EXHIBIT 10.3


                       INTERLINK COMPUTER SCIENCES, INC.

                            1996 DIRECTOR OPTION PLAN


         1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this 1996 Director Option Plan
are to attract and retain the best  available  personnel  for service as Outside
Directors (as defined herein) of the Company, to provide additional incentive to
the Outside  Directors  of the Company to serve as  Directors,  and to encourage
their continued service on the Board.

            All options granted hereunder shall be nonstatutory stock options.

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

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

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

            (c) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company.

            (d) "Company" means Interlink Computer Sciences,  Inc., a California
corporation.

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

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

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

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

            (m) "Outside Director" means a Director who is not an Employee.

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

            (o) "Plan" means this 1996 Director Option Plan.

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

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

         3. Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the  provisions of Section 10
of the Plan,  the maximum  aggregate  number of Shares which may be optioned and
sold under the Plan is 150,000  Shares of Common Stock (the "Pool").  The Shares
may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

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

         4. Administration and Grants of Options under the Plan.

            (a) Procedure for Grants.  The  provisions set forth in this Section
4(a) shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than to comport
with changes in the Code, the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended, or the rules thereunder.  All grants of Options to Outside Directors
under  this  Plan  shall be  automatic  and  nondiscretionary  and shall be made
strictly in accordance with the following provisions:


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<PAGE>

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

                           (ii) Each  Outside  Director  shall be  automatically
granted an Option to purchase  15,000 Shares (the "First Option") on the date on
which the later of the following  events occurs:  (A) the effective date of this
Plan,  as determined  in  accordance  with Section 6 hereof,  or (B) the date on
which such person first becomes an Outside Director, whether through election by
the  shareholders  of the Company or appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy;
provided,  however,  that an Inside Director who ceases to be an Inside Director
but who remains a Director shall not receive a First Option.

                           (iii) Each Outside  Director  shall be  automatically
granted an Option to purchase 3,750 Shares (a  "Subsequent  Option") on the date
of his or her  re-election to the Board each year, if as of such date, he or she
shall have served on the Board for at least the preceding six (6) months.

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

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

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

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

                                    (C) the  exercise  price per Share  shall be
100% of the Fair  Market  Value  per  Share  on the  date of grant of the  First
Option. In the event that the date of grant of the First Option is not a trading
day,  the  exercise  price per Share shall be the Fair Market  Value on the next
trading day immediately following the date of grant of the First Option.

                                    (D) subject to Section 10 hereof,  the First
Option shall become  exercisable as to 1/48th of the Shares subject to the First
Option each month after its date of grant,  provided that the Optionee continues
to serve as a Director on such dates.

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

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

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<PAGE>

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

                                    (C) the  exercise  price per Share  shall be
100% of the Fair Market  Value per Share on the date of grant of the  Subsequent
Option.  In the event that the date of grant of the  Subsequent  Option is not a
trading day, the exercise  price per Share shall be the Fair Market Value on the
next  trading  day  immediately  following  the date of grant of the  Subsequent
Option.

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

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

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

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

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

         7. Form of  Consideration.  The consideration to be paid for the Shares
to be issued upon exercise of an Option,  including the method of payment, shall
consist of (i) cash,  (ii) check,  (iii) other  shares  which (x) in the case of
Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option,  have been owned by the Optionee for
more than six (6) months on the date of  surrender,  and (y) have a Fair  Market
Value on the date of  surrender  equal to the  aggregate  exercise  price of the
Shares as to which said Option shall be  exercised,  (iv) delivery of a properly
executed  exercise notice together with such other  documentation as the Company
and the broker, if applicable, shall require to effect an exercise of the Option
and  delivery  to the Company of the sale or loan  proceeds  required to pay the
exercise price, or (v) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.


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<PAGE>
         8. Exercise of Option.

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

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

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

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

            (b) Rule 16b-3.  Options  granted to Outside  Directors  must comply
with the applicable  provisions of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act
or any  successor  thereto  and shall  contain  such  additional  conditions  or
restrictions  as may be required  thereunder to qualify Plan  transactions,  and
other  transactions  by Outside  Directors that otherwise  could be matched with
Plan  transactions,  for the maximum  exemption  from Section 16 of the Exchange
Act.

            (c)  Termination  of  Continuous  Status as a  Director.  Subject to
Section 10 hereof,  in the event an Optionee's  status as a Director  terminates
(other than upon the  Optionee's  death or total and  permanent  disability  (as
defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code)),  the Optionee may exercise his or her
Option, but only within three (3) months following the date of such termination,
and only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it on the date
of such  termination  (but in no event later than the expiration of its ten (10)
year term).  To the extent  that the  Optionee  was not  entitled to exercise an
Option on the date of such termination, and to the extent that the Optionee does
not exercise such Option (to the extent  otherwise so entitled)  within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

            (d)  Disability  of Optionee.  In the event  Optionee's  status as a
Director terminates as a result of total and permanent disability (as defined in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), the Optionee

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<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

