limitation, stock option plans, Section 401(k)
plan, profit sharing plans, annual physical

5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

examinations, dental and medical plans, personal catastrophe and disability
insurance, retirement plans and supplementary executive retirement plans, if
any. For purposes of establishing the length of service under any benefit plans
or programs of Cybex or Avocent, the Employee's employment with the Employer (or
any successor) will be deemed to have commenced on the date that Employee first
commenced employment with Cybex, which was March 1, 1984.

    (b)  VACATION.  The Employee shall be entitled to vacation in accordance
with the Avocent Corporation's vacation policy but in no event less than four
weeks during each year of this Agreement.

    (c)  LIFE INSURANCE.  For the term of this Agreement and any extensions
thereof, the Employer shall at its expense procure and keep in effect term life
insurance on the life of the Employee, payable to such beneficiaries as the
Employee may from time to time designate, in an aggregate amount equal to the
lesser of (i) three times the Employee's Base Salary or (ii) $500,000. Such
policy shall be owned by the Employee or by any person or entity with an
insurable interest in the life of the Employee.

    (d)  REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES.  During the term of this Agreement, the
Employer or Avocent Corporation shall reimburse the Employee for reasonable and
properly documented out-of-pocket business and/or entertainment expenses
incurred by the Employee in connection with his duties under this Agreement.

    4.  SEVERANCE COMPENSATION.  

    4.1  SEVERANCE COMPENSATION IN THE EVENT OF A TERMINATION UPON A CHANGE IN
CONTROL.  In the event the Employee's employment is terminated in a Termination
Upon a Change in Control, the Employee shall be paid as severance compensation
his Base Salary (at the rate payable at the time of such termination) for a
period of eighteen (18) months from the date of termination of this Agreement,
on the dates specified in Section 3.1, and an amount equal to fifty percent
(50%) of the average annual bonus earned by the Employee as an employee of
Avocent Corporation and its affiliates and predecessors in the two (2) years
immediately preceding the date of termination; provided, however, that in the
event the Employee votes his shares of common stock of Avocent Corporation in
favor of the Change in Control, the term "eighteen (18) months" in this sentence
shall be deemed amended to be "nine (9) months." Notwithstanding anything in
this Section 4.1 to the contrary, the Employee may in the Employee's sole
discretion, by delivery of a notice to the Employer within thirty (30) days
following a Termination Upon a Change in Control, elect to receive from the
Employer a lump sum severance payment by bank cashier's check equal to the
present value of the flow of cash payments that would otherwise be paid to the
Employee pursuant to this Section 4.1. Such present value shall be determined as
of the date of delivery of the notice of election by the Employee and shall be
based on a discount rate equal to the interest rate of 90-day U.S. Treasury
bills, as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or similar publication), on the
date of delivery of the election notice. If the Employee elects to receive a
lump sum severance payment, Avocent Corporation shall cause the Employer to make
such payment to the Employee within ten (10) days following the date on which
the Employee notifies the Employer of the Employee's election. The Employee
shall also be entitled to have the vesting of any awards granted to the Employee
under any Cybex or Avocent stock option plans fully accelerated. The Employee
shall be provided with medical plan benefits under any health plans of Avocent
or Employer in which the Employee is a participant to the full extent of the
Employee's rights under such plans for a period of 12 months from the date of
termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that the benefits under any
such plans of Employer or Avocent in which the Employee is a participant,
including any such perquisites, shall cease upon employment by a new employer.

6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    4.2  SEVERANCE COMPENSATION IN THE EVENT OF A TERMINATION OTHER THAN FOR
CAUSE.  In the event the Employee's employment is terminated in a Termination
Other Than for Cause, the Employee shall be paid as severance compensation his
Base Salary (at the rate payable at the time of such termination) for a period
of eighteen (18) months from the date of such termination, on the dates
specified in Section 3.1, and an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the
average annual bonus earned by the Employee as an employee of Avocent
Corporation and its affiliates and predecessors in the two (2) years immediately
preceding the date of termination. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.2
to the contrary, the Employee may in the Employee's sole discretion, by delivery
of a notice to the Employer within thirty (30) days following a Termination
Other Than for Cause, elect to receive from the Employer a lump sum severance
payment by bank cashier's check equal to the present value of the flow of cash
payments that would otherwise be paid to the Employee pursuant to this
Section 4.2. Such present value shall be determined as of the date of delivery
of the notice of election by the Employee and shall be based on a discount rate
equal to the interest rate on 90-day U.S. Treasury bills, as reported in The
Wall Street Journal (or similar publication), on the date of delivery of the
election notice. If the Employee elects to receive a lump sum severance payment,
Avocent Corporation shall cause the Employer to make such payment to the
Employee within ten (10) days following the date on which the Employee notifies
the Employer of the Employee's election. The Employee shall also be entitled to
have the vesting of any awards granted to the Employee under any Cybex or
Avocent stock option plans fully accelerated.

