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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.1

                               IXIA COMMUNICATIONS

                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

1. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSES OF THE PLAN.

        Ixia Communications hereby establishes this 1997 Stock Option Plan to
promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders by (i) helping to
attract and retain the services of selected key employees of the Company who are
in a position to make material contributions to the successful operation of the
Company's business, (ii) motivating such persons, by means of
performance-related incentives, to achieve the Company's business goals and
(iii) enabling such persons to participate in the long-term growth and financial
success of the Company by providing them with an opportunity to purchase stock
of the Company.

2. DEFINITIONS.

        The following definitions shall apply throughout the Plan:

        a. "AFFILIATE" shall mean any entity that directly or indirectly through
one or more intermediaries controls or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Company.

        b. "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

        c. "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time. References in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed
to include any amendment or successor provisions to such section and any
regulations issued under such section.

        d. "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock, without par value, of the
Company.

        e. "COMPANY" shall mean Ixia Communications, a California corporation,
and any "subsidiary" corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined
in Sections 424(f) and (g) of the Code.

        f. "COMMITTEE" shall mean the committee, if any, of the Board appointed
in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan.

        g. "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE" shall mean the absence of any
interruption or termination of employment by the Company. Continuous Status as
an Employee shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave,
military leave or any other leave of absence approved by the Board or in the
case of transfers between locations of the Company.

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        h. "EMPLOYEE" shall mean any employee of the Company, including officers
and directors who are also employees and, for purposes of eligibility for
Nonstatutory Stock Options, any consultant to the Company, whether or not
employed by the Company.

        i. "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

        j. "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean, with respect to Shares, the fair
market value per Share on the date an option is granted (or in connection with
the Company's right to repurchase the Shares, the date of termination) as
determined by the Board in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith;
provided, however, that where there is a public market for the Common Stock, the
fair market value per Share shall be the average of the closing bid and asked
prices of the Common Stock on the date of grant (or, if there are no such prices
for such date, on the first preceding day on which there were such reported
prices) as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or, if not so reported, as
otherwise reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotations System) or, in the event the Common Stock is listed on a stock
exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System, the fair market value
per Share shall be the closing price on the exchange or on the Nasdaq National
Market System on the date of grant of the Option (or, if there are no sales on
such date, on the first preceding day on which there were reported sales), as
reported in The Wall Street Journal.

        k. "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" shall mean an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

        l. "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" shall mean an Option which is not an
Incentive Stock Option.

        m. "OPTION" shall mean a stock option to purchase Common Stock granted
to an Optionee pursuant to the Plan.

        n. "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement substantially in one of
the forms attached hereto as Exhibit A, or such other form or forms as the Board
(subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan) may from time to time approve,
evidencing and reflecting the terms of an Option.

        o. "OPTIONED STOCK" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option
granted pursuant to the Plan.

        p. "OPTIONEE" shall mean any Employee who is granted an Option.

        q. "PLAN" shall mean this Ixia Communications 1997 Stock Option Plan.

        r. "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

        s. "SHARES" shall mean shares of the Common Stock or any shares into
which such Shares may be converted in accordance with Section 12 of the Plan.

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        t. "STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT" shall mean an agreement substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, or such other form or forms as the Board
(subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan) may from time to time approve,
which the Board may require be executed as a condition of purchasing Optioned
Stock upon exercise of an Option.

        u. "TERMINATION FOR CAUSE" shall mean termination of employment as a
result of (i) any act or acts by the Optionee constituting a felony under any
federal, state or local law; (ii) the Optionee's willful and continued failure
to perform the duties assigned to him or her as an Employee or consultant; (iii)
any material breach by the Optionee of any agreement with the Company concerning
his or her employment or other understanding concerning the terms and conditions
of employment by the Company; (iv) dishonesty, gross negligence or malfeasance
by the Optionee in the performance of his or her duties as an Employee or
consultant or any conduct by the Optionee which involves a material conflict of
interest with any business of the Company or Affiliate; or (v) the Optionee's
taking or knowingly omitting to take any other action or actions in the
performance of Optionee's duties as an Employee or consultant without informing
appropriate members of management to whom such Optionee reports, which action or
actions, in the determination of the Committee, have caused or substantially
contributed to the material deterioration in the business of the Company or any
Affiliate, taken as a whole.

3. SHARES RESERVED.

        The maximum aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
the Plan shall be 3,000,000 Shares* or the number of shares of stock to which
such Shares shall be adjusted as provided in Section 12 of the Plan; provided,
however, that at no time shall the total number of shares issuable upon exercise
of all outstanding options and the total number of shares provided for under any
stock bonus or similar plan of the Company exceed the applicable percentage as
calculated in accordance with the conditions and exclusions set forth in Section
260.140.45 of the California Code of Regulations, based on the shares of the
Company which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made. Such number
of Shares may be set aside out of authorized but unissued Shares not reserved
for any other purpose, or out of issued Shares acquired for and held in the
treasury of the Company from time to time.

        Shares subject to, but not sold or issued under, any Option terminating,
expiring or canceled for any reason prior to its exercise in full shall again
become available for Options thereafter granted under the Plan and the same
shall not be deemed an increase in the number of Shares reserved for issuance
under the Plan.

4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

        a. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. Members of the Board who
are eligible for Options or have been granted Options may vote on any matters
affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of any Options pursuant to
the Plan, except that no such

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* Such number of shares has been adjusted to reflect the Company's (i)
five-for-one stock split effective on March 16, 1998 and (ii) three-for-one
stock split effective on March 21, 2000.

