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                                                                    Exhibit 10.3


                                 JNI CORPORATION

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED

                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN


         1.       ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.

                  1.1 ESTABLISHMENT. This JNI Corporation 1999 Stock Option
Plan (the "PLAN") is hereby established effective as of April 24, 1999, and
amended and restated effective October 1999.

                  1.2 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the
interests of the Participating Company Group and its shareholders by providing
an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the
Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the
growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group.

                  1.3 TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall continue in effect until the
earlier of its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares
of Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been issued and all
restrictions on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements
evidencing Options granted under the Plan have lapsed. However, all Options
shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date
the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is duly approved by the
shareholders of the Company.

         2.       DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

                  2.1 DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, the following terms
shall have their respective meanings set forth below:

                           (a) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the
Company. If one or more Committees have been appointed by the Board to
administer the Plan, "Board" also means such Committee(s).

                           (b) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.

                           (c) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee or
other committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having
such powers as shall be specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the
Committee have been specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of the
powers of the Board granted herein, including, without limitation, the power to
amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan and
any applicable limitations imposed by law.

                           (d) "Company" means JNI Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.

                           (e) "Consultant" means any person, including an
advisor, engaged by a Participating Company to render services other than as an
Employee or a Director.


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                           (f) "Director" means a member of the Board or of the
board of directors of any other Participating Company.

                           (g) "Disability" means the inability of the Optionee,
in the opinion of a qualified physician acceptable to the Company, to perform
the major duties of the Optionee's position with the Participating Company Group
because of the sickness or injury of the Optionee.

                           (h) "Employee" means any person treated as an
employee (including an officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee)
in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive
Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section
422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor
payment of a director's fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for
purposes of the Plan.

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

                           (j) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the
value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Board, in its
discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is
expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:

                                    (i) If, on such date, the Stock is listed on
a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market
Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock (or the
mean of the closing bid and asked prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so
quoted instead) as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap
Market or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system
constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date
does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange
or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established
shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant
date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Board, in its
discretion.

                                    (ii) If, on such date, there is no public
market for the Stock, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as
determined by the Board in good faith without regard to any restriction other
than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse.

                           (k) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended
to be (as set forth in the Option Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.

                           (l) "Insider" means an officer or a Director of the
Company or any other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section
16 of the Exchange Act.

                           (m) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not
intended to be (as set forth in the Option Agreement) or which does not qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.


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                           (n) "Option" means a right to purchase Stock (subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2) pursuant to the terms and conditions
of the Plan. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory
Stock Option.

                           (o) "Option Agreement" means a written agreement,
including any related form of stock option grant agreement, between the Company
and an Optionee setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions of the
Option granted to the Optionee and any shares acquired upon the exercise
thereof.

                           (p) "Optionee" means a person who has been granted
one or more Options.

                           (q) "Parent Corporation" means any present or future
"parent corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

                           (r) "Participating Company" means the Company or any
Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation.

                           (s) "Participating Company Group" means, at any point
in time, all corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies.

                           (t) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.

                           (u) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.

                           (v) "Service" means an Optionee's employment or
service with the Participating Company Group, whether in the capacity of an
Employee, a Director or a Consultant. The Optionee's Service shall not be deemed
to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the
Optionee renders Service to the Participating Company Group or a change in the
Participating Company for which the Optionee renders such Service, provided that
there is no interruption or termination of the Optionee's Service. Furthermore,
an Optionee's Service with the Participating Company Group shall not be deemed
to have terminated if the Optionee takes any military leave, sick leave, or
other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company; provided, however,
that if any such leave exceeds ninety (90) days, on the ninety-first (91st) day
of such leave the Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have terminated unless
the Optionee's right to return to Service with the Participating Company Group
is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless
otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, a leave of absence shall
not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the
Optionee's Option Agreement. The Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have
terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the corporation
for which the Optionee performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company.
Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine
whether the Optionee's Service has terminated and the effective date of such
termination.

                           (w) "Stock" means the common stock of the Company, as
adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.


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                           (x) "Subsidiary Corporation" means any present or
future "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of
the Code.

                           (y) "Ten Percent Owner Optionee" means an Optionee
who, at the time an Option is granted to the Optionee, owns stock possessing
more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of a Participating Company within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the
Code.

                           (z) "Termination of Employment" shall mean the time
when the employee-employer relationship between an Optionee and the
Participating Company is terminated for any reason, with or without cause,
including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation,
discharge, death, Disability or retirement; but excluding (i) terminations where
there is a simultaneous reemployment or continuing employment of an Optionee by
any Participating Company, (ii) at the discretion of the Board, terminations
which result in a temporary severance of the employee-employer relationship, and
(iii) at the discretion of the Board, terminations which are followed by the
simultaneous establishment of a consulting relationship by a Participating
Company with the former employee. The Board, in its absolute discretion, shall
determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to Termination of
Employment, including, but not by way of limitation, the question of whether a
Termination of Employment resulted from a discharge for good cause, and all
questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute Terminations of
Employment; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Board in
its discretion, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an
independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship
shall constitute a Termination of Employment if, and to the extent that, such
leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the
purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code and the then applicable regulations
and revenue rulings under said Section. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Plan, each Participating Company has an absolute and unrestricted right to
terminate an Employee's employment at any time for any reason whatsoever, with
or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in writing.

                           (aa) "Termination without Cause" shall mean the time
when the employee-employer relationship between an Optionee and the Company or
any other Participating Company is terminated without cause, as termination
without cause is defined in the Optionee's employment agreement; provided
however, that if termination without cause is not therein defined, it shall have
such meaning, in conformance with applicable law, as the Board shall determine
is appropriate.

                  2.2 CONSTRUCTION. Captions and titles contained herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any
provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use
of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.

         3.       ADMINISTRATION.

                  3.1 ADMINISTRATION BY THE BOARD. The Plan shall be
administered by the Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any
Option shall be determined by the Board, and


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such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an
interest in the Plan or such Option.

                  3.2 AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS. Any officer of a Participating
Company shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to
any matter, right, obligation, determination or election which is the
responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein, provided the
officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation,
determination or election.

                  3.3 ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO INSIDERS. With respect to
participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity
security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange
Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any,
of Rule 16b-3.

                  3.4 POWERS OF THE BOARD. In addition to any other powers set
forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall
have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:

                           (a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or
times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock to be
subject to each Option;

                           (b) to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options
or Nonstatutory Stock Options;

                           (c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of
Stock or other property;

                           (d) to determine the terms, conditions and
restrictions applicable to each Option (which need not be identical) and any
shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, including, without limitation, (i)
the exercise price of the Option, (ii) the method of payment for shares
purchased upon the exercise of the Option, (iii) the method for satisfaction of
any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with the Option or such
shares, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of stock, (iv) the
timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability of the Option or the vesting
of any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof, (v) the time of the expiration
of the Option, (vi) the effect of the Optionee's termination of Service with the
Participating Company Group on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms,
conditions and restrictions applicable to the Option or such shares not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;

                           (e) to approve one or more forms of Option Agreement;

                           (f) to amend, modify, extend, cancel, renew, reprice
or otherwise adjust the exercise price of, or grant a new Option in substitution
for, any Option or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any
Option or any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof;


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                           (g) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the
exercisability of any Option or the vesting of any shares acquired upon the
exercise thereof, including with respect to the period following an Optionee's
termination of Service with the Participating Company Group;

                           (h) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines
and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt supplements to, or alternative
versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Board deems
necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax
policy or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted
Options; and

                           (i) to correct any defect, supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Option Agreement and to make all
other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any
Option as the Board may deem advisable to the extent consistent with the Plan
and applicable law.