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

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

            (c) Merger or Asset  Sale.  In the event of a merger of the  Company
with or into another  corporation or the sale of substantially all of the assets
of the Company,  outstanding Options may be assumed or equivalent options may be
substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or

                                       -6-
<PAGE>

Subsidiary  thereof (the  "Successor  Corporation").  If an Option is assumed or
substituted  for,  the  Option  or  equivalent   option  shall  continue  to  be
exercisable  as provided in Section 4 hereof for so long as the Optionee  serves
as a  Director  or a  director  of the  Successor  Corporation.  Following  such
assumption or substitution,  if the Optionee's  status as a Director or director
of the Successor  Corporation,  as applicable,  is terminated  other than upon a
voluntary  resignation by the Optionee,  the Option or option shall become fully
exercisable,  including  as to  Shares  for  which it  would  not  otherwise  be
exercisable.  Thereafter,  the  Option or option  shall  remain  exercisable  in
accordance with Sections 8(c) through (e) above.

         If the Successor  Corporation does not assume an outstanding  Option or
substitute for it an equivalent option, the Option shall become fully vested and
exercisable,  including  as to  Shares  for  which it  would  not  otherwise  be
exercisable.  In such event the Board shall notify the Optionee  that the Option
shall be fully  exercisable  for a period of  thirty  (30) days from the date of
such notice, and upon the expiration of such period the Option shall terminate.

         For the purposes of this Section  10(c),  an Option shall be considered
assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the Option confers the right
to purchase or receive,  for each Share of Optioned  Stock subject to the Option
immediately prior to the merger or sale of assets,  the  consideration  (whether
stock,  cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or sale of
assets by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the  effective  date of
the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type
of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares).
If such  consideration  received  in the  merger or sale of assets is not solely
common stock of the successor  corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may,
with the consent of the successor corporation,  provide for the consideration to
be received  upon the exercise of the Option,  for each Share of Optioned  Stock
subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or
its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by
holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of assets.

         11. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

            (a) Amendment and Termination. Except as set forth in Section 4, the
Board may at any time amend,  alter,  suspend,  or discontinue  the Plan, but no
amendment, alteration,  suspension, or discontinuation shall be made which would
impair the rights of any Optionee under any grant theretofore made,  without his
or her consent.  In addition,  to the extent  necessary  and desirable to comply
with  Rule  16b-3  under  the  Exchange  Act (or  any  other  applicable  law or
regulation), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval of any Plan amendment
in such a manner and to such a degree as required.

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

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

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<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

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

         16. Shareholder  Approval.  Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
approval  by the  shareholders  of the  Company at or prior to the first  annual
meeting of shareholders  held subsequent to the granting of an Option hereunder.
Such  shareholder  approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner  required
under applicable state and federal law.

                                       -8-


<PAGE>

                        INTERLINK COMPUTER SCIENCES, INC.

                            DIRECTOR OPTION AGREEMENT


         Interlink  Computer  Sciences,  Inc.,  a  California  corporation  (the
"Company"),   has   granted   to   ______________________________________   (the
"Optionee"),  a (X one) a [ ] First Option or a [ ] Subsequent  Option option to
purchase  a total of  __________________  (_________)  shares  of the  Company's
Common Stock (the "Optioned Stock"), at the price determined as provided herein,
and in all respects  subject to the terms,  definitions  and  provisions  of the
Company's 1996 Director Option Plan (the "Plan") adopted by the Company which is
incorporated  herein by reference.  The terms defined in the Plan shall have the
same defined meanings herein.

      1. Nature of the Option.  This Option is a nonstatutory  option and is not
intended to qualify for any special tax benefits to the Optionee.

      2. Exercise Price. The exercise price is $_______ for each share of Common
Stock.

      3. Exercise of Option. This Option shall be exercisable during its term in
accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of the Plan as follows:

         (i) Right to Exercise.

                  (a) First Option.  If this Option is a First Option,  it shall
become exercisable in installments cumulatively as to 1/48 of the Optioned Stock
each month after the date of grant,  so that the Option shall be  exercisable as
to one hundred percent (100%) of the Optioned Stock four years after the date of
grant.

                  (b) Subsequent  Option. If this Option is a Subsequent Option,
it shall become exercisable in full four years after its date of grant.

                  (c)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  Section  3(i)(a) or
3(i)(b),  in no event  shall this  Option be  exercisable  prior to the date the
shareholders of the Company approve the Plan.

                  (d) This  Option  may not be  exercised  for a  fraction  of a
share.

                  (e) In the  event of  Optionee's  death,  disability  or other
termination  of  service  as a  Director,  the  exercisability  of the Option is
governed by Section 8 of the Plan.

         (ii) Method of Exercise.  This Option shall be  exercisable  by written
notice  which shall state the  election to exercise the Option and the number of
Shares in respect of which the Option is being  exercised.  Such written notice,
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, shall be signed by the


                                       -1-
<PAGE>

Optionee and shall be delivered in person or by certified  mail to the Secretary
of the  Company.  The  written  notice  shall be  accompanied  by payment of the
exercise price.

