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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16

                                           [FORM OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AGREEMENT]

                             JUNIPER NETWORKS, INC.

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

      Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Juniper
Networks, Inc. 1996 Stock Plan (the "Plan") shall have the same defined meanings
in this Stock Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement").

I.    NOTICE OF GRANT

      [Optionee's Name and Address]

      You have been granted an option to purchase Common Stock of the Company,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as
follows:

      Grant Number                      ________________________________________

      Grant Date                        ________________________________________

      Vesting Commencement Date         ________________________________________

      Exercise Price per Share          $_______________________________________

      Total Number of Shares Granted    ________________________________________

      Total Exercise Price              $_______________________________________

      Type of Option:                   Nonstatutory Stock Option

      Term/Expiration Date:             ________________________________________

      Vesting Schedule:

      Subject to accelerated vesting as set forth in duly authorized written
agreements by and between Optionee and the Company, this Option may be
exercised, in whole or in part, in accordance with the following schedule:

      25% of the Shares subject to the Option shall vest twelve months after the
Vesting Commencement Date, and 1/48 of the Shares subject to the Option shall
vest each month thereafter, subject to the Optionee remaining in Continuous
Status as an Employee or Consultant on such dates.

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II.   AGREEMENT

   1. Grant of Option.

      The Board hereby grants to the Optionee (the "Optionee") named in the
Notice of Grant section of this Agreement (the "Notice of Grant"), an option
(the "Option") to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of
Grant, at the exercise price per share set forth in the Notice of Grant (the
"Exercise Price"), subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan (which is
incorporated herein by reference) and this Option Agreement. In the event of a
conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and the terms and
conditions of this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall
prevail.

   2. Exercise of Option.

      (a)   Right to Exercise. This Option is exercisable during its term in
accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and the
applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, subject to
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant on each vesting date.

      (b)   Post-Termination Exercise Period. Subject to any extended
post-termination exercise period set forth in duly authorized written agreements
by and between Optionee and the Company, if Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee or Consultant ceases this Option may be exercised, but only to the
extent vested on the date of such cessation of Continuous Status as an Employee
or Consultant, until the earlier of (i) ninety days after the date upon which
Optionee ceases his or her Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant, or
(ii) the original ten-year Option term.

      (c)   Method of Exercise. This option may be exercised with respect to all
or any part of any vested Shares by giving the Company, E*Trade OptionsLink, or
any successor third-party stock option plan administrator designated by the
Company written or electronic notice of such exercise, in the form designated by
the Company or the Company's designated third-party stock option plan
administrator, specifying the number of shares as to which this option is
exercised and accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all
exercised shares.

      This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company,
E*Trade OptionsLink, or any successor third-party stock option plan
administrator designated by the Company of such fully executed exercise notice
accompanied by such aggregate Exercise Price.

      No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of this Option unless
such issuance and exercise complies with applicable laws. Assuming such
compliance, for income tax purposes the exercised shares shall be considered
transferred to the Optionee on the date the Option is exercised with respect to
such exercised shares.

      (d)   Payment of Exercise Price. Payment of the aggregate exercise price
shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of
the Optionee:

            (i)   cash; or

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            (ii)  check; or

            (iii) other Shares which (x) in the case of Shares acquired upon
exercise of an Option, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months
on the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such
Option shall be exercised, or

            (iv)  delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with
such other documentation as the Administrator and a broker, if applicable, shall
require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company of the
sale proceeds required to pay the exercise price.

   3. Non-Transferability of Option.

      This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or
by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime
of Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms of the Plan and this Option
Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors
and assigns of the Optionee.

   4. Term of Option.

      This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of
Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan
and the terms of this Option Agreement.

   5. Tax Consequences.

      Some of the federal tax consequences relating to this Option, as of the
date of this Option, are set forth below. THIS SUMMARY IS NECESSARILY
INCOMPLETE, AND THE TAX LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE OPTIONEE
SHOULD CONSULT A TAX ADVISER BEFORE EXERCISING THIS OPTION OR DISPOSING OF THE
SHARES.

            (a)   Exercising the Option. The Optionee may incur regular federal
income tax liability upon exercise of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The Optionee
will be treated as having received compensation income (taxable at ordinary
income tax rates) equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the
exercised shares on the date of exercise over their aggregate Exercise Price. If
the Optionee is an Employee or a former Employee, the Company will be required
to withhold from his or her compensation or collect from Optionee and pay to the
applicable taxing authorities an amount in cash equal to a percentage of this
compensation income at the time of exercise, and may refuse to honor the
exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not
delivered at the time of exercise.

            (b)   Disposition of Shares. If the Optionee holds NSO Shares for at
least one year, any gain realized on disposition of the Shares will be treated
as long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes.

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   6. Entire Agreement; Governing Law.

      The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. The Plan and this Option
Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and
agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter
hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee's interest except by
means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee. This agreement is
governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of
California.

      By your signature and the signature of the Company's representative below,
you and the Company agree that this Option is granted under and governed by the
terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. Optionee has
reviewed the Plan and this Option Agreement in their entirety, has had an
opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Agreement
and fully understands all provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.
Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions
or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions relating to the Plan
and Option Agreement. Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any
change in the residence address indicated below.

OPTIONEE:                                   JUNIPER NETWORKS, INC.

__________________________________          ____________________________________
Signature                                   By

__________________________________          ____________________________________
Print Name                                  Title

__________________________________
Residence Address