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                                                                EXHIBIT 10.14


                              [Dot Hill Letterhead]

November 12, 1999

Preston Romm
20 Narbonne
Laguna Niguel, CA  92677

Dear Preston:

We are pleased to offer you a position with Dot Hill Systems Corp., and look
forward to you joining our group of outstanding professionals. We are sure that
you will find your new position rewarding and challenging. If you accept our
offer, this letter, our employee handbook and the Proprietary Rights and
Confidentiality agreement will constitute the entire agreement between you and
Dot Hill regarding your employment. The following outlines your employment
offer:

Title:                      Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer

Reporting To:               Jim Lambert and Philip Black, Co-CEOs

Location:                   Carlsbad, California

Base Salary:                $14,583.34 per month, pro-rated and paid biweekly

Incentive Compensation:     In addition to your base salary, you will be
                            eligible for a performance bonus of up to $61,250
                            per year. This shall be based on a formula, which
                            is attached as Exhibit A, and on the Company's
                            Business Plan, as approved by the Board of
                            Directors.

Stock Options:              It will be recommended to the Board of Directors
                            that 100,000 stock options be issued, pending their
                            approval at the next Board of Directors meeting,
                            and in accordance with the Dot Hill Systems Stock
                            Option Plan.

Starting Bonus:             You will also receive a starting bonus of $20,000,
                            payable with your first paycheck.

Start Date:                 November 29, 1999, or another agreed upon date

Employment Status:          Full-time, Exempt

Benefits:                   Dot Hill provides a very competitive benefit
                            package, which is continually under review, and
                            therefore subject to change. Included in this
                            package is employee medical insurance, employee
                            dental insurance and a 401(k) Savings Plan. If you
                            choose to add dependents to the health and dental
                            plan, there will be a monthly deduction. To initiate
                            your insurance benefits, you must complete the
                            appropriate forms within 31 days of your eligibility
                            date. If

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                            you have any specific questions, please contact
                            Human Resources.

Health Benefits Eligibility Date of hire
Date:

Confidentiality:            As a member of the Dot Hill team, you will access to
                            the trade secrets, strategic plans, and other
                            confidential and proprietary information of the
                            company. Included in your new hire packet will be a
                            Proprietary Rights and Confidentiality Agreement
                            which we require you to sign.

Drug Free Workplace:        It is our desire to provide a safe and healthy work
                            environment for our employees and to provide quality
                            products to our customers. In keeping with these
                            concerns, and in compliance with the Federal Drug
                            Workplace Act, Dot Hill has incorporated a Drug-Free
                            workplace policy.

                            In light of this policy, all prospective employees
                            of Dot Hill are required to submit to drug testing.
                            Results of this screen must be negative of any
                            controlled substance, with the exception of
                            medications at a level prescribed by a licensed
                            physician. All offers of employment are contingent
                            upon these results.

At-Will Employer:           Employment with Dot Hill is based on the mutual
                            consent of you and the company. As an at-will
                            employer, both you and Dot Hill reserve the right
                            to end the employment relationship at any time.
                            Although other aspects of your employment may
                            change, the at-will nature of your employment may
                            only be changed through a written notice signed by
                            a Co-CEO of Dot Hill.

Preston, we are excited about the opportunity to work with you in the building
of this enterprise and believe that you will be a valuable member of our team.
We look forward to a mutually beneficial and rewarding association with you. If
you agree to the terms outlined in this letter, please sign below.

Sincerely,

/s/ James Lambert

James Lambert
President and Co-CEO

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I agree to accept the position of Vice-President, Finance, Chief Financial
Officer under the terms and conditions described herein.

         /s/ Preston Romm                                       11/16/99
----------------------------------                     ------------------------
Preston Romm                                           Date

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                              [Dot Hill Letterhead]

                              1999-2000 Bonus Plan

Name:      PRESTON ROMM                       Effective Date:  12/1/99-12/31/00

Title:     Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer

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                            EXHIBIT A - CONFIDENTIAL

QUARTLERY PERFORMANCE BONUS

Each quarter, you shall be eligible for a performance bonus of up to $15,312.50
for such quarter (pro-rated for Q4) (Quarterly Bonus). The Quarterly Bonus shall
be based on the following formula, and on the Company's Business Plan, as
approved by the Board of Directors, for such quarter.

FORMULA

1.       REVENUE-BASED BONUS: Half of the Quarterly Bonus shall be based on
         revenue. If the Company meets the Business Plan revenue goals for any
         given quarter, you shall be entitled to half of the Quarterly Bonus
         ($7,656.25 for such quarter) for performance during that quarter. If
         the Company fails to meet the Business Plan revenue goals for a given
         quarter, then the revenue-based bonus shall be paid as follows:

         If the Company attains less than 75% of the Business Plan revenue
         goals, you shall not receive any revenue-based bonus for that quarter.
         For attaining levels of revenue between 75% and 100% of plan, you shall
         receive 2% of the total Quarterly Bonus for every 1% of revenue above
         75%.

2.       INCOME-BASED BONUS: Half of the Quarterly Bonus is to be based on net
         income. If the Company meets the Business Plan net income goals for any
         given quarter, then you shall be entitled to half of the Quarterly
         Bonus ($7,656.25 for such quarter) for performance during that quarter.
         If the Company fails to meet the Business Plan net income goals for a
         given quarter, then the net income-based bonus shall be paid as
         follows:

         0.5% of the Quarterly Bonus, payable for each 1% achieved of the net
         income line of the Business Plan, up to a maximum of 100%.

BUSINESS PLAN DETERMINATIONS

FOURTH QUARTER, 1999: You shall be granted a bonus pursuant to the formula set
forth above, based on the Business Plan for the Fourth Quarter, to be approved
by the Board during the Fourth Quarter. (see attached copy)

FISCAL YEAR 2000: You shall be granted bonus pursuant to the formula set forth
above, based on the Business Plan for the Year 2000, to be approved by Board
during the First Quarter of 2000. (see attached copy)

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