<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2


                                                                     EXHIBIT B-2
                                                                              TO
                                                                      SECURITIES
                                                                        PURCHASE
                                                                       AGREEMENT


         THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT
         HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.
         EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN A SECURITIES PURCHASE
         AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 27, 2001, NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR ANY
         OF SUCH SHARES MAY BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF
         AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR SUCH SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT
         OR, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN FORM, SUBSTANCE AND SCOPE CUSTOMARY FOR
         OPINIONS OF COUNSEL IN COMPARABLE TRANSACTIONS AND REASONABLY
         SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER
         SUCH ACT OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SUCH ACT.

                                                                        Right to
                                                                        Purchase
                                                                         986,842
                                                                       Shares of
                                                                   Common Stock,
                                                                  par value $.01
                                                                       per share


                        SERIES E-2 STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

         THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, RGC International Investors,
LDC or its registered assigns, is entitled to purchase from Tricord Systems,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), at any time or from time to time
during the period specified in Paragraph 2 hereof, Nine Hundred Eighty-Six
Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-Two (986,842) fully paid and nonassessable shares
of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), at
an exercise price of $14.50 per share (the "Exercise Price"). The term "Warrant
Shares," as used herein, refers to the shares of Common Stock purchasable
hereunder. The Warrant Shares and the Exercise Price are subject to adjustment
as provided in Paragraph 4 hereof. The term Warrants means this Warrant and the
other warrants issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated February 27, 2001, by and among the Company and the Buyers listed on the
execution page thereof (the "Securities Purchase Agreement").



<PAGE>   2

         This Warrant is subject to the following terms, provisions, and
conditions:

         1. MANNER OF EXERCISE; ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES; PAYMENT FOR SHARES.
Subject to the provisions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the holder
hereof, in whole or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant, together with a
completed exercise agreement in the form attached hereto (the "Exercise
Agreement"), to the Company during normal business hours on any business day at
the Company's principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the
Company as it may designate by notice to the holder hereof), and upon (i)
payment to the Company in cash, by certified or official bank check or by wire
transfer for the account of the Company of the Exercise Price for the Warrant
Shares specified in the Exercise Agreement or (ii) if the resale of the Warrant
Shares by the holder is not then registered pursuant to an effective
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), delivery to the Company of a written notice of an election to
effect a "Cashless Exercise" (as defined in Section 11(c) below) for the Warrant
Shares specified in the Exercise Agreement. The Warrant Shares so purchased
shall be deemed to be issued to the holder hereof or such holder's designee, as
the record owner of such shares, as of the close of business on the date on
which this Warrant shall have been surrendered, the completed Exercise Agreement
shall have been delivered, and payment shall have been made for such shares (or
an election to effect a Cashless Exercise has been made) as set forth above.
Certificates for the Warrant Shares so purchased, representing the aggregate
number of shares specified in the Exercise Agreement, shall be delivered to the
holder hereof within a reasonable time, not exceeding two (2) business days,
after this Warrant shall have been so exercised. The certificates so delivered
shall be in such denominations as may be requested by the holder hereof and
shall be registered in the name of such holder or such other name as shall be
designated by such holder. If this Warrant shall have been exercised only in
part, then, unless this Warrant has expired, the Company shall, at its expense,
at the time of delivery of such certificates, deliver to the holder a new
Warrant representing the number of shares with respect to which this Warrant
shall not then have been exercised.

                  Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant to the contrary, in
no event shall the Holder of this Warrant be entitled to exercise a number of
Warrants (or portions thereof) in excess of the number of Warrants (or portions
thereof) upon exercise of which the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its affiliates (other than shares of
Common Stock which may be deemed beneficially owned through the ownership of the
unexercised Warrants and the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other
securities of the Company (including Preferred Shares (as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the Series E-1 Warrants (as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement)) subject to a limitation on conversion or
exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein) and (ii) the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (or portions
thereof) with respect to which the determination described herein is being made,
would result in beneficial ownership by the Holder and its affiliates of more
than 9.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. For purposes of the
immediately preceding sentence, beneficial ownership shall be determined in
accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and Regulations 13D-G thereunder, except as otherwise provided in
clause (i) hereof. Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant to the contrary, the
restrictions on exercise of this Warrant set forth in this paragraph shall not
be amended without (i) the written consent of the Holder and the Company and
(ii) the approval of the holders of a



                                       2
<PAGE>   3

majority of the Common Stock present, or represented by proxy, and voting at any
meeting called to vote on the amendment of such restriction.