         4.       SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.

                  4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that
may be issued under the Plan shall be Two Million, Three Hundred Twelve
Thousand, Eight Hundred (2,312,800) and shall consist of authorized but unissued
or reacquired shares of Stock or any combination thereof. If an outstanding
Option for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled or if shares of Stock
are acquired upon the exercise of an Option subject to a Company repurchase
option and are 5 6 repurchased by the Company at the Optionee's exercise price,
the shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option or such
repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the
Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any such time as the offer and sale of
securities pursuant to the Plan is subject to compliance with Section 260.140.45
of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations ("Section 260.140.45"), the
total number of shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding
Options (together with options outstanding under any other stock option plan of
the Company) and the total number of shares provided for under any stock bonus
or similar plan of the Company shall not exceed thirty percent (30%) (or such
other higher percentage limitation as may be approved by the shareholders of the
Company pursuant to Section 260.140.45) of the then outstanding shares of the
Company as calculated in accordance with the conditions and exclusions of
Section 260.140.45.

                  4.2 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. In the event
of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the
Company, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares
subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Options and in the exercise price per
share of any outstanding Options. If a majority of the shares which are of the
same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Options are exchanged
for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an
Ownership Change Event, as defined in Section 8.1) shares of another corporation
(the "New Shares"), the Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding Options to
provide that such Options are exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any
such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise price per
share of, the outstanding Options shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable
manner as determined by the Board,


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in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any fractional share resulting
from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be rounded down to the
nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise price of any Option be
decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to
the Option. The adjustments determined by the Board pursuant to this Section 4.2
shall be final, binding and conclusive.

         5.       ELIGIBILITY AND OPTION LIMITATIONS.

                  5.1 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR OPTIONS. Options may be granted only
to Employees, Consultants, and Directors. For purposes of the foregoing
sentence, "Employees," "Consultants" and "Directors" shall include prospective
Employees, prospective Consultants and prospective Directors to whom Options are
granted in connection with written offers of an employment or other service
relationships with the Participating Company Group. Eligible persons may be
granted more than one (1) Option.

                  5.2 OPTION GRANT RESTRICTIONS. Any person who is not an
Employee on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be
granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option granted to a
prospective Employee upon the condition that such person become an Employee
shall be deemed granted effective on the date such person commences Service with
a Participating Company, with an exercise price determined as of such date in
accordance with Section 6.1.

                  5.3 FAIR MARKET VALUE LIMITATION. To the extent that options
designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of
the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by an
Optionee for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair
Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portions
of such options which exceed such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock
Options. For purposes of this Section 5.3, options designated as Incentive Stock
Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and
the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option
with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a
different limitation from that set forth in this Section 5.3, such different
limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with
respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code.
If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a
Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this
Section 5.3, the Optionee may designate which portion of such Option the
Optionee is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Optionee shall
be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option
first. Separate certificates representing each such portion shall be issued upon
the exercise of the Option.

         6.       TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

                  Options shall be evidenced by Option Agreements specifying the
number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Board shall from
time to time establish. No Option or purported Option shall be a valid and
binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Option
Agreement. Option Agreements may incorporate all or any


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of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to
the following terms and conditions:

                  6.1 EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price for each Option shall
be established in the discretion of the Board; provided, however, that (a) the
exercise price per share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the
Option, (b) the exercise price per share for a Nonstatutory Stock Option shall
be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a share
of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option, and (c) no Option granted
to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall have an exercise price per share less than
one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an
Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be
granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth
above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for
another option in a manner qualifying under the provisions of Section 424(a) of
the Code.

                  6.2 EXERCISE PERIOD. Options shall be exercisable at such time
or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions,
performance criteria, and restrictions as shall be determined by the Board and
set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however,
that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years
after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option
granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall be exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option,
(c) no Option granted to a prospective Employee, prospective Consultant or
prospective Director may become exercisable prior to the date on which such
person commences Service with a Participating Company, and (d) with the
exception of an Option granted to an officer, Director or Consultant, no Option
shall become exercisable at a rate less than twenty percent (20%) per year over
a period of five (5) years from the effective date of grant of such Option,
subject to the Optionee's continued Service. Subject to the foregoing, unless
otherwise specified by the Board in the grant of an Option, any Option granted
hereunder shall have a term of ten (10) years from the effective date of grant
of the Option.

                  6.3      PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.

                           (a) FORMS OF CONSIDERATION AUTHORIZED. Except as
otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares
of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by
check or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the
ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Optionee having a Fair Market Value
(as determined by the Company without regard to any restrictions on
transferability applicable to such stock by reason of federal or state
securities laws or agreements with an underwriter for the Company) not less than
the exercise price, (iii) by the assignment of the proceeds of a sale or loan
with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of
the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with
the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (a "Cashless Exercise"), (iv) by the
Optionee's promissory note in a form approved by the Company, (v) by such other
consideration as may be approved by the Board from time to time to the extent
permitted by applicable law, or (vi) by any combination


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thereof. The Board may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by
amendment to the standard forms of Option Agreement described in Section 7, or
by other means, grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of
consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise
restrict one or more forms of consideration.

                           (b) LIMITATIONS ON FORMS OF CONSIDERATION.

                                    (i) Tender of Stock. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or
attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or
attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law,
regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company's stock.
Unless otherwise provided by the Board, an Option may not be exercised by tender
to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such
shares either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months or
were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.

                                    (ii) Cashless Exercise. The Company
reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company's sole and absolute
discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or
procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise.

                                    (iii) Payment by Promissory Note. No
promissory note shall be permitted if the exercise of an Option using a
promissory note would be a violation of any law. Any permitted promissory note
shall be on such terms as the Board shall determine at the time the Option is
granted. The Board shall have the authority to permit or require the Optionee to
secure any promissory note used to exercise an Option with the shares of Stock
acquired upon the exercise of the Option or with other collateral acceptable to
the Company. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, if the Company at any time
is subject to the regulations promulgated by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System or any other governmental entity affecting the extension
of credit in connection with the Company's securities, any promissory note shall
comply with such applicable regulations, and the Optionee shall pay the unpaid
principal and accrued interest, if any, to the extent necessary to comply with
such applicable regulations.

                  6.4 TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the right, but not
the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of
an Option, or to accept from the Optionee the tender of, a number of whole
shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal
to all or any part of the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any,
required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect
to such Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. Alternatively
or in addition, in its discretion, the Company shall have the right to require
the Optionee, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, including
by means of a Cashless Exercise, to make adequate provision for any such tax
withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group arising in connection
with the Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. The Company
shall have no obligation to deliver shares of Stock or to release shares of
Stock from an escrow established pursuant to the Option Agreement until the
Participating Company Group's tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by
the Optionee.