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member shall act upon the granting of an Option to himself or herself, but any
such member may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any
meeting of the Board or Committee during which action is taken with respect to
the granting of Options to him or her.

        The Board may at any time appoint a Committee consisting of not less
than two persons to administer the Plan on behalf of the Board, subject to such
terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe. Members of the Committee shall
serve for such period of time as the Board may determine. From time to time the
Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members
thereto, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in
substitution therefor, fill vacancies however caused or remove all members of
the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan. To the extent the
Board has specifically delegated to the Committee authority under this Plan,
each reference herein to the Board relating to the delegated matters, unless the
context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to include a reference to the
Committee.

        b. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have the
authority in its discretion to: (i) grant either Incentive Stock Options in
accordance with Section 422 of the Code or Nonstatutory Stock Options, (ii)
determine, upon review of relevant information, the Fair Market Value per Share,
(iii) determine the exercise price of the Options to be granted to Employees in
accordance with Section 6(c) of the Plan, (iv) determine the Employees to whom,
and the time or times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of
Shares subject to each Option, (v) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and
regulations relating to the Plan, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 14 of the Plan, (vi) determine the terms and provisions of each Option
granted to Optionees under the Plan and each Option Agreement and Stock Purchase
Agreement (which need not be identical with the terms of other Options, Option
Agreements and Stock Purchase Agreements) and, with the consent of the Optionee,
to modify or amend an outstanding Option, Option Agreement or Stock Purchase
Agreement, (vii) accelerate the exercise date of any Option, (viii) determine
whether any Optionee will be required to execute a Stock Purchase Agreement or
other agreement as a condition to the exercise of an Option, and to determine
the terms and provisions of any such agreement (which need not be identical with
the terms of any other such agreement) and, with the consent of the Optionee, to
amend any such agreement, (ix) interpret the Plan or any agreement entered into
with respect to the grant or exercise of Options, (x) determine the eligibility
of an Employee for benefits hereunder and the amount thereof, (xi) authorize any
person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate
the grant of an Option previously granted or to take such other actions as may
be necessary or appropriate with respect to the Company's rights pursuant to
Options or agreements relating to the grant or exercise thereof and (xii) make
such other determinations and establish such other procedures as it deems
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

        c. All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Board shall
be final and binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options
granted under the Plan.

        d. The Board shall keep minutes of its meetings and of the actions taken
by it without a meeting. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum and
the actions of a

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majority at a meeting, including a telephone meeting, at which a quorum is
present or acts approved in writing by a majority of the members of the Board
without a meeting shall constitute acts of the Board.

        e. The Company shall pay all original issue and transfer taxes with
respect to the grant of Options and/or the issue and transfer of Shares pursuant
to the exercise thereof and all other fees and expenses necessarily incurred by
the Company in connection therewith; provided, however, that the person
exercising an Option shall be responsible for all payroll, withholding, income
and other taxes incurred by such person on the date of exercise of an Option or
transfer of Shares.

5. ELIGIBILITY.

        Options may be granted under the Plan only to Employees; provided,
however, that consultants shall only be eligible to receive Nonstatutory Stock
Options. An Employee who has been granted an Option may, if he or she is
otherwise eligible, be granted additional Options.

6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

        Options granted pursuant to the Plan by the Board shall be either
Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options and shall be evidenced by
an Option Agreement providing, in addition to such other terms as the Board may
deem advisable, the following terms and conditions:

        a. Time of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option shall for
all purposes be the date on which the Board makes the determination granting
such Option; provided, however, that if the Board determines that such grant
shall be made as of some future date, the date of grant shall be such future
date. Notice of the determination shall be given to each Optionee within a
reasonable time after the date of such grant.

        b. Number of Shares. Each Option Agreement shall state the number of
Shares to which it pertains and whether such Option is intended to constitute an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The maximum number of
Shares which may be awarded as Options under the Plan during any calendar year
to any Optionee is 1,500,000 (as may be adjusted pursuant to Section 12 herein)
Shares*. If an Option held by an Employee or consultant of the Company is
canceled, the canceled Option shall continue to be counted against the maximum
number of Shares for which Options may be granted to such Employee or consultant
and any replacement Option granted to such Employee or consultant shall also
count against such limit.

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* Such number of shares has been adjusted to reflect the Company's (i)
five-for-one stock split effective on March 16, 1998 and (ii) three-for-one
stock split effective on March 21, 2000.

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        c. Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share for the Shares to be
issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be such price as is
determined by the Board; provided, however, that such price shall in no event be
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of an
Option.

        In the case of any Option granted to an Employee who at the time of
grant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable
under Section 424(d) of the Code or otherwise) stock possessing more than ten
percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any parent or subsidiary corporations of the Company, the exercise
price per Share shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on
the date of grant.

        d. Medium and Time of Payment. The consideration to be paid for the
Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall consist entirely of cash or
check payable to the Company or such other consideration and method of payment
permitted under any laws to which the Company is subject and which is approved
by the Board; provided, however, that the Optionee in any event shall pay in
cash any amount necessary to satisfy the Company's withholding obligations.

        e. Term of Options. The term of each Option may be up to ten years from
the date of grant thereof; provided, however, that the term of an Incentive
Stock Option granted to an Employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option
is granted, owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of
Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, shall be five
years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in
the Option Agreement.

        The term of any Option may be less than the maximum term provided for
herein as specified by the Board upon grant of the Option and as set forth in
the Option Agreement.

        f. Maximum Amount of Incentive Stock Options. To the extent that the
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time an Incentive Stock Option is
granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by an Optionee during any calendar year under all
incentive stock option plans of the Company exceeds $100,000, the Options in
excess of such limit shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.