         2. PERIOD OF EXERCISE; MANDATORY EXERCISE RIGHT.

                  (a) PERIOD OF EXERCISE. This Warrant is exercisable at any
time or from time to time on or after the date on which this Warrant is issued
and delivered pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement (the
"Issue Date") and before 5:00 p.m., New York City time on February 27, 2003 (the
"Exercise Period").

                  (b) EARLY EXPIRATION. If, on any day following August 27,
2002, the average of the daily VWAPs (as defined in the Certificate of
Designation) of the Common Stock for any ten (10) consecutive Trading Day (as
defined herein) period is greater than $20.62 (subject to adjustment for stock
splits, stock dividends, combinations and similar transactions) (the last day of
such ten-day period being referred to as the "Calculation Date"), this Warrant
shall expire and the rights to purchase Common Stock hereunder will be
terminated at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the fifth (5th) Trading Day
following the Calculation Date (the "Expiration Date") so long as for at all
times during the period beginning on the tenth (10th) Trading Day immediately
preceding the Calculation Date and ending on the Expiration Date, (i) all of the
Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants are (a) authorized and
reserved for issuance, (b) registered for re-sale under the Securities Act by
the holder of this Warrant and sales of the Warrant Shares may be made
continuously thereunder (and no Allowed Delay (as defined in the Registration
Rights Agreement) shall be in effect) or such shares may otherwise be resold
publicly without restriction (including without limitation as to volume) and (c)
listed for trading on each principal exchange or market on which the shares of
Common Stock of the Company were then traded and (ii) there is not then a
continuing Mandatory Redemption Event (as defined in the Certificate of
Designation). "Trading Day" shall mean any day on which the Common Stock is
traded for any period on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market ("Nasdaq SmallCap") or on
the principal securities exchange or other securities market on which the Common
Stock is then being traded.

         3. CERTAIN AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby covenants and
agrees as follows:

                  (a) SHARES TO BE FULLY PAID. All Warrant Shares will, upon
issuance in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, be validly issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens, and charges with respect
to the issue thereof.

                  (b) RESERVATION OF SHARES. During the Exercise Period, the
Company shall at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of
issuance upon exercise of this Warrant, a sufficient number of shares of Common
Stock to provide for the exercise of this Warrant.

                  (c) LISTING. The Company shall promptly secure the listing of
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant upon each
national securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any, upon which
shares of Common Stock are then listed (subject to official notice of issuance
upon exercise of this Warrant) and shall maintain, so long as any other



                                       3

<PAGE>   4

shares of Common Stock shall be so listed, such listing of all shares of Common
Stock from time to time issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant; and the
Company shall so list on each national securities exchange or automated
quotation system, as the case may be, and shall maintain such listing of, any
other shares of capital stock of the Company issuable upon the exercise of this
Warrant if and so long as any shares of the same class shall be listed on such
national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

                  (d) CERTAIN ACTIONS PROHIBITED. The Company will not, by
amendment of its charter or through any reorganization, transfer of assets,
consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other
voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of
the terms to be observed or performed by it hereunder, but will at all times in
good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Warrant and
in the taking of all such action as may reasonably be requested by the holder of
this Warrant in order to protect the exercise privilege of the holder of this
Warrant against dilution or other impairment, consistent with the tenor and
purpose of this Warrant. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company (i) will not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock
receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in
effect, and (ii) will take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate
in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant.

                  (e) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Warrant will be binding upon
any entity succeeding to the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, or
acquisition of all or substantially all the Company's assets or otherwise.

         4. ANTIDILUTION PROVISIONS. During the Exercise Period, the Exercise
Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be subject to adjustment from time
to time as provided in this Paragraph 4.

         In the event that any adjustment of the Exercise Price as required
herein results in a fraction of a cent, such Exercise Price shall be rounded up
to the nearest cent.

                  (a) INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.

                  (b) INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.

                  (c) SUBDIVISION OR COMBINATION OF COMMON STOCK. If the Company
at any time subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
reorganization, reclassification or otherwise) the shares of Common Stock
acquirable hereunder into a greater number of shares, then, after the date of
record for effecting such subdivision, the Exercise Price in effect immediately
prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced. If the Company at any
time combines (by reverse stock split, recapitalization, reorganization,
reclassification or otherwise) the shares of Common Stock acquirable hereunder
into a smaller number of shares, then, after the date of record for effecting
such combination, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such
combination will be proportionately increased.