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                  6.5 REPURCHASE RIGHTS. Shares issued under the Plan may be
subject to a right of first refusal, one or more repurchase options, or other
conditions and restrictions as determined by the Board in its discretion at the
time the Option is granted. The Company shall have the right to assign at any
time any repurchase right it may have, whether or not such right is then
exercisable, to one or more persons as may be selected by the Company. Upon
request by the Company, each Optionee shall execute any agreement evidencing
such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and
shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing
shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of
appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.

                  6.6      EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

                           (a) OPTION EXERCISABILITY. Subject to earlier
termination of the Option as otherwise provided herein, an Option shall be
exercisable after an Optionee's termination of Service as follows:

                                    (i) Disability. If the Optionee's Service
with the Participating Company Group is terminated because of the Disability of
the Optionee, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date
on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee (or
the Optionee's guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the
expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer period of time as determined by
the Board, in its discretion) after the date on which the Optionee's Service
terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the
Option's term as set forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option (the
"Option Expiration Date").

                                    (ii) Death. If the Optionee's Service with
the Participating Company Group is terminated because of the death of the
Optionee, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on
which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee's
legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the
Option by reason of the Optionee's death at any time prior to the expiration of
twelve (12) months (or such longer period of time as determined by the Board, in
its discretion) after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but
in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Optionee's Service
shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Optionee dies
within thirty (30) days (or such longer period of time as determined by the
Board, in its discretion) after the Optionee's termination of Service.

                                    (iii) Other Termination of Service. If the
Optionee's Service with the Participating Company Group terminates for any
reason, except Disability or death, the Option, to the extent unexercised and
exercisable by the Optionee on the date on which the Optionee's Service
terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee within three (3) months (or such
longer period of time as determined by the Board, in its discretion) after the
date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than
the Option Expiration Date.

                           (b) EXTENSION IF EXERCISE PREVENTED BY LAW.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of an Option within the
applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.6(a) is prevented by the
provisions of Section 11 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until thirty
(30) days (or such longer period of time as determined by the Board, in its
discretion)


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after the date the Optionee is notified by the Company that the Option is
exercisable, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.

                           (c) EXTENSION IF OPTIONEE SUBJECT TO SECTION 16(b).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a sale within the applicable time periods set
forth in Section 6.6(a) of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option would
subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Option
shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day
following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee would no
longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day
after the Optionee's termination of Service, or (iii) the Option Expiration
Date.

         7.       STANDARD FORMS OF OPTION AGREEMENT.

                  7.1 GENERAL. Unless otherwise provided by the Board at the
time the Option is granted, an Option shall comply with and be subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in the standard form of Option Agreement adopted
by the Board concurrently with its adoption of the Plan and as amended from time
to time.

                  7.2 AUTHORITY TO VARY TERMS. The Board shall have the
authority from time to time to vary the terms of any of the standard form of
Option Agreement described in this Section 7 either in connection with the grant
or amendment of an individual Option or in connection with the authorization of
a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions
of any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Option Agreement
are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

         8.       CHANGE IN CONTROL.

                  8.1      DEFINITIONS.

                           (a) An "Ownership Change Event" shall be deemed to
have occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company: (i)
the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related
transactions by the shareholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%)
of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the
Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.

                           (b) A "Change In Control" shall mean an Ownership
Change Event or a series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a
"Transaction") wherein the shareholders of the Company immediately before the
Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock
immediately before the Transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
outstanding voting stock of the Company or the corporation or corporations to
which the assets of the Company were transferred (the "Transferee
Corporation(s)"), as the case may be. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest
resulting from ownership of the voting stock of one or more corporations which,
as a result of the Transaction, own the Company or the Transferee
Corporation(s), as the case may be, either directly or through one or more
subsidiary corporations. The Board shall


<PAGE>


have the right to determine whether multiple sales or exchanges of the voting
stock of the Company or multiple Ownership Change Events are related, and its
determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

                  8.2 EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL ON OPTIONS. In the event of a
Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing
corporation or parent corporation thereof, as the case may be (the "Acquiring
Corporation"), may either assume the Company's rights and obligations under
outstanding Options or substitute for outstanding Options substantially
equivalent options for the Acquiring Corporation's stock. For purposes of this
Section 8.2, an Option shall be deemed assumed if, following the Change in
Control, the Option confers the right to purchase in accordance with its terms
and conditions, for each share of Stock subject to the Option immediately prior
to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other
securities or property) to which a holder of a share of Stock on the effective
date of the Change in Control was entitled. Any Options which are neither
assumed or substituted for by the Acquiring Corporation in connection with the
Change in Control nor exercised as of the date of the Change in Control shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the date of the Change in
Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of an
Option prior to the Change in Control and any consideration received pursuant to
the Change in Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be subject
to all applicable provisions of the Option Agreement evidencing such Option
except as otherwise provided in such Option Agreement.

                  8.3 ACCELERATION OF VESTING UPON CERTAIN EVENTS FOLLOWING
CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event of a Change in Control wherein the Acquiring
Corporation does assume such Options or substitutes for outstanding Options
substantially equivalent options for the Acquiring Corporation's stock, then,
with respect to each Option held by persons then performing services as
Employees, the vesting of each Option (and, if applicable, the time during which
such Option may be exercised) shall be accelerated and such Option shall become
vested and exercisable with respect to fifty percent (50%) of the unvested
portion of such Option, if, within one (1) year from the date of such Change in
Control, either of the following events occurs: (1) a Termination without Cause
of an Optionee by the Participating Company or the Acquiring Corporation or (2)
the Employee holding such Option effects a Termination of Employment due to the
fact that there is a material reduction in such Employee's salary (excluding
bonuses (whether or not payable in cash), employee benefits or other non-cash
compensation) without the Employee's express consent.

         9.       PROVISION OF INFORMATION.

                  At least annually, copies of the Company's balance sheet and
income statement for the just completed fiscal year shall be made available to
each Optionee and purchaser of shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option.
The Company shall not be required to provide such information to key employees
whose duties in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent
information.

         10.      NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.


<PAGE>


                  During the lifetime of the Optionee, an Option shall be
exercisable only by the Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or legal
representative. No Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Optionee,
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

         11.      COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.

                  The grant of Options and the issuance of shares of Stock upon
exercise of Options shall be subject to compliance with all applicable
requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities.
Options may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise
would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign
securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock
exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition,
no Option may be exercised unless (a) a registration statement under the
Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with
respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (b) in the opinion
of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option
may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act. The inability of the Company to
obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any,
deemed by the Company's legal 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. As a condition to the exercise of any
Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that
may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law
or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as
may be requested by the Company.