7. EXERCISE OF OPTION.

        a. In General. Any Option granted hereunder to an Employee shall be
exercisable at such times and under such conditions as may be determined by the
Board and as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan, including any
performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee as may be
determined by the Board; provided, however, that Optionees shall have the right
to exercise their Options at the rate of at least 20% per year over five years
from the date of grant.

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            An Option may be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan as to all or any portion of the Shares then exercisable thereunder from
time to time during the term of the Option. However, an Option may not be
exercised for a fraction of a Share.

        b. Procedure. An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written
notice of such exercise has been given to the Company at its principal business
office in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement 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, together with
(i) any other agreements required by the terms of the Plan and/or Option
Agreement or as required by the Board and (ii) payment by the Optionee of all
payroll, withholding or income taxes incurred in connection with such Option
exercise (or arrangements for the collection or payment of such tax satisfactory
to the Board are made).

        c. Decrease in Available Shares. 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, except if the Option is
exercised by tendering Shares, either actually or by attestation.

        d. Exercise of Shareholder Rights. Until the Option is properly
exercised in accordance with the terms of this Section 7, no right to vote or
receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect
to the Optioned Stock. No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right
for which the record date is prior to the date the Option is exercised, except
as provided in Section 12 of the Plan.

        e. Termination of Eligibility. If an Optionee ceases to serve as an
Employee for any reason other than death, permanent and total disability (within
the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) or Termination for Cause and
thereby terminates his or her Continuous Status as an Employee, he or she may,
but only within three months following the date he or she ceases his or her
Continuous Status as an Employee (subject to any earlier termination of the
Option as provided by its terms), exercise his or her Option to the extent that
he or she was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the
extent that he or she was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of
such termination, or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which he or she
was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Board may at any
time and from time to time prior to the termination of a Nonstatutory Stock
Option, with the consent of the Optionee, extend the period of time during which
the Optionee may exercise his or her Nonstatutory Stock Option following the
date he or she ceases his or her Continuous Status as an Employee; provided,
however, that the maximum period of time during which a Nonstatutory Stock
Option shall be exercisable following the date on which an Optionee terminates
his or her Continuous Status as an Employee shall not exceed an aggregate of six
months and provided, further, that the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be,
or as a result of such extension become, exercisable after the expiration of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement and, notwithstanding
any extension of time during which the Nonstatutory Stock Option may be
exercised, that such Option, unless otherwise amended by the Board, shall only
be exercisable to

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the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise it on the date he or she ceased
his or her Continuous Status as an Employee.

        f. Death or Disability of Optionee. If an Optionee's Continuous Status
as an Employee ceases due to death or permanent and total disability (within the
meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) of the Optionee, the Option may be
exercised within six months (or such other period of time not exceeding one year
as is determined by the Board at the time of granting the Option) following the
date of death or termination of employment due to permanent or total disability
(subject to any earlier termination of the Option as provided by its terms), by
the Optionee in the case of permanent or total disability, or in the case of
death by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise
the Option by bequest or inheritance, but in any case (unless otherwise
determined by the Board at the time of granting the Option) only to the extent
the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of his or her
termination of employment by death or permanent and total disability. To the
extent that he or she was not entitled to exercise such Option at the date of
his or her termination of employment by death or permanent and total disability,
or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which he or she was entitled to
exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

        g. Termination for Cause. If an Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee with the Company terminates due to his or her Termination for Cause, he
or she may exercise his or her Option to the extent such Option was exercisable
as of the date of such termination, but only within 30 days following the date
of such Termination for Cause (subject to any earlier termination of the Option
as provided by its terms). To the extent that he or she was not entitled to
exercise such Option at the date of his or her Termination for Cause, or if he
or she does not exercise such Option (which he or she was entitled to exercise)
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

        h. Expiration of Option. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan,
including but not limited to the provisions set forth in Sections 7(d) and 7(e),
an Option may not be exercised, under any circumstances, after the expiration of
its term.

        i. Conditions on Exercise and Issuance. As soon as practicable after any
proper exercise of an Option in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, the
Company shall deliver to the Optionee at the principal executive office of the
Company or such other place as shall be mutually agreed upon between the Company
and the Optionee, a certificate or certificates representing the Shares for
which the Option shall have been exercised. The time of issuance and delivery of
the certificate or certificates representing the Shares for which the Option
shall have been exercised may be postponed by the Company for such period as may
be required by the Company, with reasonable diligence, to comply with any law or
regulation applicable to the issuance or delivery of such Shares.

            Options granted under the Plan are conditioned upon the Company
obtaining any required permit or order from the appropriate governmental
agencies authorizing the Company to issue such Options and Shares issuable upon
exercise thereof. Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an
Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance and

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delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, applicable state law, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may
then be listed. Any such issuance may be further subject to the approval of
counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

        j. Withholding or Deduction for Taxes. The grant of Options hereunder
and the issuance of Shares pursuant to the exercise thereof is conditioned upon
the Company's reservation of the right to withhold, in accordance with any
applicable law, from any compensation or other amounts payable to the Optionee,
any taxes required to be withheld under Federal, state or local law as a result
of the grant or exercise of such Option or the sale of the Shares issued upon
exercise thereof. To the extent that compensation and other amounts, if any,
payable to the Optionee are insufficient to pay any taxes required to be so
withheld, the Company may, in its sole discretion, require the Optionee, as a
condition of the exercise of an Option, to pay in cash to the Company an amount
sufficient to cover such tax liability or otherwise to make adequate provision
for the delivery to the Company of cash necessary to satisfy the Company's
withholding obligations under Federal and state law.