    4.3  NO SEVERANCE COMPENSATION UNDER OTHER TERMINATION.  In the event of a
Voluntary Termination, Termination For Cause, termination by reason of the
Employee's disability pursuant to Section 2.5, or termination by reason of the
Employee's death pursuant to Section 2.6, the Employee or his estate shall not
be paid any severance compensation.

    5.  NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS.  In consideration of the payment set forth
on Exhibit A to this Agreement and for good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, during the term of
this Agreement and for a period of thirty-six (36) months thereafter, the
Employee will not, without the Employer's and Avocent Corporation's prior
written consent, directly or indirectly, alone or as a partner, joint venturer,
officer, director, employee, consultant, agent, independent contractor or
stockholder of any company or business, engage in any business activity in the
United States, Canada, or Europe which is substantially similar to or in direct
competition with any of the business activities of or services provided by the
Employer at such time; provided, however, that the Employee shall not be
entitled to any payment under this Section 5 upon a termination of employment
under Section 2.5 or Section 2.6 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the ownership by the Employee of not more than five percent (5%) of
the shares of stock of any corporation having a class of equity securities
actively traded on a national securities exchange or on The Nasdaq Stock Market
shall not be deemed, in and of itself, to violate the prohibitions of this
Section 5. Payments by the Employer to the Employee under this Section 5 shall
be made within thirty (30) days following a termination of the Employee's
employment with the Employer by delivery of a bank cashier's check to the
Employee at the address set forth in Section 6.6 of this Agreement.

    6.  MISCELLANEOUS.  

    6.1  PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS.  If litigation after a Change in Control shall be
brought to enforce or interpret any provision contained herein, the Employer and
Avocent Corporation, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the
Employer's and Avocent Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, each
hereby indemnifies the Employee for the Employee's reasonable attorneys' fees
and disbursements incurred in such litigation.

7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6.2  GUARANTEE.  Avocent Corporation hereby unconditional and irrevocable
guarantees the payment obligations of the Employer under this Agreement,
including, without limitation, the Employer's obligations under Section 5 or
Section 6.1 hereof.

    6.3  WITHHOLDINGS.  All compensation and benefits to the Employee hereunder
shall be reduced by all federal, state, local, and other withholdings and
similar taxes and payments required by applicable law.

    6.4  WAIVER.  The waiver of the breach of any provision of this Agreement
shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the
same or other provision hereof.

    6.5  ENTIRE AGREEMENT; MODIFICATIONS.  Except as otherwise provided herein,
this Agreement represents the entire understanding among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, and this Agreement supersedes any and all
prior understandings, agreements, plans and negotiations, whether written or
oral with respect to the subject matter hereof including without limitation, the
Original Employment Agreement, and any understandings, agreements or obligations
respecting any past or future compensation, bonuses, reimbursements or other
payments to the Employee from the Employer or Avocent Corporation. In
particular, Employee acknowledges and agrees that the terms and conditions of
this Agreement (and not the Original Employment Agreement) shall apply to all
stock option awards granted to Employee under any Cybex or Avocent stock option
plan (including, without limitation, Employee's September 18, 2000 stock option
award from Avocent Corporation). All modifications to the Agreement must be in
writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement of such modification is
sought.

    6.6  NOTICES.  All notices and other communications under this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery or first class mail,
certified or registered with return receipt requested, and shall be deemed to
have been duly given upon hand delivery to an officer of the Employer or the
Employee, as the case may be, or upon three (3) days after mailing to the
respective persons named below:

If to the Employer/Avocent: Avocent Corporation
4991 Corporate Drive
Huntsville, AL 35805
Attn: Executive Vice President
Copy to General Counsel  
If to the Employee:  
Stephen F. Thornton
[          ]
[          ]

    Any party may change such party's address for notices by notice duly given
pursuant to this Section 6.6.

    6.7  HEADINGS.  The Section headings herein are intended for reference and
shall not by themselves determine the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.

    6.8  GOVERNING LAW; VENUE.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama. The Employee, the
Employer, and Avocent Corporation each hereby expressly consents to the
exclusive venue of the state and federal courts located in Huntsville, Madison
County, Alabama, for any lawsuit arising from or relating to this Agreement.

8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    6.9  ARBITRATION.  Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, or breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in
Huntsville, Alabama, in accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration
Association, and judgment upon any proper award rendered by the arbitrators may
be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. There shall be three (3)
arbitrators, one (1) to be chosen directly by each party at will, and the third
arbitrator to be selected by the two (2) arbitrators so chosen. To the extent
permitted by the Rules of the American Arbitration Association, the selected
arbitrators may grant equitable relief. Each party shall pay the fees of the
arbitrator selected by him and of his own attorneys, and the expenses of his
witnesses and all other expenses connected with the presentation of his case.
The cost of the arbitration including the cost of the record or transcripts
thereof, if any, administrative fees, and all other fees and costs shall be
borne equally by the parties.