         12.      INDEMNIFICATION.

                  In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they
may have as members of the Board or officers or employees of the Participating
Company Group, members of the Board and any officers or employees of the
Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board or the
Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable
expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred in
connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection
with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason
of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or
any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement
thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel
selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any
such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it
shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable
for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided,
however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit
or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the
opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

         13.      TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN.

                  The Board may terminate or amend the Plan at any time.
However, subject to changes in applicable law, regulations or rules that would
permit otherwise, without the approval


<PAGE>


of the Company's shareholders, there shall be (a) no increase in the maximum
aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan (except by
operation of the provisions of Section 4.2), (b) no change in the class of
persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options, and (c) no other amendment
of the Plan that would require approval of the Company's shareholders under any
applicable law, regulation or rule. No termination or amendment of the Plan may
adversely affect any then outstanding Option or any unexercised portion thereof,
without the consent of the Optionee, unless such termination or amendment is
required to enable an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option or is necessary to comply with any applicable law,
regulation or rule.

         14.      SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.

                  The Plan or any increase in the maximum aggregate number of
shares of Stock issuable thereunder as provided in Section 4.1 (the "Authorized
Shares") shall be approved by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12)
months of the date of adoption thereof by the Board. Options granted prior to
shareholder approval of the Plan or in excess of the Authorized Shares
previously approved by the shareholders shall become exercisable no earlier than
the date of shareholder approval of the Plan or such increase in the Authorized
Shares, as the case may be.


<PAGE>


                                 JNI CORPORATION

                         TERMS OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                  The Company has granted to the Optionee, pursuant to a
Stock Option Grant Agreement (the "Grant Agreement") and the Company's
Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), an Option to
purchase certain shares of Stock, upon the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement. The Option shall in all respects be subject to the terms and
conditions of the Grant Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of which are
incorporated herein by reference.

         1.       DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.

                  1.1 DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized
terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Grant Agreement or
the Plan.

                  1.2 CONSTRUCTION. Captions and titles contained herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any
provision of this Agreement. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use
of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.

         2.       TAX CONSEQUENCES.

                  2.1 TAX STATUS OF OPTION. As indicated in the Grant Agreement,
this Option is intended to be either an Incentive Stock Option within the
meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code or a Nonstatutory Stock Option, which is
not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. The Optionee should
consult with the Optionee's own tax advisor regarding the tax effects of this
Option (and any requirements necessary to obtain favorable income tax treatment
under Section 422 of the Code, including, but not limited to, holding period
requirements).

                  2.2 FAIR MARKET VALUE LIMITATION. If this Option is designated
an Incentive Stock Option in the Grant Agreement, to the extent that the Option
(together with all Incentive Stock Options granted to the Optionee under all
stock option plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan)
becomes exercisable for the first time during any calendar year for shares
having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000),
the portion of such options which exceeds such amount will be treated as
Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 2.2, options designated
as Incentive Stock Options are taken into account in the order in which they
were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock is determined as of the time
the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to
provide for a different limitation from that set forth in this Section 2.2, such
different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the
date required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If the Option is
treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option
in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section 2.2, the Optionee
may designate which portion of such Option the Optionee is exercising. In the
absence of such designation, the Optionee shall be deemed to have exercised the
Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Separate certificates
representing each such portion shall be issued upon the exercise of the Option.
(NOTE TO OPTIONEE: If the aggregate Exercise Price of the Option (that is, the
Exercise Price multiplied by the Number of Option Shares) plus the aggregate


<PAGE>


exercise price of any other Incentive Stock Options you hold (whether granted
pursuant to the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Participating Company
Group) is greater than $100,000, you should contact the Chief Financial Officer
of the Company to ascertain whether the entire Option qualifies as an Incentive
Stock Option.

         3.       EXERCISE OF THE OPTION.

                  3.1 RIGHT TO EXERCISE. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the Option shall be exercisable on and after the first anniversary of the Date
of Option Grant and prior to the termination of the Option (as provided in
Section 5) in an amount not to exceed the Number of Option Shares multiplied by
the Vested Ratio less the number of shares previously acquired upon exercise of
the Option, subject to the Optionee's agreement that any shares purchased upon
exercise are subject to the Company's Right of First Refusal and Vested Share
Repurchase (as such terms are defined herein).

                  3.2 METHOD OF EXERCISE. Exercise of the Option shall be by
written notice to the Company which must state the election to exercise the
Option, the number of whole shares of Stock for which the Option is being
exercised and such other representations and agreements as to the Optionee's
investment intent with respect to such shares as may be required pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement. The written notice must be signed by the Optionee
and must be delivered in person, by certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, by confirmed facsimile transmission, or by such other means as the
Company may permit, to the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, or other
authorized representative of the Participating Company Group, prior to the
termination of the Option as set forth in Section 5, accompanied by full payment
of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number of shares of Stock being
purchased and an executed copy if required herein, of the then current form of
escrow agreement referenced below. The Option shall be deemed to be exercised
upon receipt by the Company of such written notice and the aggregate Exercise
Price.

                  3.3      PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.

                           (a) FORMS OF CONSIDERATION AUTHORIZED. Except as
otherwise provided below, payment of the aggregate Exercise Price for the number
of shares of Stock for which the Option is being exercised shall be made (i) in
cash, by check, or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or
attestation to the ownership, of whole shares of Stock owned by the Optionee
having a Fair Market Value (as determined by the Company without regard to any
restrictions on transferability applicable to such stock by reason of federal or
state securities laws or agreements with an underwriter for the Company) not
less than the aggregate Exercise Price, (iii) by means of a Cashless Exercise,
as defined in Section 3.3(b), or (iv) by any combination of the foregoing.

                           (b) LIMITATIONS ON FORMS OF CONSIDERATION.

                                    (i) Tender Of Stock. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or
attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender, or
attestation to the ownership, of Stock would constitute a violation of the
provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the
Company's stock. The Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or
attestation to


<PAGE>


the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by
the Optionee for more than six (6) months or were not acquired, directly or
indirectly, from the Company.

                                    (ii) Cashless Exercise. A "Cashless
Exercise" means the assignment in a form acceptable to the Company of the
proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares of Stock
acquired upon the exercise of the Option pursuant to a program or procedure
approved by the Company (including, without limitation, through an exercise
complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves,
at any and all times, the right, in the Company's sole and absolute discretion,
to decline to approve or terminate any such program or procedure. Generally, and
without limiting the Company's absolute discretion, a "cashless exercise" will
only be permitted at such times in which the shares underlying this Option are
publicly traded.

                  3.4 TAX WITHHOLDING. At the time the Option is exercised, in
whole or in part, or at any time thereafter as requested by the Company, the
Optionee hereby authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts
payable to the Optionee, and otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for
(including by means of a Cashless Exercise to the extent permitted by the
Company), any sums required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax
withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group, if any, which arise
in connection with the Option, including, without limitation, obligations
arising upon (i) the exercise, in whole or in part, of the Option, (ii) the
transfer, in whole or in part, of any shares acquired upon exercise of the
Option, (iii) the operation of any law or regulation providing for the
imputation of interest, or (iv) the lapsing of any restriction with respect to
any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option. The Optionee is cautioned that
the Option is not exercisable unless the tax withholding obligations of the
Participating Company Group are satisfied. Accordingly, the Optionee may not be
able to exercise the Option when desired even though the Option is vested, and
the Company shall have no obligation to issue a certificate for such shares.