                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                  (d) ADJUSTMENT IN NUMBER OF SHARES. Upon each adjustment of
the Exercise Price pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph 4, the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted
by multiplying a number equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to such adjustment by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing the
product so obtained by the adjusted Exercise Price.

                  (e) CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE. In case of any
consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into any other
corporation, or in case of any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company other than in connection with a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company, then as a condition of such consolidation, merger or
sale or conveyance, adequate provision will be made whereby the holder of this
Warrant will have the right to acquire and receive upon exercise of this Warrant
in lieu of the shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore acquirable upon
the exercise of this Warrant, such shares of stock, securities or assets as may
be issued or payable with respect to or in exchange for the number of shares of
Common Stock immediately theretofore acquirable and receivable upon exercise of
this Warrant had such consolidation, merger or sale or conveyance not taken
place. In any such case, the Company will make appropriate provision to insure
that the provisions of this Paragraph 4 hereof will thereafter be applicable as
nearly as may be in relation to any shares of stock or securities thereafter
deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant. The Company will not effect any
consolidation, merger or sale or conveyance unless prior to the consummation
thereof, the successor or acquiring entity (if other than the Company) and, if
an entity different from the successor or acquiring entity, the entity whose
capital stock or assets the holders of the Common Stock of the Company are
entitled to receive as a result of such consolidation, merger or sale or
conveyance, assumes by written instrument the obligations under this Warrant
(including under this Paragraph 4) and the obligations to deliver to the holder
of this Warrant such shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance
with the foregoing provisions, the holder may be entitled to acquire.

                  (f) DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In case the Company shall declare
or make any distribution of its assets (including cash) to holders of Common
Stock as a partial liquidating dividend, by way of return of capital or
otherwise, then, after the date of record for determining stockholders entitled
to such distribution, but prior to the date of distribution, the holder of this
Warrant shall be entitled upon exercise of this Warrant for the purchase of any
or all of the shares of Common Stock subject hereto, to receive the amount of
such assets which would have been payable to the holder had such holder been the
holder of such shares of Common Stock on the record date for the determination
of stockholders entitled to such distribution.

                  (g) NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENT. Upon the occurrence of any event
which requires any adjustment of the Exercise Price, then, and in each such
case, the Company shall give notice thereof to the holder of this Warrant, which
notice shall state the Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment and the
increase or decrease in the number of Warrant Shares purchasable at such price
upon exercise, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and
the facts upon which such calculation is based. Such calculation shall be
certified by the chief financial officer of the Company.





                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                  (h) MINIMUM ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE. No adjustment of the
Exercise Price shall be made in an amount of less than 1% of the Exercise Price
in effect at the time such adjustment is otherwise required to be made, but any
such lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time
and together with the next subsequent adjustment which, together with any
adjustments so carried forward, shall amount to not less than 1% of such
Exercise Price.

                  (i) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Common Stock
are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. If the exercise of this
Warrant would result in a fractional share of Common Stock, such fractional
share shall be disregarded and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of the Warrant shall be the next higher number of shares.

                  (j) OTHER NOTICES. In case at any time:

                            (i) the Company shall declare any dividend upon the
         Common Stock payable in shares of stock of any class or make any other
         distribution (including dividends or distributions payable in cash out
         of retained earnings) to the holders of the Common Stock;

                           (ii) the Company shall offer for subscription pro
         rata to the holders of the Common Stock any additional shares of stock
         of any class or other rights;

                          (iii) there shall be any capital reorganization of the
         Company, or reclassification of the Common Stock, or consolidation or
         merger of the Company with or into, or sale of all or substantially all
         its assets to, another corporation or entity; or

                           (iv) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary
         dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the holder of this Warrant
(a) notice of the date on which the books of the Company shall close or a record
shall be taken for determining the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive
any such dividend, distribution, or subscription rights or for determining the
holders of Common Stock entitled to vote in respect of any such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up and (b) in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, notice of
the date (or, if not then known, a reasonable approximation thereof by the
Company) when the same shall take place. Such notice shall also specify the date
on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividend,
distribution, or subscription rights or to exchange their Common Stock for stock
or other securities or property deliverable upon such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation, or
winding-up, as the case may be. Such notice shall be given at least 30 days
prior to the record date or the date on which the Company's books are closed in
respect thereto. Failure to give any such notice or any defect therein shall not
affect the validity of the proceedings referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii)
and (iv) above.