8. COMPANY'S RIGHT TO REPURCHASE SHARES.

        a. If an Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee for any reason,
including death or permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), and thereby
terminates his or her Continuous Status as an Employee, the Company shall have
the right to repurchase all of the Shares purchased by the Optionee hereunder,
at a price to be determined as set forth below. Such right on the part of the
Company shall commence upon the last day of such Optionee's Continuous Status as
an Employee (the "Termination Date") and shall expire on the 90th calendar day
after the Termination Date (or in the case of Common Stock issued upon exercise
of Options after the Termination Date, within 90 calendar days after the date of
such exercise).

        b. The repurchase price shall be an amount equal to the higher of the
exercise price of the Option or 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the
Termination Date times the number of Shares to be repurchased. The repurchase
price may be paid by the Company by cash, check, evidence of cancellation of
indebtedness of the Optionee to the Company, or some combination thereof, as the
Company acting in its sole discretion may determine.

9. TERMINATION OF REPURCHASE RIGHT.

        Optionee's obligations and the Company's rights under Section 8 above
shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the first sale of Common Stock by the
Company to the public which is effected pursuant to a registration statement
filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") under the Securities Act or (ii) the merger or consolidation of the
Company into, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets
to, another corporation, if immediately after such merger, consolidation or sale
of assets, at least 50% of the capital stock of the Company or such other
corporation is owned by persons who are

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not holders of capital stock of the Company immediately prior to such merger,
consolidation or sale.

10. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.

        Options granted under the Plan may not be sold, pledged, assigned,
hypothecated, gifted, transferred or disposed of in any manner, either
voluntarily or involuntarily by operation of law, other than by will or by the
laws of descent or distribution.

11. HOLDING PERIOD.

        In the case of officers and directors of the Company and to the extent
that the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, at
least six months must elapse from the date of grant of an Option to the date of
disposition of the underlying Shares.

12. ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGE IN CORPORATE STRUCTURE.

        a. Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company,
the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Option, and 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 exercise or purchase
price per Share covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be
proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued
Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split or combination or the
payment of a stock dividend (but only on the Common Stock) 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 (other than
stock awards to Employees); provided, however, that the conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been effected
without the receipt of consideration. Such adjustment shall be made by the
Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and
conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issue 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 the Plan or an Option.

        b. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the
Company, or in the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company (other than in the ordinary course of business), or the
merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation, as a
result of which the Company is not the surviving and controlling corporation,
the Board shall (i) make provision for the assumption of all outstanding options
by the successor corporation or (ii) declare that any Option shall terminate as
of a date fixed by the Board which is at least 30 days after the notice thereof
to the Optionee and shall give each Optionee the right to exercise his or her
Option as to all or any part of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which
the Option would not otherwise be exercisable provided such exercise does not
violate Section 7(e) of the Plan.

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        c. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issuable on account of
any action aforesaid, and the aggregate number of shares into which Shares then
covered by the Option, when changed as the result of such action, shall be
reduced to the largest number of whole shares resulting from such action, unless
the Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine to issue scrip certificates
in respect to any fractional shares, which scrip certificates shall be in a form
and have such terms and conditions as the Board in its discretion shall
prescribe.

13. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL.

        Effectiveness of the Plan shall be subject to approval by the
shareholders of the Company within 12 months before or after the date the Plan
is adopted by the Board; provided, however, that Options may be granted pursuant
to the Plan subject to subsequent approval of the Plan by such shareholders. Any
option exercised before shareholder approval is obtained must be rescinded if
shareholder approval is not obtained within 12 months before or after the Plan
is adopted. Such shares shall not be counted in determining whether such
approval is obtained. Shareholder approval shall be obtained (i) by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares present or
represented and entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of shareholders duly held
in accordance with the laws of the State of California or (ii) by written
consent of the holders of the outstanding Shares having not less than the
minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize the approval at a
meeting of the shareholders duly held in accordance with the laws of the State
of California.

14. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

        a. Amendment and Termination. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan
from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable and shall
make any amendments which may be required so that Options intended to be
Incentive Stock Options shall at all times continue to be Incentive Stock
Options for the purpose of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that
without approval of the holders of a majority of the voting Shares represented
or present and entitled to vote at a valid meeting of shareholders, no such
revision or amendment shall (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to
participants under the Plan; (ii) materially increase the number of Shares which
may be issued under the Plan, other than in connection with an adjustment under
Section 12 of the Plan; (iii) materially modify the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan; (iv) materially change the
designation of the class of Employees eligible to be granted Options; (v) remove
the administration of the Plan from the Board or its Committee; or (vi) extend
the term of the Plan beyond the maximum term set forth in Section 17 hereunder.

        b. Effect of Amendment or Termination. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 12 of the Plan, any amendment or termination of the Plan shall not
affect Options already granted and such Options shall remain in full force and
effect as if the Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed
otherwise between the Optionee and the Company, which agreement must be in
writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary herein, this 1997 Stock Option Plan shall not adversely affect,
unless mutually agreed in writing by the Company and an Optionee, the terms and

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

provisions of any Option granted prior to the date the Plan was approved by
shareholders as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

15. INDEMNIFICATION.

        No member of the Board or its Committee shall be liable for any act or
action taken, whether of commission or omission, except in circumstances
involving willful misconduct, or for any act or action taken, whether of
commission or omission, by any other member or by any officer, agent or
Employee. In addition to such other rights of indemnification they may have as
members of the Board, or as members of the Committee, the Board and the
Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against 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, by commission or omission, in connection with the Plan or any Option
granted thereunder, 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 action, suit
or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in
such action, suit or proceeding that a Board or Committee member is liable for
willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties; provided that within
60 days after institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, such Board or
Committee member shall in writing have offered the Company the opportunity, at
its own expense, to handle and defend the same.

16. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

        a. Other Plans. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prohibit the Company
from establishing additional incentive compensation arrangements.

        b. No Enlargement of Rights. Neither the Plan, nor the granting of
Options, nor any other action taken pursuant to the Plan shall constitute or be
evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the Company
will retain an Employee for any period of time, or at any particular rate of
compensation. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to limit or affect the right
of the Company to discharge any Employee at any time for any reason or no
reason.

            No Employee shall have any right to or interest in Options
authorized hereunder prior to the grant thereof to such eligible person, and
upon such grant he or she shall have only such rights and interests as are
expressly provided herein and in the related Option Agreement, subject, however,
to all applicable provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as the
same may be amended from time to time.

        c. Notice. Any notice to be given to the Company pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan shall be addressed to the Company in care of its
Secretary (or such other person as the Company may designate from time to time)
at its principal office, and any notice to be given to an Optionee to whom an
Option is granted hereunder shall be delivered personally or addressed to him or
her at the address given beneath his or her signature on his or her Stock Option

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

Agreement, or at such other address as such Optionee or his or her transferee
(upon the transfer of the Optioned Stock) may hereafter designate in writing to
the Company. Any such notice shall be deemed duly given when enclosed in a
properly sealed envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, registered or
certified, and deposited, postage and registry or certification fee prepaid, in
a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States
Postal Service. It shall be the obligation of each Optionee holding Shares
purchased upon exercise of an Option to provide the Secretary of the Company, by
letter mailed as provided hereinabove, with written notice of his or her direct
mailing address.

        d. Applicable Law. To the extent that Federal laws do not otherwise
control, the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of California, without regard to the conflict of laws rules
thereof.

        e. Incentive Stock Options. The Company shall not be liable to an
Optionee or other person if it is determined for any reason by the Internal
Revenue Service or any court having jurisdiction that any Incentive Stock
Options are not incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

        f. Information to Optionees. The Company shall provide without charge to
each Optionee copies of its annual financial statements (which need not be
audited), which may be included within such annual and periodic reports as are
provided by the Company to its shareholders generally.

        g. Availability of Plan. A copy of the Plan shall be delivered to the
Secretary of the Company and shall be shown by him or her to any eligible person
making reasonable inquiry concerning it.

        h. Severability. In the event that any provision of the Plan is found to
be invalid or otherwise unenforceable under any applicable law, such invalidity
or unenforceability shall not be construed as rendering any other provisions
contained herein as invalid or unenforceable, and all such other provisions
shall be given full force and effect to the same extent as though the invalid or
unenforceable provision was not contained herein.

17. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN.

        The Plan shall become effective upon shareholder approval as provided in
Section 13 of the Plan. Options may be granted under the Plan prior to securing
such shareholder approval provided that such Options shall be expressly subject
to securing such shareholder approval and may not be exercised in whole or in
part unless such shareholder approval has been duly obtained. The Plan shall
continue in effect for a term of ten years (from the date the Plan is adopted or
the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders, whichever is earlier) unless
sooner terminated under Section 14 of the Plan.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

                            CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

        The undersigned Secretary of Ixia, a California corporation (the
"Company"), hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of
the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan, as amended to date.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this document on the
date set forth below.

        Date:________________               ___________________________________
                                            Ronald W. Buckly, Secretary

<PAGE>   15

                                   EXHIBIT A-1

                               IXIA COMMUNICATIONS

                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                        INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

        Ixia Communications, a California corporation (the "Company"), hereby
enters into this agreement (the "Option Agreement") with
____________________________ (the "Optionee") on this ______ day of
_______________, _______, whereby the Company grants to the Optionee the right
and option to purchase an aggregate of __________ shares of Common Stock (the
"Shares") of the Company. This Option is in all respects subject to the terms,
definitions and provisions of the Ixia Communications 1997 Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") adopted by the Company and incorporated herein by reference. The
terms defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings herein.

        1. NATURE OF THE OPTION. This Option is intended by the Company and the
Optionee to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as defined in Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

        2. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price is $________ per Share, which
price is not less than [100%] [110%] of the Fair Market Value thereof on the
date this Option is granted.

        3. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be
issued upon the exercise of this Option shall consist entirely of cash or check
payable to the Company or such other consideration and method of payment
permitted under any laws to which the Company is subject and which is approved
by the Board.

        4. EXERCISE OF OPTION. This Option shall be exercisable during its term
only in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Option as
follows:

           (a) This Option shall vest and be exercisable cumulatively as
follows: [e.g., 20% of the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of the
date of grant (the "First Anniversary") and the remaining 80% of the Option
shall vest in sixteen (16) equal quarterly installments with the first
installment vesting on the last day of the first full calendar quarter following
the First Anniversary and one additional installment vesting on the last day of
each calendar quarter thereafter,] as long as the Optionee continues to serve as
an Employee. The Optionee may exercise the exercisable portion of this Option in
whole or in part at any time during his or her employment with the Company,
provided that Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee has not terminated
since the grant of this Option. However, an Option may not be exercised for a
fraction of a Share. In the event of the Optionee's termination of employment
with the Company, or the Optionee's disability or death, the provisions of
Sections 7 or 8 below shall apply to any exercise of this Option.