                  3.5 CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION. Except in the event the Exercise
Price is paid by means of a Cashless Exercise, the certificate for the shares as
to which the Option is exercised shall be registered in the name of the
Optionee, or, if applicable, the Optionee's heirs.

                  3.6 RESTRICTIONS ON GRANT OF THE OPTION AND ISSUANCE OF
SHARES. The grant of the Option and the issuance of shares of Stock upon
exercise of the Option shall be subject to compliance with all applicable
requirements of federal, state or foreign law with respect to such securities.
The Option may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise
would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign
securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock
exchange or market system upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition,
the Option may not be exercised unless (i) a registration statement under the
Securities Act shall at the time of exercise of the Option be in effect with
respect to the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option or (ii) in the
opinion of legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of
the Option may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. THE OPTIONEE IS
CAUTIONED THAT THE OPTION MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE FOREGOING CONDITIONS
ARE SATISFIED. ACCORDINGLY, THE OPTIONEE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE OPTION
WHEN DESIRED EVEN


<PAGE>


THOUGH THE OPTION IS VESTED. The inability of the Company to obtain from any
regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the
Company's legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any
shares subject to the Option 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. As a condition to the exercise of the
Option, the Company may require the Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that
may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with any applicable law
or regulation and to make any representation or warranty with respect thereto as
may be requested by the Company.

                  3.7 FRACTIONAL SHARES. The Company shall not be required to
issue fractional shares upon the exercise of the Option.

         4.       NONTRANSFERABILITY OF THE OPTION.

                  The Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the
Optionee only by the Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or legal representative
and may not be assigned or transferred in any manner except by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. Following the death of the Optionee, the
Option, to the extent provided in Section 6, may be exercised by the Optionee's
legal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased
Optionee's will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

         5.       TERMINATION OF THE OPTION.

                  The Option shall terminate and may no longer be exercised on
the first to occur of (a) the Option Expiration Date, (b) the last date for
exercising the Option following termination of the Optionee's Service as
described in Section 6, or (c) pursuant to a Change in Control, to the extent
provided in the Plan.

         6.       EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.

                  6.1      OPTION EXERCISABILITY.

                           (a) DISABILITY. If the Optionee's Service with the
Participating Company Group is terminated because of the Disability of the
Optionee, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on
which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee (or
the Optionee's guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the
expiration of twelve (12) months after the date on which the Optionee's Service
terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. (NOTE: If
an Incentive Stock Option is exercised more than three (3) months after the date
on which the Optionee's Service as an Employee terminated as a result of a
Disability other than a permanent and total disability as defined in Section
22(e)(3) of the Code, the Option will be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option
and not as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent required by Section 422 of
the Code.)

                           (b) DEATH. If the Optionee's Service with the
Participating Company Group is terminated because of the death of the Optionee,
the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on the date on which the
Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee's legal
representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by


<PAGE>


reason of the Optionee's death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve
(12) months after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in
any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Optionee's Service shall
be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Optionee dies within
thirty (30) days after the Optionee's termination of Service.

                           (c) OTHER TERMINATION OF SERVICE. If the Optionee's
Service with the Participating Company Group terminates for any reason, except
Disability, or death, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable by
the Optionee on the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be
exercised by the Optionee within three (3) months (or such other longer period
of time as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion) after the date on
which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the
Option Expiration Date.

                  6.2 EXTENSION IF EXERCISE PREVENTED BY LAW. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the exercise of the Option within the applicable time periods
set forth in Section 6.1 is prevented by the provisions of Section 3.6, the
Option shall remain exercisable until thirty (30) days after the date the
Optionee is notified by the Company that the Option is exercisable, but in any
event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Company makes no
representation as to the tax consequences of any such delayed exercise. The
Optionee should consult with the Optionee's own tax advisor as to the tax
consequences of any such delayed exercise.

                  6.3 EXTENSION IF OPTIONEE SUBJECT TO SECTION 16(b).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a sale within the applicable time periods set
forth in Section 6.1 of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option would
subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Option
shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day
following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee would no
longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day
after the Optionee's termination of Service, or (iii) the Option Expiration
Date. The Company makes no representation as to the tax consequences of any such
delayed exercise. The Optionee should consult with the Optionee's own tax
advisor as to the tax consequences of any such delayed exercise.

         7.       RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT.

                  The Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder with
respect to any shares covered by the Option until the date of the issuance of a
certificate for the shares for which the Option has been exercised (as evidenced
by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized
transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for dividends,
distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date
such certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 4.2 of the Plan. If
the Optionee is an Employee, the Optionee understands and acknowledges that,
except as otherwise provided in a separate, written employment agreement between
a Participating Company and the Optionee, the Optionee's employment is "at will"
and is for no specified term. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon the
Optionee any right to continue in the Service of a Participating Company or
interfere in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to
terminate the Optionee's Service as an Employee or Consultant, as the case may
be, at any time.


<PAGE>


         8.       RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.

                  8.1 GRANT OF RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Except as provided in
Section 8.7 below, in the event the Optionee, the Optionee's legal
representative, or other holder of shares acquired upon exercise of the Option
proposes to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any shares
acquired upon exercise of the Option (the "Transfer Shares") to any person or
entity, including, without limitation, any shareholder of a Participating
Company, the Company shall have the right to repurchase the Transfer Shares
under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8 (the
"Right of First Refusal"). This Right of First Refusal terminates in accordance
with Section 8.9.

                  8.2 NOTICE OF PROPOSED TRANSFER. Prior to any proposed
transfer of the Transfer Shares, the Optionee shall deliver written notice (the
"Transfer Notice") to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer,
including the number of Transfer Shares, the name and address of the proposed
transferee (the "Proposed Transferee") and, if the transfer is voluntary, the
proposed transfer price, and containing such information necessary to show the
bona fide nature of the proposed transfer. In the event of a bona fide gift or
involuntary transfer, the proposed transfer price shall be deemed to be the Fair
Market Value of the Transfer Shares, as determined by the Board in good faith.
If the Optionee proposes to transfer any Transfer Shares to more than one
Proposed Transferee, the Optionee shall provide a separate Transfer Notice for
the proposed transfer to each Proposed Transferee. The Transfer Notice shall be
signed by both the Optionee and the Proposed Transferee and must constitute a
binding commitment of the Optionee and the Proposed Transferee for the transfer
of the Transfer Shares to the Proposed Transferee subject only to the Right of
First Refusal.

                  8.3 BONA FIDE TRANSFER. If the Company determines that the
information provided by the Optionee in the Transfer Notice is insufficient to
establish the bona fide nature of a proposed voluntary transfer, the Company
shall give the Optionee written notice of the Optionee's failure to comply with
the procedure described in this Section 8, and the Optionee shall have no right
to transfer the Transfer Shares without first complying with the procedure
described in this Section 8. The Optionee shall not be permitted to transfer the
Transfer Shares if the proposed transfer is not bona fide.

