Exhibit 10(kk)

                                     Form of
                                 (Key Executive)
                            DATA GENERAL CORPORATION
                                DOMESTIC EMPLOYEE
                      1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                          (Non-qualified Stock Option)

                                      * * *

1998  EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT made this __________________, between DATA
GENERAL CORPORATION,  a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"),
and  _______________________________,  an  employee  of  the  Company  or  of  a
subsidiary of the Company (hereinafter called the "Participant");

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

         WHEREAS,   the  Company  desires,   by  affording  the  Participant  an
opportunity to purchase shares of its common stock, as hereinafter  provided, to
carry out the purpose of the "1998  Employee  Stock  Option  Plan"  (hereinafter
referred to as the "Plan"), approved by its directors:

             NOW, THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
promises hereinafter contained, the parties hereto have agreed as follows:

         1. Grant of Option.  The Company  hereby  grants to the  Participant  a
non-qualified  stock option (hereinafter called the "Option") to purchase all or
part of an aggregate of ___________ (___) shares of stock (hereinafter  referred
to as the  "Stock")  (such  number being  subject to  adjustment  as provided in
Paragraph 11 hereof) on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

         2.  Incorporation  of  Plan.  Except  as  hereinafter  provided,   this
Agreement  shall be governed  by and be subject to all the terms and  conditions
set forth in the Plan as in effect  on the date  hereof.  A copy of the Plan has
been delivered to the Participant and is hereby incorporated by reference.

         3. Purchase Price. The purchase price of the shares of Stock covered by
the Option shall be  $__________  per share.  Payment  shall be made in cash, by
certified  check or in  shares  of  Common  Stock in the  manner  prescribed  in
Paragraph 9 hereof.

         4.  Term of  Option.  The  term of the  Option  shall  be for a  period
commencing  on the date hereof and ending on  ___________________.  The right of
Participant to purchase Stock through the exercise of this Option,  wholly or in
part,  shall be available to the Participant at any time during the term of this
Option  subject to  restrictions  on the  disposition as provided in Paragraph 6
hereof and to the  obligation of resale of said Stock as provided in Paragraph 7
hereof.

         5.  Nontransferability.  The Option shall not be transferable otherwise
than by will or the laws of  descent  and  distribution,  and the  Option may be
exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant only by him, more particularly
(but  without  limiting  generality  of the  foregoing),  the  Option may not be
assigned,  transferred (except as provided above), pledged,  hypothecated in any
way,  shall not be  assignable  by operation of law, and shall not be subject to
execution,  attachment or similar process. Any attempted  assignment,  transfer,
pledge,  hypothecation  or  other  disposition  of the  Option  contrary  to the
provision hereof, and the levy of any execution,  attachment, or similar process
upon the Option,  shall be null and void and without effect;  provided  however,
that if Participant shall die while in the employ of the Company or a subsidiary
of the Company, his executor,  personal  representative,  or administrator shall
have the right to exercise the Option (to the extent that the Participant  would
have been  entitled to do so at the date of his death) at any time within twelve
(12) months  from the date of death in respect of the total  number of shares as
to which he would be entitled to exercise his Option at the date of his death.

         6. Restrictions on Disposition.  Stock acquired by Participant pursuant
to the exercise of an Option is subject to certain  restrictions on dispositions
and  obligations  of resale to the  Company as provided in Section 7 of the Plan
and such Stock  shall not be sold,  transferred,  or  otherwise  disposed of and
shall not be pledged to anyone other than the Company or otherwise  hypothecated
until such restrictions lapse.  Participant  understands and agrees that, if the
Stock  is  subject  to  restrictions  which  have not yet  lapsed,  certificates
representing  such Stock will  contain a legend to the effect  that the Stock is
subject to certain  restrictions  on  disposition  and  obligations of resale as
contained in Section 7 of the Plan. Such restrictions against the disposition of
the Stock shall lapse in  accordance  with the  provisions of Exhibit A attached
hereto;  provided,  however,  that the 1998 Employee Stock Option Plan Committee
(the "Committee") shall, in its sole discretion,  decide at the time Participant
is granted an  Authorized  Leave of Absence  (as defined in this  Paragraph  6),
whether the period of time during which Participant takes an Authorized Leave of
Absence  shall be  included in  determining  whether  the  restrictions  against
disposition  shall have lapsed in  accordance  with the  provisions of Exhibit A
attached hereto.