    6.10  SEVERABILITY.  If a court or other body of competent jurisdiction
determines that any provision of this Agreement is excessive in scope or
otherwise invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be adjusted rather than
voided, if possible, and all other provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
valid and enforceable to the extent possible.

    6.11  SURVIVAL OF EMPLOYER'S OBLIGATIONS.  The Employer's and Avocent
Corporation's obligations hereunder shall not be terminated by reason of any
liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy, cessation of business, or similar event
relating to the Employer or Avocent Corporation. This Agreement shall not be
terminated by any merger or consolidation or other reorganization of the
Employer or Avocent Corporation. In the event any such merger, consolidation or
reorganization shall be accomplished by transfer of stock or by transfer of
assets or otherwise, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the surviving or resulting corporation or person. This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the parties; provided, however,
that except as herein expressly provided, this Agreement shall not be assignable
either by the Employer (except to an affiliate of the Employer (including
Avocent Corporation) in which event the Employer shall remain liable if the
affiliate fails to meet any obligations to make payments or provide benefits or
otherwise) or by the Employee.

    6.12  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement.

    6.13  INDEMNIFICATION.  In addition to any rights to indemnification to
which the Employee is entitled to under the Employer's Articles of Incorporation
and Bylaws, the Employer and Avocent Corporation shall indemnify the Employee at
all times during and after the term of this Agreement to the maximum extent
permitted under the corporation laws of the State of Delaware and any other
applicable state law, and shall pay the Employee's expenses in defending any
civil or criminal action, suit, or proceeding in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding, to the maximum extent permitted
under such applicable state laws.

    6.14  INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECTION 4999 EXCISE TAXES.  In the event that it
shall be determined that any payment or other benefit paid by the Employer or
Avocent Corporation to or for the benefit of the Employee under this Agreement
or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required
under this Amendment (the "Payments") would be subject to the excise tax imposed
by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Excise Tax"), then the
Employer and Avocent Corporation shall indemnify the Employee for such Excise
Tax in accordance with the following:

    (a) The Employee shall be entitled to receive an additional payment from the
Employer and/or Avocent Corporation equal to (i) one hundred percent (100%) of
any Excise Tax actually paid or finally or payable by the Employee in connection
with the Payments, plus (ii) an additional payment in such amount that after all
taxes, interest and penalties incurred

9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

in connection with all payments under this Section 2(a), the Employee retains an
amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Excise Tax.

    (b) All determinations required to be made under this Section shall be made
by the Avocent Corporation's primary independent public accounting firm, or any
other nationally recognized accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the Avocent
Corporation and the Employee (the "Accounting Firm"). Avocent Corporation shall
cause the Accounting Firm to provide detailed supporting calculations of its
determinations to the Employer and the Employee. All fees and expenses of the
Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Employer. For purposes of making
the calculations required by this Section, the Accounting Firm may make
reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may
rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of
Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, provided the Accounting
Firm's determinations must be made with substantial authority (within the
meaning of Section 6662 of the Internal Revenue Code). The payments to which the
Employee is entitled pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the Employer
and/or Avocent Corporation to the Employee in cash and in full not later than
thirty (30) calendar days following the date the Employee becomes subject to the
Excise Tax.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

    AVOCENT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, INC.:  
   
   
By:  
/s/ JULIE YARBROUGH   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Its: President

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
   
   
AVOCENT CORPORATION:  
   
   
By:  
/s/ DOYLE C. WEEKS   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Its: Executive Vice President

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
   
   
EMPLOYEE:  
   
   
/s/ STEPHEN F. THORNTON   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stephen F. Thornton

10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXHIBIT A

    Avocent Employment Services Co. (formerly known as PolyCon
Investments, Inc.), a Texas corporation (the "Employer"), Avocent Corporation, a
Delaware corporation, and Stephen F. Thornton, a resident of the State of
Alabama (the "Employee"), hereby agree that the payment required to be paid by
Employer to the Employee pursuant to Section 5 of that certain Employment and
Noncompetition Agreement dated July 1, 1999 between the Employer, Cybex Computer
Products Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avocent Corporation), and the
Employee, as amended by that certain Amended and Restated Employment and
Noncompetition Agreement dated as of October 31, 2000 between the Employer,
Avocent Corporation, and Employee, shall be Four Hundred Thousand Dollars
($400,000).

11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUICKLINKS

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT
RECITALS
AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A