                  8.4 EXERCISE OF RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. If the Company
determines the proposed transfer to be bona fide, the Company shall have the
right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Transfer Shares (except as
the Company and the Optionee otherwise agree) at the purchase price and on the
terms set forth in the Transfer Notice by delivery to the Optionee of a notice
of exercise of the Right of First Refusal within thirty (30) days after the date
the Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company. The Company's exercise or
failure to exercise the Right of First Refusal with respect to any proposed
transfer described in a Transfer Notice shall not affect the Company's right to
exercise the Right of First Refusal with respect to any proposed transfer
described in any other Transfer Notice, whether or not such other Transfer
Notice is issued by the Optionee or issued by a person other than the Optionee
with respect to a proposed transfer to the same Proposed Transferee. If the
Company exercises the Right of First Refusal, the Company and the Optionee shall
thereupon consummate the sale of the Transfer Shares to the Company on the terms
set forth in the Transfer Notice within sixty (60) days after the date the
Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company (unless a longer period is offered
by the Proposed Transferee);


<PAGE>


provided, however, that in the event the Transfer Notice provides for the
payment for the Transfer Shares other than in cash, the Company shall have the
option of paying for the Transfer Shares by the present value cash equivalent of
the consideration described in the Transfer Notice as reasonably determined by
the Company. For purposes of the foregoing, cancellation of any indebtedness of
the Optionee to any Participating Company shall be treated as payment to the
Optionee in cash to the extent of the unpaid principal and any accrued interest
canceled.

                  8.5 FAILURE TO EXERCISE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. If the Company
fails to exercise the Right of First Refusal in full (or to such lesser extent
as the Company and the Optionee otherwise agree) within the period specified in
Section 8.4 above, the Optionee may conclude a transfer to the Proposed
Transferee of the Transfer Shares on the terms and conditions described in the
Transfer Notice, provided such transfer occurs not later than ninety (90) days
following delivery to the Company of the Transfer Notice. The Company shall have
the right to demand further assurances from the Optionee and the Proposed
Transferee (in a form satisfactory to the Company) that the transfer of the
Transfer Shares was actually carried out on the terms and conditions described
in the Transfer Notice. No Transfer Shares shall be transferred on the books of
the Company until the Company has received such assurances, if so demanded, and
has approved the proposed transfer as bona fide. Any proposed transfer on terms
and conditions different from those described in the Transfer Notice, as well as
any subsequent proposed transfer by the Optionee, shall again be subject to the
Right of First Refusal and shall require compliance by the Optionee with the
procedure described in this Section 8.

                  8.6 TRANSFEREES OF TRANSFER SHARES. All transferees of the
Transfer Shares or any interest therein, other than the Company, shall be
required as a condition of such transfer to agree in writing (in a form
satisfactory to the Company) that such transferee shall receive and hold such
Transfer Shares or interest therein subject to all of the terms and conditions
of this Option Agreement, including this Section 8 providing for the Right of
First Refusal with respect to any subsequent transfer. Any sale or transfer of
any shares acquired upon exercise of the Option shall be void unless the
provisions of this Section 8 are met.

                  8.7 TRANSFERS NOT SUBJECT TO RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. The Right
of First Refusal shall not apply to any transfer or exchange of the shares
acquired upon exercise of the Option if such transfer or exchange is in
connection with an Ownership Change Event. If the consideration received
pursuant to such transfer or exchange consists of stock of a Participating
Company, such consideration shall remain subject to the Right of First Refusal
unless the provisions of Section 8.9 below result in a termination of the Right
of First Refusal.

                  8.8 ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. The Company shall
have the right to assign the Right of First Refusal at any time, whether or not
there has been an attempted transfer, to one or more persons as may be selected
by the Company.

                  8.9 EARLY TERMINATION OF RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. The other
provisions of this Option Agreement notwithstanding, the Right of First Refusal
shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (a) the occurrence of
a Change in Control, unless the Acquiring Corporation assumes the Company's
rights and obligations under the Option or substitutes a substantially
equivalent option for the Acquiring Corporation's stock for the Option, or (b)
the existence of a public market for the class of shares subject to the Right of
First Refusal. A


<PAGE>


"PUBLIC MARKET" shall be deemed to exist if (i) such stock is listed on a
national securities exchange (as that term is used in the Exchange Act) or (ii)
such stock is traded on the over-the-counter market and prices therefor are
published daily on business days in a recognized financial journal.

         9.       VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION.

                  9.1 GRANT OF VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION. Except as
otherwise provided herein, in the event of the occurrence of any Repurchase
Event, as defined below, the Company shall have the right to repurchase the
Vested Shares acquired by the Optionee pursuant to the Option (the "Repurchase
Shares") under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section
9 (the "Vested Share Repurchase Option"). Each of the following events shall
constitute a "Repurchase Event":

                           (a) Termination of the Optionee's Service with the
Participating Company Group for any reason or no reason, with or without cause,
including death or Disability. The Repurchase Period, as defined below, shall
commence on the date of termination of the Optionee's Service.

                           (b) The Optionee, the Optionee's legal
representative, or other holder of shares acquired upon exercise of the Option
attempts to sell, exchange, transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of any
Repurchase Shares without complying with the provisions of Section 8. The
Repurchase Period, as defined below, shall commence on the date the Company
receives actual notice of such attempted sale, exchange, transfer, pledge or
other disposition.

                           (c) The receivership, bankruptcy or other creditor's
proceeding regarding the Optionee or the taking of any of the Optionee's shares
of Stock by legal process, such as a levy of execution. The Repurchase Period,
as defined below, shall commence on the date the Company receives actual notice
of the commencement of pendency of the receivership, bankruptcy or other
creditor's proceeding or the date of such taking, as the case may be. The Fair
Market Value of the Repurchase Shares shall be determined as of the last day of
the month preceding the month in which the proceeding involved commenced or the
taking occurred.

                  9.2 EXERCISE OF VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION. The Company
may exercise the Vested Share Repurchase Option by written notice to the
Optionee, the Optionee's legal representative, or other holder of the Repurchase
Shares, as the case may be, during the Repurchase Period. The "Repurchase
Period" shall be the period commencing at the time set forth in Section 9.1
above and ending on the later of (a) the date ninety (90) days after the
commencement of the Repurchase Period or (b) the date ninety (90) days after the
Option is last exercised. If the Company fails to give notice during the
Repurchase Period, the Vested Share Repurchase Option shall terminate (unless
the Company and the Optionee have extended the time for the exercise of the
Vested Share Repurchase Option) unless and until there is a subsequent
Repurchase Event. Notwithstanding a termination of the Vested Share Repurchase
Option, the remaining provisions of this Option Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect, including, without limitation, the Right of First Refusal. If
there is a subsequent Repurchase Event, the Vested Share Repurchase Option shall
again become exercisable as provided in this


<PAGE>


Section 9. The Vested Share Repurchase Option must be exercised, if at all, for
all of the Repurchase Shares, except as the Company and the Optionee otherwise
agree.

                  9.3 PAYMENT FOR REPURCHASE SHARES. The repurchase price per
share being repurchased by the Company pursuant to the Vested Share Repurchase
Option shall be an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares
determined as of the date of the Repurchase Event (except as otherwise provided
in Section 9.1(c) above) by the Board in good faith. Payment by the Company to
the Optionee shall be made in cash on or before the last day of the Repurchase
Period. For purposes of this Section 9.3, cancellation of any indebtedness of
the Optionee to the Company shall be treated as payment to the Optionee in cash
to the extent of the unpaid principal and any accrued interest canceled.