         In any  event,  upon the  occurrence  of the  earlier  of the  death of
Participant,  the retirement of  Participant  with the consent of the Company or
the  attainment  by  Participant  of the age of 65  whether  or not  Participant
retires,  the restrictions  against  disposition which have not otherwise lapsed
under the Plan shall immediately lapse.

         For purposes of this Paragraph 6,  "Authorized  Leave of Absence" shall
mean (a) any period of leave granted to  Participant  by the Company for reasons
of sickness  or  disability  or for the  pursuit of  graduate or other  academic
studies or for government service or personal or family hardship,  or such other
reasons as the Company may in its discretion determine provided that in no event
shall the period of such leave  exceed the  period  granted by the  Company  and
provided further that unless Participant retires during such leave,  Participant
returns to the employment of the Company at the termination of such period;  and
(b) absence for military  service in the armed forces of the United States under
leave granted by the Company or as required by law, provided Participant returns
to employment  within six (6) months of his release from such military  service,
or within any longer period during which his right to  reemployment is protected
by law.
 
         7. Obligation of Resale. If Participant's  employment  terminates other
than by retirement  with the consent of the Company or by  Participant's  death,
then the Stock for which  Participant  has paid the purchase  price but on which
restrictions  against disposition have not lapsed shall be offered for resale to
the  Company at the price paid by  Participant.  This offer of resale must be in
writing and must be delivered to the Company  within thirty (30) days  following
termination  and  certificates  for such Stock shall be delivered to the Company
within such  thirty-day  period.  If such Stock is not  delivered to the Company
within thirty (30) days following the termination of  Participant's  employment,
such Stock shall remain subject to the restrictions against disposition and such
restrictions  shall  not lapse as  otherwise  provided  herein  and in the Plan.
Within  sixty (60) days  following a timely  delivery of the Stock,  the Company
will compensate  Participant (at the original purchase price) for such number of
the shares of the Stock as the Company  elects to repurchase  and will return to
the Participant any such shares not so purchased.  In the event that the Company
declines  in writing to  repurchase  such  Stock,  such Stock  shall  remain the
property of Participant and the restrictions  against disposition shall lapse at
the rate stated in this Agreement.

         8.  Employment.  Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 5 hereof,  this
Option  shall be  exercisable  only by  Participant  while he is employed by the
Company or a subsidiary of the Company or upon his  retirement  with the consent
of the  Company.  If  Participant  shall  retire with the consent of the Company
before his Option shall have terminated,  he must exercise the Option within (3)
months  after the date on which he ceases to be  employed  by the  Company  or a
subsidiary of the Company.

         Participant  acknowledges  and agrees that the Company is not obligated
by this Agreement or the Plan to continue the Participant in its employment, and
this  Agreement  does not in any manner  constitute an  employment  agreement or
create any rights, benefits, or obligations not specifically set forth herein.

         9. Method of Exercising Option.  Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Option  Agreement,  the Option may be  exercised  by written  notice to the
Company  at its  office  at 4400  Computer  Drive,  Westboro,  MA  01580,  Attn:
Treasurer.  Such notice shall state the election to exercise the Option, and the
number of shares of Stock in respect of which it is being exercised. It shall be
signed  by the  person  or  persons  so  exercising  the  Option  and  shall  be
accompanied  by payment  of the full  purchase  price of such Stock in cash,  by
certified  check or in  shares of Common  Stock.  If shares of Common  Stock are
tendered as payment of the Option exercise price, the value of such shares shall
be their fair market value as of the date of exercise.
 