      4. Method of Payment. Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the
following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:

           (i)     cash;

          (ii)     check;

         (iii)  surrender  of  other  shares  which  (x) in the  case of  Shares
acquired  upon  exercise of an Option,  have been owned by the Optionee for more
than six (6) months on the date of  surrender,  and (y) have a Fair Market Value
on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate  exercise price of the Shares as
to which said Option shall be exercised; or

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

      5.  Restrictions  on  Exercise.  This Option may not be  exercised  if the
issuance  of such  Shares  upon  such  exercise  or the  method  of  payment  of
consideration  for such shares would  constitute  a violation of any  applicable
federal or state  securities  or other law or  regulations,  or if such issuance
would not comply  with the  requirements  of any stock  exchange  upon which the
Shares may then be listed.  As a condition to the  exercise of this Option,  the
Company may  require  Optionee to make any  representation  and  warranty to the
Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

      6.  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 this  Option  shall be binding  upon the  executors,  administrators,  heirs,
successors and assigns of the Optionee.

      7. Term of Option.  This  Option may not be  exercised  more than ten (10)
years from the date of grant of this Option,  and may be  exercised  during such
period only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option.

      8. Taxation  Upon  Exercise of Option.  Optionee  understands  that,  upon
exercise of this Option,  he or she will recognize income for tax purposes in an
amount equal to the excess of the then Fair Market Value of the Shares purchased
over the exercise  price paid for such Shares.  Since the Optionee is subject to
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  under certain
limited  circumstances  the  measurement  and  timing  of such  income  (and the
commencement  of any  capital  gain  holding  period) may be  deferred,  and the
Optionee  is advised to contact a tax  advisor  concerning  the  application  of
Section  83 in  general  and  the  availability  a  Section  83(b)  election  in
particular in connection with the exercise of the Option.  Upon a resale of such
Shares by the


                                       -2-
<PAGE>
Optionee, any difference between the sale price and the Fair Market Value of the
Shares on the date of  exercise  of the  Option,  to the extent not  included in
income as described above, will be treated as capital gain or loss.

DATE OF GRANT:  ______________      INTERLINK COMPUTER SCIENCES, INC.
                                    a California corporation



                                    By: ________________________________________


      Optionee  acknowledges  receipt of a copy of the Plan,  a copy of which is
attached  hereto,  and represents  that he or she is familiar with the terms and
provisions  thereof,  and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms
and provisions thereof. Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding,  conclusive
and final all  decisions  or  interpretations  of the Board  upon any  questions
arising under the Plan.


      Dated: _________________      ____________________________________________
                                    Optionee





                                       -3-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                         DIRECTOR OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE



Interlink Computer Sciences, Inc.
47370 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont,  CA 94538

Attention:  Corporate Secretary


      1.  Exercise of Option.  The  undersigned  ("Optionee")  hereby  elects to
exercise  Optionee's  option to purchase  ______ shares of the Common Stock (the
"Shares")  of  Interlink  Computer  Sciences,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  under and
pursuant to the  Company's  1996  Director  Option Plan and the Director  Option
Agreement dated _______________ (the "Agreement").

      2.  Representations of Optionee.  Optionee  acknowledges that Optionee has
received, read and understood the Agreement.

      3. Federal Restrictions on Transfer.  Optionee understands that the Shares
must be held indefinitely unless they are registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or unless an exemption from such registration
is available,  and that the  certificate(s)  representing  the Shares may bear a
legend  to that  effect.  Optionee  understands  that  the  Company  is under no
obligation  to register the Shares and that an exemption may not be available or
may not  permit  Optionee  to  transfer  Shares in the  amounts  or at the times
proposed by Optionee.

      4. Tax Consequences. Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer adverse
tax  consequences  as a result of  Optionee's  purchase  or  disposition  of the
Shares.   Optionee   represents   that  Optionee  has  consulted  with  any  tax
consultant(s)  Optionee  deems  advisable  in  connection  with the  purchase or
disposition  of the Shares and that  Optionee  is not relying on the Company for
any tax advice.

      5.  Delivery of  Payment.  Optionee  herewith  delivers to the Company the
aggregate  purchase  price for the Shares that  Optionee has elected to purchase
and has made provision for the payment of any federal or state withholding taxes
required to be paid or withheld by the Company.

      6. Entire  Agreement.  The Agreement is incorporated  herein by reference.
This Exercise  Notice and the Agreement  constitute the entire  agreement of the
parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of
the Company and Optionee with respect to the

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subject  matter hereof.  This Exercise  Notice and the Agreement are governed by
California law except for that body of law pertaining to conflict of laws.

Submitted by:                         Accepted by:

OPTIONEE:                             INTERLINK COMPUTER SCIENCES, INC.


_________________________________     By: ___________________________________

                                      Its: __________________________________

Address:




Dated: __________________________     Dated: ________________________________



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