                  9.4 TRANSFERS NOT SUBJECT TO VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION.
The Vested Share Repurchase Option shall not apply to any transfer or exchange
of shares acquired upon exercise of the Option if such transfer or exchange is
in connection with an Ownership Change Event as described in the Plan. If the
consideration received pursuant to such transfer or exchange consists of stock
of a Participating Company, such consideration will remain subject to the Vested
Share Repurchase Option unless the provisions of Section 9.6 below result in a
termination of the Vested Share Repurchase Option.

                  9.5 ASSIGNMENT OF VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION. The Company
shall have the right to assign the Vested Share Repurchase Option at any time,
whether or not such option is then exercisable, to one or more persons as may be
selected by the Company.

                  9.6 EARLY TERMINATION OF VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION. The
other provisions of this Option Agreement notwithstanding, the Vested Share
Repurchase Option shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (a)
the occurrence of a Change in Control as described in the Plan, unless the
Acquiring Corporation assumes the Company's rights and obligations under the
Option or substitutes a substantially equivalent option for the Acquiring
Corporation's stock for the Option, or (b) the existence of a public market, as
defined in Section 8.9, for the class of shares subject to the Vested Share
Repurchase Option.

         10.      ESCROW.

                  10.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF ESCROW. To ensure that shares subject to
the Vested Share Repurchase Option Provisions will be available for repurchase,
the Company may require the Optionee to deposit the certificate evidencing the
shares which the Optionee purchases upon exercise of the Option with an agent
designated by the Company under the terms and conditions of an escrow agreement
approved by the Company. If the Company does not require such deposit as a
condition of exercise of the Option, the Company reserves the right at any time
to require the Optionee to so deposit the certificate in escrow. Upon the
occurrence of an Ownership Change Event or a change in the character or amount
of any of the outstanding stock of the corporation the stock of which is subject
to the provisions of this Option Agreement, any and all new, substituted or
additional securities or other property to which the Optionee is entitled by
reason of the Optionee's ownership of shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of
the Option that remain, following such Ownership Change Event or other change,
subject to the Vested Share Repurchase Option Provisions, shall be immediately
subject to the escrow to the


<PAGE>


same extent as such shares of Stock immediately before such event. The Company
shall bear the expenses of the escrow.

                  10.2 DELIVERY OF SHARES TO OPTIONEE. As soon as practicable
after the expiration of the restrictions described in Section 10.1, but not more
frequently than twice each calendar year, the escrow agent shall deliver to the
Optionee the shares and any other property no longer subject to such
restrictions.

                  10.3 NOTICES AND PAYMENTS. In the event the shares and any
other property held in escrow are subject to the Company's exercise of the Right
of First Refusal or the Vested Share Repurchase Option Provisions, the notices
required to be given to the Optionee shall be given to the escrow agent, and any
payment required to be given to the Optionee shall be given to the escrow agent.
Within thirty (30) days after payment by the Company, the escrow agent shall
deliver the shares and any other property which the Company has purchased to the
Company and shall deliver the payment received from the Company to the Optionee.

         11.      STOCK DISTRIBUTIONS SUBJECT TO THIS AGREEMENT.

                  If, from time to time, there is any stock dividend, stock
split or other change, as described in Section 4.2 of the Plan, in the character
or amount of any of the outstanding stock of the corporation the stock of which
is subject to the provisions of this Agreement, then in such event any and all
new, substituted or additional securities to which the Optionee is entitled by
reason of the Optionee's ownership of the shares acquired upon exercise of the
Option shall be immediately subject to the Right of First Refusal and Vested
Share Repurchase Option with the same force and effect as the shares subject to
such restrictions immediately before such event.

         12.      NOTICE OF SALES UPON DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION.

                  If the Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option in
the Grant Agreement, the Optionee shall comply with the provisions of this
Section. The Optionee shall promptly notify the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company if the Optionee disposes of any of the shares acquired pursuant to the
Option within one (1) year after the date of the Optionee exercises all or part
of the Option or within two (2) years after the Date of Grant. Until such time
as the Optionee disposes of such shares in a manner consistent with the
provisions of this Agreement, unless otherwise expressly authorized by the
Company, the Optionee shall hold all shares acquired pursuant to the Option in
the Optionee's name (and not in the name of any nominee) for the one-year period
immediately after the exercise of the Option and the two-year period immediately
after Date of Grant. At any time during the one-year or two-year periods set
forth above, the Company may place a legend on any certificate representing
shares acquired pursuant to the Option requesting the transfer agent for the
Company's stock to notify the Company of any such transfers. The obligation of
the Optionee to notify the Company of any such transfer shall continue
notwithstanding that a legend has been placed on the certificate pursuant to the
preceding sentence.

         13.      LEGENDS.

                  The Company may at any time place legends referencing the
Right of First Refusal, the Vested Share Repurchase Option and any applicable
federal, state or foreign


<PAGE>


securities law restrictions on all certificates representing shares of stock
subject to the provisions of this Agreement. The Optionee shall, at the request
of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates
representing shares acquired pursuant to the Option in the possession of the
Optionee in order to carry out the provisions of this Section. Unless otherwise
specified by the Company, legends placed on such certificates may include, but
shall not be limited to, the following:

                  13.1 "THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT
BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE
SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT COVERING SUCH SECURITIES, THE SALE IS MADE
IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 OR RULE 701 UNDER THE ACT, OR THE COMPANY RECEIVES
AN OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES REASONABLY SATISFACTORY
TO THE COMPANY, STATING THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER, ASSIGNMENT OR HYPOTHECATION IS
EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT."

                  13.2 "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT
TO A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OPTION IN FAVOR OF THE CORPORATION OR ITS ASSIGNEE
SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR
SUCH HOLDER'S PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE
PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION."

                  13.3 "THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT
TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, INCLUDING A VESTED SHARE REPURCHASE OPTION
IN FAVOR OF THE CORPORATION OR ITS ASSIGNEE SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CORPORATION AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR SUCH HOLDER'S PREDECESSOR IN
INTEREST, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS
CORPORATION."

                  13.4 If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option
in the Grant Agreement: "THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED BY
THE CORPORATION TO THE REGISTERED HOLDER UPON EXERCISE OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK
OPTION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 422 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS
AMENDED ("ISO"). IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE PREFERENTIAL TAX TREATMENT AFFORDED TO
ISOs, THE SHARES SHOULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO [INSERT LATER OF TWO YEARS
AFTER THE DATE OF OPTION GRANT OR ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE OF EXERCISE]. SHOULD
THE REGISTERED HOLDER ELECT TO TRANSFER ANY OF THE SHARES PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND
FOREGO ISO TAX TREATMENT, THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE SHARES SHALL NOTIFY THE
CORPORATION IMMEDIATELY. THE REGISTERED HOLDER SHALL HOLD ALL SHARES PURCHASED
UNDER THE INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION IN THE REGISTERED HOLDER'S NAME (AND NOT IN THE
NAME OF ANY NOMINEE) PRIOR TO THIS DATE OR UNTIL TRANSFERRED AS DESCRIBED
ABOVE."