           (b) This Option shall be exercisable by written notice which shall
state the election to exercise this Option, the number of Shares with respect to
which this Option is being

<PAGE>   16

exercised and such other representations and agreements as may be required by
the Company hereunder or pursuant to the provisions of the Plan. Such written
notice shall be signed by the Optionee and shall be delivered in person or by
certified mail to the Secretary of the Company or such other person as may be
designated by the Company. The written notice shall be accompanied by payment of
the purchase price and an executed Stock Purchase Agreement if required by the
Company. The certificate or certificates for the Shares as to which this Option
is exercised shall be registered in the name of the Optionee.

           (c) No rights of a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares
under this Option as a result of the mere grant of this Option or the exercise
of this Option. Such rights shall exist only after issuance of a stock
certificate in accordance with Section 7(i) of the Plan.

        5. RESTRICTIONS ON EXERCISE. This Option may not be exercised until such
time as the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company as set
forth in Section 13 of the Plan, or if the issuance of Shares upon the
Optionee's exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such Shares
would constitute a violation of any applicable Federal or state securities law
or other applicable law or regulation. As a condition to the exercise of this
Option, the Company may take such steps as in its judgment are reasonably
required to prevent any such violation and may require the Optionee to make any
representations, warranties or acknowledgments to the Company as may be required
by any applicable law or regulation.

        6. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. In connection with the acquisition of
this Option, the Optionee represents and warrants as follows:

           (a) The Optionee is acquiring this Option, and upon exercise of this
Option, will be acquiring the Shares for investment in his or her own account,
not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection
with, any distribution thereof.

           (b) The Optionee has a preexisting business or personal relationship
with the Company or one of its directors, officers or controlling persons and by
reason of his or her business or financial experience has, and could be
reasonably assumed to have, the capacity to evaluate the merits and risks of
purchasing Common Stock of the Company and to make an informed investment
decision with respect thereto and to protect the Optionee's interests in
connection with the acquisition of this Option and the Shares.

        7. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

           (a) If the Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee for any reason
other than death, permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code) or Termination for Cause and thereby terminates his or her
Continuous Status as an Employee, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise
this Option at any time within three months after the date of such termination
to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise this Option at the date
of such termination. To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise this Option at the date of termination, or to the extent this Option is
not exercised within the time specified herein, this Option shall terminate.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Option shall not be exercisable after the
expiration of the term set forth in Section 9 hereof.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   17

           (b) If an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee terminates due
to his or her Termination for Cause, he or she may exercise his or her Option to
the extent such Option was exercisable as of the date of such termination, but
only within 30 days following the date of such Termination for Cause (subject to
any earlier termination of the Option as provided by its terms). To the extent
that he or she was not entitled to exercise such Option at the date of his or
her Termination for Cause, or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which
he or she was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option
shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Option shall not be
exercisable after the expiration of the term set forth in Section 9 hereof.

        8. DEATH OR DISABILITY. If the Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee
due to death or permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code), this Option may be exercised at any time within six
months after the date of death or termination of employment due to disability,
in the case of death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the
right to exercise this Option by bequest or inheritance, or, in the case of
disability, by the Optionee, but in any case only to the extent the Optionee was
entitled to exercise this Option at the date of such termination. To the extent
that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise this Option at the date of
termination, or to the extent this Option is not exercised within the time
specified herein, this Option shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
this Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of the term set forth
in Section 9 hereof.

        9. TERM OF OPTION. This Option may not be exercised more than __________
(___) years from the date of the grant of this Option and may be exercised
during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option
Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan with respect to the
post-employment exercise of this Option, this Option may not be exercised after
the expiration of its term.

        10. WITHHOLDING UPON EXERCISE OF OPTION. The Company reserves the right
to withhold, in accordance with any applicable laws, from any consideration
payable to Optionee any taxes required to be withheld by Federal, state or local
law as a result of the grant or exercise of this Option or the sale or other
disposition of the Shares issued upon exercise of this Option. If the amount of
any consideration payable to the Optionee is insufficient to pay such taxes or
if no consideration is payable to the Optionee, upon the request of the Company,
the Optionee shall pay to the Company in cash an amount sufficient for the
Company to satisfy any Federal, state or local tax withholding requirements it
may incur as a result of the grant or exercise of this Option or the sale or
other disposition of the Shares issued upon the exercise of this Option.

        11. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. This Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, gifted, transferred or disposed of in any manner either
voluntarily or involuntarily by operation of law or otherwise, other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution. Subject to the foregoing and the
terms of the Plan, the terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

        12. NO RIGHT OF EMPLOYMENT. Neither this Option nor the Plan shall
confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the employment of the Company
or limit in any respect the

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   18

right of the Company to discharge the Optionee at any time, with or without
cause and with or without notice.

        13. MISCELLANEOUS.

            (a) Successors and Assigns. This Option Agreement shall bind and
inure only to the benefit of the parties to this Option Agreement (the
"Parties") and their respective successors and assigns.

            (b) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Option Agreement
is intended to confer any rights or remedies on any persons other than the
Parties and their respective successors or assigns. Nothing in this Option
Agreement is intended to relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of
third persons to any Party. No provision of this Option Agreement shall give any
third person any right of subrogation or action over or against any Party.

            (c) Amendments. (i) The Board reserves the right to amend the terms
and provisions of this Option Agreement without the Optionee's consent to comply
with any Federal or state securities law.