                  (k) CERTAIN EVENTS. If any event occurs of the type
contemplated by the adjustment provisions of this Paragraph 4 but not expressly
provided for by such provisions, the Company will give notice of such event as
provided in Paragraph 4(g) hereof, and the Company's



                                       6
<PAGE>   7

Board of Directors will make an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and
the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant so
that the rights of the Holder shall be neither enhanced nor diminished by such
event.

                  (l) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

                            (i) "MARKET PRICE," as of any date, (i) means the
         average of the last reported sale prices for the shares of Common Stock
         on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market (the "Nasdaq SmallCap") for the five (5)
         Trading Days (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) immediately
         preceding such date as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets or an
         equivalent reliable reporting service mutually acceptable to and
         hereafter designated by the holder of this Warrant and the Company
         ("Bloomberg"), or (ii) if the Nasdaq SmallCap is not the principal
         trading market for the shares of Common Stock, the average of the last
         reported sale prices on the principal trading market for the Common
         Stock during the same period as reported by Bloomberg, or (iii) if
         market value cannot be calculated as of such date on any of the
         foregoing bases, the Market Price shall be the fair market value as
         reasonably determined in good faith by (a) the Board of Directors of
         the Company or (b) at the option of a majority-in-interest of the
         holders of the outstanding Warrants, an independent investment bank of
         nationally recognized standing in the valuation of businesses similar
         to the business of the Company. The manner of determining the Market
         Price of the Common Stock set forth in the foregoing definition shall
         apply with respect to any other security in respect of which a
         determination as to market value must be made hereunder.

                           (ii) "COMMON STOCK," for purposes of this Paragraph
         4, includes the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and any
         additional class of stock of the Company having no preference as to
         dividends or distributions on liquidation, provided that the shares
         purchasable pursuant to this Warrant shall include only shares of
         Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, in respect of which this
         Warrant is exercisable, or shares resulting from any subdivision or
         combination of such Common Stock, or in the case of any reorganization,
         reclassification, consolidation, merger, or sale of the character
         referred to in Paragraph 4(e) hereof, the stock or other securities or
         property provided for in such Paragraph.

         5. ISSUE TAX. The issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares upon the
exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the holder of this
Warrant or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof,
provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be
payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any
certificate in a name other than the holder of this Warrant.

         6. NO RIGHTS OR LIABILITIES AS A SHAREHOLDER. This Warrant shall not
entitle the holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder
of the Company. No provision of this Warrant, in the absence of affirmative
action by the holder hereof to purchase Warrant Shares, and no mere enumeration
herein of the rights or privileges of the holder hereof, shall give rise to any
liability of such holder for the Exercise Price or as a shareholder of the
Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of
the Company.



                                       7
<PAGE>   8

         7. TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, AND REPLACEMENT OF WARRANT.

                  (a) RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER. This Warrant and the rights
granted to the holder hereof are transferable, in whole or in part, upon
surrender of this Warrant, together with a properly executed assignment in the
form attached hereto, at the office or agency of the Company referred to in
Paragraph 7(e) below, provided, however, that any transfer or assignment shall
be subject to the conditions set forth in Paragraphs 7(b) and 7(f) hereof and to
the applicable provisions of the Securities Purchase Agreement. Until due
presentment for registration of transfer on the books of the Company, the
Company may treat the registered holder hereof as the owner and holder hereof
for all purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the
contrary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
registration rights described in Paragraph 8 are assignable only in accordance
with the provisions of that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
February 27, 2001, by and among the Company and the other signatories thereto
(the "Registration Rights Agreement").

                  (b) WARRANT EXCHANGEABLE FOR DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS. This
Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the holder hereof at the
office or agency of the Company referred to in Paragraph 7(e) below, for new
Warrants of like tenor representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased hereunder, each of such
new Warrants to represent the right to purchase such number of shares as shall
be designated by the holder hereof at the time of such surrender; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to issue any Warrant to
purchase a number of shares less than the lesser of (i) 50,000 shares of Common
Stock or (ii) the total number of remaining shares of Common Stock that may be
issued upon exercise of this Warrant.