<PAGE>


         14.      PUBLIC OFFERING.

                  The Optionee hereby agrees that in the event of any
underwritten public offering of stock, including an initial public offering of
stock, made by the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement filed
under the Securities Act, the Optionee shall not offer, sell, contract to sell,
pledge, hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or
otherwise dispose of any shares of stock of the Company or any rights to acquire
stock of the Company for such period of time from and after the effective date
of such registration statement as may be established by the underwriter for such
public offering; provided, however, that such period of time shall not exceed
one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of the registration
statement to be filed in connection with such public offering. The foregoing
limitation shall not apply to shares registered in the public offering under the
Securities Act. The Optionee shall be subject to this Section provided and only
if the officers and directors of the Company are also subject to similar
arrangements.

         15.      RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF SHARES.

                  No shares acquired upon exercise of the Option may be sold,
exchanged, transferred (including, without limitation, any transfer to a nominee
or agent of the Optionee), assigned, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed
of, including by operation of law, in any manner which violates any of the
provisions of this Agreement, and any such attempted disposition shall be void.
The Company shall not be required (a) to transfer on its books any shares which
will have been transferred in violation of any of the provisions set forth in
this Option Agreement or (b) to treat as owner of such shares or to accord the
right to vote as such owner or to pay dividends to any transferee to whom such
shares will have been so transferred.

         16.      BINDING EFFECT.

                  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth herein, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto
and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

         17.      TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT.

                  The Board may terminate or amend the Plan or the Option at any
time; provided, however, that except in connection with a Change in Control, no
such termination or amendment may adversely affect the Option or any unexercised
portion hereof without the consent of the Optionee unless such termination or
amendment is necessary to comply with any applicable law or government
regulation or is required to enable an Option designated as an Incentive Stock
Option in the Grant Agreement to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. No
amendment or addition to this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing.

         18.      NOTICES.

                  Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given (except to the extent that this
Option Agreement provides for effectiveness only upon actual receipt of such
notice) upon personal delivery or upon deposit in the United States Post Office,
by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid,


<PAGE>


addressed to the other party at the address shown on the Grant Agreement or at
such other address as such party may designate in writing from time to time to
the other party.

         19.      INTEGRATED AGREEMENT.

                  The Grant Agreement, this Agreement and the Plan constitute
the entire understanding and agreement of the Optionee and the Participating
Company Group with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein
and there are no agreements, understandings, restrictions, representations, or
warranties among the Optionee and the Participating Company Group with respect
to such subject matter other than those as set forth or provided for herein or
therein. To the extent contemplated herein or therein, the provisions of the
Grant Agreement and this Agreement shall survive any exercise of the Option and
shall remain in full force and effect.

         20.      APPLICABLE LAW.

                  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California as such laws are applied to agreements between California residents
entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of California.

                                       Optionee: _______________________________

                                       Date: ___________________________________


<PAGE>


                                 EXERCISE NOTICE

JNI Corporation
9775 Towne Centre Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         1. Exercise of Option. I was granted a stock option (the "Option")
to purchase shares of the common stock of JNI Corporation (the "Company") on
_____________, _____, pursuant to the Company's 1999 Amended and Restated
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and pursuant to the Stock Option Grant
Agreement dated ______, 20__ and the related Terms of Stock Option Agreement
(together, the "Option Agreement"). I hereby elect to exercise the Option as
to a total of ______________ shares of the common stock of the Company (the
"Shares"), all of which have vested in accordance with the Option Agreement.

         2. Payment. Enclosed herewith is full payment in the aggregate amount
of $_____________ (representing $_______ per share) for the Shares in the manner
set forth in the Option Agreement. I authorize payroll withholding and otherwise
will make adequate provision for federal, state, local and foreign tax
withholding obligations of the Company, if any.

         3. Binding Effect. I agree that the Shares are being acquired in
accordance with and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the
Option Agreement, including the Right of First Refusal and Vested Share
Repurchase Option set forth therein, to all of which I hereby expressly assent.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the my heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns. I agree to deposit the
certificate(s) evidencing the Shares, along with a blank stock assignment
separate from certificate executed by me, with an escrow agent designated by the
Company, to be held by such escrow agent pursuant to the Option Agreement.

         4. Transfer. I am aware that Rule 144, promulgated under the Securities
Act, which permits limited public resale of securities acquired in a nonpublic
offering, is not currently available with respect to the Shares and, in any
event, is available only if certain conditions are satisfied. I understand that
any sale of the Shares that might be made in reliance upon Rule 144 may only be
made in limited amounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of such rule
and that a copy of Rule 144 will be delivered to me upon request.

         I agree that, if the Option is designated an Incentive Stock Option in
the Grant Agreement, I will promptly notify the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company if I transfer any of the Shares acquired pursuant to such incentive
stock option within one (1) year from the date I exercise all or part of the
Option or within two (2) years of the date of grant of the Option.

         My address of record is: ____________________________

         _____________________________________________________

         My Social Security Number is: _______________________


<PAGE>


         I understand that I am purchasing the Shares pursuant to the terms of
the Plan and my Option Agreement, copies of which I have received and carefully
read and understand.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              _________________________



Receipt of the above is hereby acknowledged.

JNI CORPORATION

By: ___________________________

Title: _________________________

Dated: ________________________


<PAGE>


                                 JNI CORPORATION

                          STOCK OPTION GRANT AGREEMENT


         ______________________ (the "Optionee") has been granted an option
(the "Option") to purchase shares of the Common Stock of JNI Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") pursuant to this Stock Option Grant
Agreement (the "Grant Agreement"), the JNI Corporation Amended and Restated
1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and the attached Terms of Stock Option
Agreement (the "Option Agreement"), the provisions of which are incorporated
herein by reference.

         TYPE OF OPTION: / / Incentive or / / Nonstatutory

         The following terms shall have their respective meanings as set forth
below or in the Plan:

          "DATE OF OPTION GRANT" means ________, 20____.

         "NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES" means ___________ shares of Stock.

         "EXERCISE PRICE" means $_____ per share of Stock.

         "OPTION EXPIRATION DATE" means the date ten (10) years after the Date
of Option Grant.

         "VESTED RATIO" means, on any relevant date, the ratio determined as
follows:

         (a) Prior to the first anniversary of the Date of Option Grant, the
Vested Ratio shall be zero.

         (b) On the first anniversary of the Date of Option Grant, the Vested
Ratio shall be 1/4, provided the Optionee's Service has not terminated prior to
the first anniversary of the Date of Option Grant.

         (c) For each full month of Optionee's Service from the first
anniversary of the Date of Option Grant until the Vested Ratio equals 1/1, the
Vested Ratio shall be increased by 1/48.

         By their signatures below, the parties hereto agree that the Option is
governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan as in effect on the Date of
Option Grant and the Option Agreement, both of which are attached hereto. The
Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and the Option Agreement,
represents that he or she is familiar with the provisions contained therein, and
hereby accepts the Option subject to all of the terms and conditions thereof.

                                          JNI CORPORATION

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------


<PAGE>


                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------
                                          Address:   9775 Towne Centre Drive
                                                     San Diego, CA 92121

                                          OPTIONEE

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                          Name:
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                        (Please print)

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

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


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