                  (ii) Except as specifically provided in subsection (i) above,
this Option Agreement shall not be changed or modified, in whole or in part,
except by supplemental agreement signed by the Parties. Either Party may waive
compliance by the other Party with any of the covenants or conditions of this
Option Agreement, but no waiver shall be binding unless executed in writing by
the Party making the waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Option Agreement
shall be deemed, or shall constitute, a waiver of any other provision, whether
or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Any consent
under this Option Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective only to
the extent specifically set forth in such writing. For the protection of the
Parties, amendments, waivers and consents that are not in writing and executed
by the Party to be bound may be enforced only if they are detrimentally relied
upon and proved by clear and convincing evidence. Such evidence shall not
include any alleged reliance.

           (d) Notice. Any notice, instruction or communication required or
permitted to be given under this Option Agreement to any Party shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given when actually received or, if earlier, five
days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or express mail,
return receipt requested, first class postage prepaid, addressed to the
principal office of such Party or to such other address as such Party may
request by written notice.

           (e) Governing Law. To the extent that Federal laws do not otherwise
control, the Plan and this Option Agreement and all determinations made or
actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of
California, without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof.

           (f) Entire Agreement. This Option Agreement and the Plan constitute
the entire agreement between the Parties with regard to the subject matter
hereof. This Option

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   19

Agreement supersedes all previous agreements between the Parties, and there are
now no agreements, representations or warranties between the Parties, other than
those set forth herein.

           (g) Severability. If any provision of this Option Agreement or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstances is held invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Option Agreement, or the application of
such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby.

           (h) Optionee Representation. The Optionee acknowledges receipt of the
Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto, and hereby accepts the grant of this
Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Option Agreement has been duly executed on
behalf of the Company by an authorized representative of the Company and by the
Optionee as of the date and year first written above.

DATE OF GRANT: _________________________

Ixia Communications,
a California corporation

By: ____________________________________

Title: _________________________________

Optionee:

________________________________________

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   20

        THIS OPTION AND THE SECURITIES WHICH MAY BE PURCHASED UPON EXECUTION OF
THIS OPTION HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, AND HAVE BEEN
ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE,
TRANSFER OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE, TRANSFER OR DISTRIBUTION MAY BE
EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO OR AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.

        THE SHARES WHICH MAY BE PURCHASED UPON EXERCISE OF THIS OPTION ARE
SUBJECT TO A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE TERMS OF A STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE
HOLDER OF THIS OPTION AND THE COMPANY UPON EXERCISE OF THIS OPTION, A COPY OF
WHICH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   21

                                   EXHIBIT A-2

                               IXIA COMMUNICATIONS

                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                       NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

        Ixia Communications, a California corporation (the "Company"), hereby
enters into this agreement (the "Option Agreement") with
______________________________ (the "Optionee") on this _____ day of
_______________, __________, whereby the Company grants to the Optionee the
right and option to purchase an aggregate of __________ shares of Common Stock
(the "Shares") of the Company. This Option is in all respects subject to the
terms, definitions and provisions of the Ixia Communications 1997 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan") adopted by the Company and incorporated herein by reference.
The terms defined in the Plan shall have the same meanings herein.

        1. NATURE OF THE OPTION. This Option is intended to be a nonstatutory
stock option and is not intended to be an incentive stock option within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), or to otherwise qualify for any special tax benefits to the Optionee.

        2. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price is $ __________ per Share, which
price is not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value thereof on the date this
Option is granted.

        3. METHOD OF PAYMENT. The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be
issued upon exercise of this Option shall consist entirely of cash or check
payable to the Company or such other consideration and method of payment
permitted under any laws to which the Company is subject and which is approved
by the Board.

        4. EXERCISE OF OPTION. This Option shall be exercisable during its term
only in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Plan and this Option as
follows:

           (a) This Option shall vest and be exercisable cumulatively as
follows: [e.g., 20% of the Option shall vest on the first anniversary of the
date of grant (the "First Anniversary") and the remaining 80% of the Option
shall vest in sixteen (16) equal quarterly installments with the first
installment vesting on the last day of the first full calendar quarter following
the First Anniversary and one additional installment vesting on the last day of
each calendar quarter thereafter,] as long as the Optionee continues to serve as
an Employee. The Optionee may exercise the exercisable portion of this Option in
whole or in part at any time during his or her employment with the Company,
provided that Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee has not terminated
since the grant of this Option. However, an Option may not be exercised for a
fraction of a Share. In the event of the Optionee's termination of employment
with the Company, or the Optionee's disability or death, the provisions of
Sections 7 or 8 below shall apply to any exercise of this Option.

<PAGE>   22

           (b) This Option shall be exercisable by written notice which shall
state the election to exercise this Option, the number of Shares in respect to
which this Option is being exercised and such other representations and
agreements as may be required by the Company hereunder or pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan. Such written notice shall be signed by the Optionee and
shall be delivered in person or by certified mail to the Secretary of the
Company or such other person as may be designated by the Company. The written
notice shall be accompanied by payment of the purchase price and an executed
Stock Purchase Agreement, if required by the Company. The certificate or
certificates for the Shares as to which this Option is exercised shall be
registered in the name of the Optionee.

           (c) No rights of a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares
under this Option as a result of the mere grant of this Option or the exercise
of this Option. Such rights shall exist only after issuance of a stock
certificate in accordance with Section 7(i) of the Plan.