                  (c) REPLACEMENT OF WARRANT. Upon receipt of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction, or
mutilation of this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft, or
destruction, upon delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in
form and amount to the Company, or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon
surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company, at its expense, will
execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.

                  (d) CANCELLATION; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. Upon the surrender of
this Warrant in connection with any transfer, exchange, or replacement as
provided in this Paragraph 7, this Warrant shall be promptly canceled by the
Company. The Company shall pay all taxes (other than securities transfer taxes)
and all other expenses (other than legal expenses, if any, incurred by the
Holder or transferees) and charges payable in connection with the preparation,
execution, and delivery of Warrants pursuant to this Paragraph 7.

                  (e) REGISTER. The Company shall maintain, at its principal
executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may
designate by notice to the holder hereof), a register for this Warrant, in which
the Company shall record the name and address of the person in whose name this
Warrant has been issued, as well as the name and address of each transferee and
each prior owner of this Warrant.




                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                  (f) EXERCISE OR TRANSFER WITHOUT REGISTRATION. If, at the time
of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any exercise, transfer, or
exchange of this Warrant, this Warrant (or, in the case of any exercise, the
Warrant Shares issuable hereunder), shall not be registered under the Securities
Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws, the Company may
require, as a condition of allowing such exercise, transfer, or exchange, (i)
that the holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, furnish to
the Company a written opinion of counsel, which opinion and counsel are
acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such exercise, transfer, or
exchange may be made without registration under said Act and under applicable
state securities or blue sky laws, (ii) that the holder or transferee execute
and deliver to the Company an investment letter in form and substance acceptable
to the Company and (iii) that the transferee be an "accredited investor" as
defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities Act; provided that no
such opinion, letter or status as an "accredited investor" shall be required in
connection with a transfer pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The
first holder of this Warrant, by taking and holding the same, represents to the
Company that such holder is acquiring this Warrant for investment and not with a
view to the distribution thereof.

         8. REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The initial holder of this Warrant (and certain
assignees thereof, as provided in Section 9 of the Registration Rights
Agreement) is entitled to the benefit of such registration rights in respect of
the Warrant Shares as are set forth in Section 2 of the Registration Rights
Agreement.

         9. NOTICES. All notices, requests, and other communications required or
permitted to be given or delivered hereunder to the holder of this Warrant shall
be in writing, and shall be personally delivered, or shall be sent by certified
or registered mail or by recognized overnight mail courier, postage prepaid and
addressed, to such holder at the address shown for such holder on the books of
the Company, or at such other address as shall have been furnished to the
Company by notice from such holder. All notices, requests, and other
communications required or permitted to be given or delivered hereunder to the
Company shall be in writing, and shall be personally delivered, or shall be sent
by certified or registered mail or by recognized overnight mail courier, postage
prepaid and addressed, to the office of the Company at 2905 Northwest Boulevard,
Suite 20, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at
such other address as shall have been furnished to the holder of this Warrant by
notice from the Company. Any such notice, request, or other communication may be
sent by facsimile, but shall in such case be subsequently confirmed by a writing
personally delivered or sent by certified or registered mail or by recognized
overnight mail courier as provided above. All notices, requests, and other
communications shall be deemed to have been given either at the time of the
receipt thereof by the person entitled to receive such notice at the address of
such person for purposes of this Paragraph 9, or, if mailed by registered or
certified mail or with a recognized overnight mail courier upon deposit with the
United States Post Office or such overnight mail courier, if postage is prepaid
and the mailing is properly addressed, as the case may be.

         10. GOVERNING LAW. THIS WARRANT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE
AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF
CONFLICT OF LAWS). BOTH



                                       9
<PAGE>   10

PARTIES IRREVOCABLY CONSENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES
FEDERAL COURTS AND THE STATE COURTS LOCATED IN DELAWARE WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUIT
OR PROCEEDING BASED ON OR ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED
INTO IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY
AND IRREVOCABLY AGREE THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING MAY
BE DETERMINED IN SUCH COURTS. BOTH PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE DEFENSE OF AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. BOTH PARTIES
FURTHER AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON A PARTY MAILED BY FIRST CLASS MAIL
SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE PARTY IN
ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT EITHER PARTY'S RIGHT TO
SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. BOTH PARTIES AGREE THAT A
FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE
AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY
OTHER LAWFUL MANNER.

