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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4
                               AVANEX CORPORATION

                            1999 DIRECTOR OPTION PLAN

        1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this 1999 Director Option Plan
are to attract and retain the best available personnel for service as Outside
Directors (as defined herein) of the Company, to provide additional incentive to
the Outside Directors of the Company to serve as Directors, and to encourage
their continued service on the Board.

        All options granted hereunder shall be nonstatutory stock options.

        2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

               (a) "Beneficial Owner" shall mean a "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 1% or more of
the total voting power represented by the Company's outstanding voting
securities on the date of any grant hereunder.

               (b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

               (c) "Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the
following events:

                    (i) Any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the
Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power
represented by the Company's then outstanding voting securities who is not
already such as of the Effective Date; or

                    (ii) The consummation of the sale or disposition by the
Company of all or substantially all the Company's assets; or

                    (iii) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which
would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining out-standing or by
being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at
least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation; or

                    (iv) A change in the composition of the Board occurring
within a two-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the
directors are Incumbent Directors. "Incumbent Directors" shall mean directors
who either (A) are directors of the Company as of the Effective Date, or (B) are
elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes


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of at least a majority of those directors whose election or nomination was not
in connection with any transaction described in subsections (i), (ii), or (iii)
above, or in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to
the election of directors to the Company.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the initial public
offering of the Company's securities pursuant to a registration statement filed
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act constitute a Change of Control.

               (d) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

               (e) "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.

               (f) "Company" means Avanex Corporation, a [Delaware] corporation.

               (g) "Director" means a member of the Board.

               (h) "Disability" means total and permanent disability as defined
in section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

               (i) "Employee" means any person, including officers and
Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
The payment of a Director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient in and of
itself to constitute "employment" by the Company.

               (j) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

               (k) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of
Common Stock determined as follows:

                    (i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its
Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the
closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for
the last market trading day prior to the time of determination as reported in
The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable;

                    (ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of
a Share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked
prices for the Common Stock for the last market trading day prior to the time of
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Board deems reliable; or

                    (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Board.


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               (l) "Inside Director" means a Director who is an Employee.

               (m) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

               (n) "Optioned Stock" means the Common Stock subject to an Option.

               (o) "Optionee" means a Director who holds an Option.

               (p) "Outside Director" means a Director who is not an Employee
and who is not the Beneficial Owner.

               (q) "Parent" means a "parent corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

               (r) "Plan" means this 1999 Director Option Plan.

               (s) "Share" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 10 of the Plan.

               (t) "Subsidiary" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.

        3. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 10 of
the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 300,000 Shares (the "Pool"), plus an annual increase to be
added on the first day of the Company's fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2000,
equal to the lesser of (i) 150,000 shares, (ii) _ of 1% of the outstanding
shares on such date or (iii) a lesser amount determined by the Board. The Shares
may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

               If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been
exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall
become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan shall not be
returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution
under the Plan.

        4. Administration and Grants of Options under the Plan.

               (a) Procedure for Grants. All grants of Options to Outside
Directors under this Plan shall be automatic and nondiscretionary and shall be
made strictly in accordance with the following provisions:

                    (i) No person shall have any discretion to select which
Outside Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of Shares
to be covered by Options.


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                    (ii) Each Outside Director shall be automatically granted an
Option to purchase 40,000 Shares (the "First Option") on the date on which the
later of the following events occurs:

                         (A) the effective date of this Plan, as determined in
accordance with Section 6 hereof, or

                         (B) the date on which such person first becomes an
Outside Director, whether through election by the shareholders of the Company or
appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy; provided, however, that an Inside
Director or Beneficial Owner who ceases to be an Inside Director or Beneficial
Owner but who remains a Director shall not receive a First Option.

                    (iii) Each Outside Director shall be automatically granted
an Option to purchase 10,000 Shares (a "Subsequent Option") on the date of the
Company's annual stockholder's meeting each year provided he or she is then an
Outside Director and if as of such date, he or she shall have served on the
Board for at least the preceding six (6) months.

                    (iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (ii) and
(iii) hereof, any exercise of an Option granted before the Company has obtained
shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 16 hereof shall be
conditioned upon obtaining such shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance
with Section 16 hereof.

                    (v) The terms of a First Option granted hereunder shall be
as follows:

                         (A) the term of the First Option shall be ten (10)
years.

                         (B) the First Option shall be exercisable only while
the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set forth in
Sections 8 and 10 hereof.

                         (C) the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the First Option.

                         (D) subject to Section 10 hereof, the First Option
shall vest and become exercisable as to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Shares
subject to the First Option on each anniversary of its date of grant, provided
that the Optionee continues to serve as a Director on such dates.

                    (vi) The terms of a Subsequent Option granted hereunder
shall be as follows:

                         (A) the term of the Subsequent Option shall be ten (10)
years.

                         (B) the Subsequent Option shall be exercisable only
while the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set
forth in Sections 8 and 10 hereof.

                         (C) the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the Subsequent Option.



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                         (D) subject to Section 10 hereof, the Subsequent Option
shall vest and become exercisable as to one-hundred percent (100%) of the Shares
subject to the Subsequent Option on each anniversary of its date of grant,
provided that the Optionee continues to serve as a Director on such dates.