         If such tender  would result in the  issuance of  fractional  shares of
Common Stock,  the Participant  shall purchase,  at the price which reflects the
fair market value of the Stock as of the date of exercise, in cash, by certified
check, or cashier's check such additional  fractional  shares of Common Stock as
are  necessary to result in the  issuance to the  Participant  of an  additional
whole share of Stock.  The  Company  shall  issue,  in the name of the person or
persons  exercising  the  Option,  and  deliver a  certificate  or  certificates
representing  such  shares as soon as  practicable  after the notice and payment
shall be received.

         In the event the Option  shall be  exercised,  pursuant to  Paragraph 5
hereof,  by any person or persons other than the Participant,  such notice shall
be accompanied  by  appropriate  proof of the right of such person or persons to
exercise the Option.

         Until  Participant  (or his  representative  as provided in Paragraph 5
hereof)  has  been  issued a  certificate  or  certificates  for the  shares  as
acquired,  Participant  shall possess no stockholder  rights with respect to any
such Stock.

         10.  Additional  Withholding  for Tax  Purposes.  Upon  exercise  of an
Option,  if the  restrictions  on any of the shares being  purchased  thereunder
shall  have  already  lapsed,  then the  Company  will  require,  at the time of
exercise, an additional payment equal to all applicable  withholding taxes which
may be imposed on the  difference  between the purchase price of such shares and
the fair market value of such shares as of the exercise date (which sum shall be
paid in due course by the Company to the  applicable  agencies  as income  taxes
withheld on income resulting from the exercise of the Option).

         The Company will also require,  in each year during which  restrictions
on any shares purchased upon exercise of the Option shall lapse, a payment equal
to all  applicable  withholding  taxes  which may be imposed  on the  difference
between the  purchase  price of such  shares and the fair  market  value of such
shares as of the date on which the restrictions lapse.

         If a  Participant  elects,  in  accordance  with  Section  83(b) of the
Internal  Revenue  Code  of 1986 as  amended,  and  Section  9 of the  Plan,  to
recognize  ordinary  income in the year of exercise  with  respect to the shares
being  purchased  upon exercise of the Option,  then the Company will require at
the  time of  such  election  an  additional  payment  equal  to all  applicable
withholding  taxes which may be imposed on the  difference  between the purchase
price of such shares and the fair market value of such shares as of the exercise
date.

         11. Changes in Capital  Structure.  If all or any portion of the Option
shall be exercised  subsequent to any stock dividend splitup,  recapitalization,
merger,  consolidation,   combination  or  exchange  of  shares,  or  otherwise,
occurring  after the date hereof,  the  aggregate  number of shares of the Stock
subject to this Agreement and the Option price may be proportionately  adjusted,
and any other  appropriate  changes may be made by the Board of Directors or the
Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive. No fractional share shall be
issued  upon any such  exercise  and the  aggregate  price  shall be  reduced on
account  of any  fractional  share  not  issued.  In no  event,  however,  shall
adjustment be made in the rate at which restrictions  against  disposition lapse
and Participant's obligation of resale, as fixed by Paragraph 6 and 7 hereof.

         12. Termination of Option. In the event of the institution of any legal
proceedings directed to the validity of the Plan pursuant to which the Option is
granted,  or to any option granted under it, the Company may, in its discretion,
and without incurring any liability  therefor to any Participant,  terminate the
Option.

         13. Change of Control.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan
or this Agreement to the contrary,  upon a Change of Control (as defined below),
(i) the Option shall become fully and  immediately  exercisable  into free Stock
without  restrictions  as to  disposition  or  obligations  as to  resale to the
Company  and shall  remain  exercisable  until the earlier to occur of (x) three
months after the  termination of employment of the Participant and (y) ten years
after  the date of  grant of such  Option  and  (ii)  all  restrictions  against
disposition  and all  obligations  of resale to the  Company  of shares of Stock
acquired by the  Participant  pursuant to the exercise of the Option as to which
such  restrictions and obligations  have not otherwise lapsed shall  immediately
lapse. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Change of Control", shall mean:

            (i) The acquisition, other than from the Company, by any individual,
entity or group  (within  the  meaning of Section  13(d)(3)  or  14(d)(2) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of beneficial
ownership  (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act)
of 25% or more of either  the then  outstanding  shares  of common  stock of the
Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or the combined voting power of
the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally
in the election of directors  (the  "Outstanding  Company  Voting  Securities"),
provided,   however,  that  any  acquisition  by  the  Company  or  any  of  its
subsidiaries,  or by any employee  benefit plan (or related trust)  sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or by any corporation with
respect to which,  following such acquisition,  more than 60% of,  respectively,
the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined
voting  power of the then  outstanding  voting  securities  of such  corporation
entitled to vote  generally in the  election of  directors is then  beneficially
owned,  directly or indirectly,  by all or substantially all the individuals and
entities  who were  the  beneficial  owners,  respectively,  of the  Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such  acquisition in  substantially  the same proportion as their  ownership,
immediately prior to such acquisition,  of the Outstanding  Company Common Stock
and  Outstanding  Company  Voting  Securities,  as the  case may be,  shall  not
constitute a Change of Control; or

            (ii)  Individuals  who, as of January 1, 1991,  constitute the Board
(the  "Incumbent  Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority
of the Board,  provided that any  individual  becoming a director  subsequent to
January 1, 1991 whose  election,  or nomination  for election,  by the Company's
shareholders,  was  approved by a vote of at least a majority  of the  directors
then  comprising  the  Incumbent  Board  shall  be  considered  as  though  such
individual  were a  member  of the  Incumbent  Board,  but  excluding,  for this
purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection
with an actual or threatened  election  contest  relating to the election of the
Directors  of the Company  (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of  Regulation
14A promulgated under the Exchange Act); or

            (iii)  Approval  by the  stockholders  of the  Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or of the sale or other disposition of
all or  substantially  all of the assets of the  Company,  or a  reorganization,
merger  or   consolidation,   in  each  case,  with  respect  to  which  all  or
substantially  all of the  individuals  and  entities  who were  the  respective
beneficial  owners of the  Outstanding  Company  Common  Stock  and  Outstanding
Company Voting Securities  immediately prior to such  reorganization,  merger or
consolidation do not,  following such  reorganization,  merger or consolidation,
beneficially own, directly or indirectly,  more than 60% of,  respectively,  the
then  outstanding  shares of common stock and the  combined  voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  the  corporation  resulting  from  such
reorganization, merger or consolidation.
 
         14.   Enforceability.   This  agreement   shall  be  binding  upon  the
Participant, his estate, his personal representatives and beneficiaries.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this Option Agreement to be
executed by its duly  authorized  officer,  and the Participant has hereunto set
his hand and seal, all on the day and year first above written.


                  DATA GENERAL CORPORATION


 
                  By: _______________________________
                        Robert C. McBride
                         Vice President & Treasurer



                             I have read and understood this Agreement and agree
                             to be bound by its terms.

                             _________________________________
                             Print Name: _______________________


                                                                           11/98

                                  EXHIBIT A TO

                           1998 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                          Dated: ______________________


         The Option is immediately  exercisable  except as otherwise provided in
the  Agreement.  During  the  term  of this  Option,  the  restrictions  against
disposition  and  obligation  of resale to the Company shall lapse so the shares
become  freely  tradeable  ("free  shares")  in  accordance  with the  following
schedule:

<TABLE>

     <S>                                <C>                               <C>
     # of Years From                                                   Cumulative % of
     Date of Option                   % of Grant Becoming              Grant Becoming
     Agreement                        Free Shares                      Free Shares
     __________________               __________________               ___________________

     1 year or  on ________           25% =_______ shares              25% =_______ shares

     2 years or on ________           25% =_______ shares              50% =_______ shares

     3 years or on ________           25% =_______ shares              75% =_______ shares

     4 years or on ________           25% =_______ shares              100%=_______ shares


</TABLE>