The deal calls for Dell to resell under the Dell brand name Network Appliance's storage gear for computers running the current and future generations of Microsoft Corp's Windows NT software system.

Network Appliances's devices are designed to connect to computer networks, allowing data storage to be centrally pooled and accessed from any point along a network. Most computers now rely on storage connected directly to the individual machine.

Dell, a leading supplier of desktop, laptops and server personal computers, said it will start selling the products in 1999 via direct distribution in a bid to expand its offerings in the fast-growing storage market.

Industry research firm Dataquest projects the market for such network storage appliances will soar to more than $6billion in 2002 from $900 million in 1998 as networked storage technology becomes more widely adopted by businesses.