                    (vii) In the event that any Option granted under the Plan
would cause the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options plus the number
of Shares previously purchased under Options to exceed the Pool, then the
remaining Shares available for Option grant shall be granted under Options to
the Outside Directors on a pro rata basis. No further grants shall be made until
such time, if any, as additional Shares become available for grant under the
Plan through action of the Board or the shareholders to increase the number of
Shares which may be issued under the Plan or through cancellation or expiration
of Options previously granted hereunder.

        5. Eligibility. Options may be granted only to Outside Directors. All
Options shall be automatically granted in accordance with the terms set forth in
Section 4 hereof.

        The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect to
continuation of service as a Director or nomination to serve as a Director, nor
shall it interfere in any way with any rights which the Director or the Company
may have to terminate the Director's relationship with the Company at any time.

        6. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the
Company as described in Section 16 of the Plan. It shall continue in effect for
a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 11 of the Plan.

        7. Form of Consideration. The consideration to be paid for the Shares to
be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall
consist of (i) cash, (ii) check, (iii) other shares which (x) in the case of
Shares acquired upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for
more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market
Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, (iv) consideration received
by the Company under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in
connection with the Plan, or (v) any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment.

        8. Exercise of Option.

               (a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in Section
4 hereof; provided, however, that no Options shall be exercisable until
shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 16 hereof has been
obtained.

                    An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.


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                    An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written
notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full
payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been
received by the Company. Full payment may consist of any consideration and
method of payment allowable under Section 7 of the Plan. Until the issuance (as
evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly
authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing
such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a
shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the
exercise of the Option. A share certificate for the number of Shares so acquired
shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the
Option. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the
record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 10 of the Plan.

                    Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a
decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for
purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as
to which the Option is exercised.

               (b) Termination of Continuous Status as a Director. Subject to
Section 10 hereof, in the event an Optionee's status as a Director terminates
(other than upon the Optionee's death or Disability), the Optionee may exercise
his or her Option, but only within three (3) months following the date of such
termination, and only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise
it on the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration of
its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise an Option on the date of such termination, and to the extent that the
Optionee does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled)
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

               (c) Disability of Optionee. In the event Optionee's status as a
Director terminates as a result of Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or
her Option, but only within twelve (12) months following the date of such
termination, and only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise
it on the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration of
its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise an Option on the date of termination, or if he or she does not exercise
such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled) within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate.

               (d) Death of Optionee. In the event of an Optionee's death, the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by
bequest or inheritance may exercise the Option, but only within twelve (12)
months following the date of death, and only to the extent that the Optionee was
entitled to exercise it on the date of death (but in no event later than the
expiration of its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise an Option on the date of death, and to the extent that the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise such Option
does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled) within the
time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.


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        9. Non-Transferability of Options. The Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

        10. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or
Asset Sale.

               (a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by
the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each
outstanding Option, the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance
under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or which have
been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well
as the price per Share covered by each such outstanding Option, and the number
of Shares issuable pursuant to the automatic grant provisions of Section 4
hereof shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock
dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other
increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Except as expressly provided herein, no
issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment
by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares
subject to an Option.

               (b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, to the extent that an Option has not
been previously exercised, it shall terminate immediately prior to the
consummation of such proposed action.

               (c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company
with or into another corporation or the sale of substantially all of the assets
of the Company, outstanding Options may be assumed or equivalent options may be
substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof (the
"Successor Corporation"). If an Option is assumed or substituted for, the Option
or equivalent option shall continue to be exercisable as provided in Section 4
hereof for so long as the Optionee serves as a Director or a director of the
Successor Corporation. Thereafter, the Option or option shall remain exercisable
in accordance with Sections 8(b) through (d) above. If the Successor Corporation
does not assume an outstanding Option or substitute for it an equivalent option,
the Option shall become fully vested and exercisable, including as to Shares for
which it would not otherwise be exercisable. In such event the Board shall
notify the Optionee that the Option shall be fully exercisable for a period of
thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, and upon the expiration of such
period the Option shall terminate.

        For the purposes of this Section 10(c), an Option shall be considered
assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the Option confers the right
to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option
immediately prior to the merger or sale of assets, the consideration (whether
stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or sale of
assets by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of
the transaction (and


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if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration
chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares). If such
consideration received in the merger or sale of assets is not solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with
the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon the exercise of the Option, for each Share of Optioned Stock
subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or
its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by
holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of assets.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Change of Control, each
outstanding Option shall accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable
immediately prior to such Change of Control with respect to one hundred percent
(100%) of the Shares then subject to each outstanding Option.

        11. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

               (a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend,
alter, suspend, or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension, or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of
any Optionee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In
addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable
law, regulation or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain shareholder
approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as
required.

               (b) Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such
Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been
amended or terminated.

        12. Time of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date determined in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

        13. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, state securities laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange
upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the
approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

            As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may
require the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time
of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.


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            Inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall
relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell
such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

        14. Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

        15. Option Agreement. Options shall be evidenced by written option
agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

        16. Shareholder Approval. The Plan shall be subject to approval by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is
adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner
required under applicable state and federal law and any stock exchange rules.


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