       11. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  (a) AMENDMENTS. This Warrant and any provision hereof may only
be amended by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the holder
hereof.

                  (b) DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The descriptive headings of the
several paragraphs of this Warrant are inserted for purposes of reference only,
and shall not affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.

                  (c) CASHLESS EXERCISE. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Warrant, if the resale of the Warrant Shares by the
holder is not then registered pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act, then, beginning one hundred twenty (120) days after
the Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), this Warrant
may be exercised by presentation and surrender of this Warrant to the Company at
its principal executive offices with a written notice of the holders' intention
to effect a cashless exercise, including a calculation of the number of shares
of Common Stock to be issued upon such exercise in accordance with the terms
hereof (a "Cashless Exercise"); provided, however, that, except during the
ninety (90) day period immediately preceding the end of the Exercise Period, a
Cashless Exercise shall not be permitted during any Allowed Delay (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement). In the event of a Cashless Exercise, in lieu
of paying the Exercise Price in cash, the holder shall surrender this Warrant
for that number of shares of Common Stock determined by multiplying the number
of Warrant Shares to which it would otherwise be entitled by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the difference between the then current Market Price
per share of the Common Stock and the Exercise Price, and the denominator of
which shall be the then current Market Price per share of Common Stock. Other
than pursuant to the provisions set forth in Section 4 of this Warrant, upon a
cashless exercise, in no event will the holder of the Warrant receive cash
payment from the Company pursuant to such exercise.



                                       10
<PAGE>   11

                  (d) REMEDIES. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of
its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the holder of this
Warrant by vitiating the intent and purpose of the transactions contemplated
hereby. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a
breach of its obligations under this Warrant will be inadequate and agrees, in
the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of
this Warrant, that the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to
all other available remedies in law or in equity, to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent or cure any breaches of the provisions of this Agreement
and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Warrant, without
the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security
being required.



                [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]




                                       11
<PAGE>   12



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be signed by
its duly authorized officer.

                                           TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC.


                                           By: /s/ Steven E. Opdahl
                                              ---------------------------------
                                           Name: Steven E. Opdahl
                                                -------------------------------
                                           Title: Chief Financial Officer
                                                 ------------------------------



Dated as of February 27, 2001





                                       12
<PAGE>   13



                           FORM OF EXERCISE AGREEMENT


                                                        Dated: ________ __, 200_


To:  TRICORD SYSTEMS, INC.


         The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the within
Warrant, hereby agrees to purchase ________ shares of Common Stock covered by
such Warrant, and makes payment herewith in full therefor at the price per share
provided by such Warrant in cash or by certified or official bank check in the
amount of, or, if the resale of such Common Stock by the undersigned is not
currently registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, by surrender of securities issued by the
Company (including a portion of the Warrant) having a market value (in the case
of a portion of this Warrant, determined in accordance with Section 11(c) of the
Warrant) equal to $_________. Please issue a certificate or certificates for
such shares of Common Stock in the name of and pay any cash for any fractional
share to:


                                          Name:
                                               --------------------------------
                                          Signature:
                                                    ---------------------------
                                          Address:
                                                     ---------------------------

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

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

                                          Note: The above signature should
                                                correspond exactly with the name
                                                on the face of the within
                                                Warrant.

and, if said number of shares of Common Stock shall not be all the shares
purchasable under the within Warrant, a new Warrant is to be issued in the name
of said undersigned covering the balance of the shares purchasable thereunder
less any fraction of a share paid in cash.



                                       13
<PAGE>   14



                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and
transfers all the rights of the undersigned under the within Warrant, with
respect to the number of shares of Common Stock covered thereby set forth
hereinbelow, to:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name of Assignee              Address             No. of Shares
----------------              -------             -------------
<S>                           <C>                 <C>


</TABLE>




, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints ______________
________________________ as agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer said Warrant
on the books of the within-named corporation, with full power of substitution in
the premises.


Dated:  ________ __, 200_

In the presence of:


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

                                    Name:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                    Signature:
                                              ----------------------------------
                                    Title of Signing Officer or Agent (if any):

                                               ---------------------------------
                                    Address:
                                               ---------------------------------

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

                                    Note: The above signature should
                                          correspond exactly with the name on
                                          the face of the within Warrant.


                                       14