        5. RESTRICTIONS ON EXERCISE. This Option may not be exercised until such
time as the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company as set
forth in Section 13 of the Plan, or if the issuance of Shares upon Optionee's
exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such Shares would
constitute a violation of any applicable Federal or state securities law or
other applicable law or regulation. As a condition to the exercise of this
Option, the Company may require the Optionee to make any representation and
warranty to the Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

        6. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. In connection with the acquisition of
this Option, the Optionee represents and warrants as follows:

           (a) The Optionee is acquiring this Option, and upon exercise of this
Option, will be acquiring the Shares for investment in his or her own account,
not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection
with, any distribution thereof.

           (b) The Optionee has a preexisting business or personal relationship
with the Company or one of its directors, officers or controlling persons and by
reason of his or her business or financial experience has, and could be
reasonably assumed to have, the capacity to evaluate the merits and risks of
purchasing Common Stock of the Company and to make an informed investment
decision with respect thereto and to protect the Optionee's interests in
connection with the acquisition of this Option and the Shares.

        7. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

           (a) If the Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee for any reason
other than death, permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code) or Termination for Cause and thereby terminates his or her
Continuous Status as an Employee, the Optionee shall have the right to exercise
this Option at any time within three months after the date of such termination
to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise this Option at the date
of such termination. The Committee may at any time and from time-to-time prior
to the termination of this Option, with the consent of Optionee, extend the
period of time during which the Optionee may exercise this Option following the
date the Optionee ceases to serve as an

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   23

Employee for a period which shall not exceed an aggregate of six months;
provided, however, that this Option shall remain exercisable only to the extent
that the Optionee was entitled to exercise this Option at the date of such
termination. To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise this
Option at the date of termination, or to the extent this Option is not exercised
within the time specified herein, this Option shall terminate. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, this Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of the
term set forth in Section 9 hereof.

           (b) If an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee terminates due
to his or her Termination for Cause, he or she may exercise his or her Option to
the extent such Option was exercisable as of the date of such termination, but
only within 30 days following the date of such Termination for Cause (subject to
any earlier termination of the Option as provided by its terms). To the extent
that he or she was not entitled to exercise such Option at the date of his or
her Termination for Cause, or if he or she does not exercise such Option (which
he or she was entitled to exercise) within the time specified herein, the Option
shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Option shall not be
exercisable after the expiration of the term set forth in Section 9 hereof.

        8. DEATH OR DISABILITY. If the Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee
due to death or permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code), this Option may be exercised at any time within six
months after the date of death or termination of employment due to disability,
in the case of death, by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the
right to exercise this Option by bequest or inheritance, or, in the case of
disability, by the Optionee, but in any case only to the extent the Optionee was
entitled to exercise this Option at the date of such termination. To the extent
that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise this Option at the date of
termination, or to the extent this Option is not exercised within the time
specified herein, this Option shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
this Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of the term set forth
in Section 9 hereof.

        9. TERM OF OPTION. This Option may not be exercised more than __________
(_____) years from the date of the grant of this Option and may be exercised
during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option
Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan with respect to the
post-employment exercise of this Option, this Option may not be exercised after
the expiration of its term.

        10. WITHHOLDING UPON EXERCISE OF OPTION. The Company reserves the right
to withhold, in accordance with any applicable laws, from any consideration
payable to Optionee any taxes required to be withheld by Federal, state or local
law as a result of the grant or exercise of this Option or the sale or other
disposition of the Shares issued upon exercise of this Option. If the amount of
any consideration payable to the Optionee is insufficient to pay such taxes or
if no consideration is payable to the Optionee, upon the request of the Company,
the Optionee shall pay to the Company in cash an amount sufficient for the
Company to satisfy any Federal, state or local tax withholding requirements it
may incur, as a result of the grant or exercise of this Option or the sale or
other disposition of the Shares issued upon the exercise of this Option.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   24

        11. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. This Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, gifted, transferred or disposed of in any manner either
voluntarily or involuntarily by operation of law, other than by will or by the
laws of descent or distribution. Subject to the foregoing and the terms of the
Plan, the terms of this Option shall be binding upon the executors,
administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

        12. NO RIGHT OF EMPLOYMENT. Neither this Option nor the Plan shall
confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the employment of the Company
or limit in any respect the right of the Company to discharge the Optionee at
any time, with or without cause and with or without notice.

        13. MISCELLANEOUS.

            (a) Successors and Assigns. This Option Agreement shall bind and
inure only to the benefit of the parties to this Option Agreement (the
"Parties") and their respective successors and assigns.

            (b) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Option Agreement
is intended to confer any rights or remedies on any persons other than the
Parties and their respective successors or assigns. Nothing in this Option
Agreement is intended to relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of
third persons to any Party. No provision of this Option Agreement shall give any
third person any right of subrogation or action over or against any Party.

            (c) Amendments. (i) The Board reserves the right to amend the terms
and provisions of this Option without the Optionee's consent to comply with any
Federal or state securities law.

                  (ii) Except as specifically provided in subsection (i) above,
this Option Agreement shall not be changed or modified, in whole or in part,
except by supplemental agreement signed by the Parties. Either Party may waive
compliance by the other Party with any of the covenants or conditions of this
Option Agreement, but no waiver shall be binding unless executed in writing by
the Party making the waiver. No waiver of any provision of this Option Agreement
shall be deemed, or shall constitute, a waiver of any other provision, whether
or not similar, nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Any consent
under this Option Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective only to
the extent specifically set forth in such writing. For the protection of the
Parties, amendments, waivers and consents that are not in writing and executed
by the Party to be bound may be enforced only if they are detrimentally relied
upon and proved by clear and convincing evidence. Such evidence shall not
include any alleged reliance.

            (d) Notice. Any notice, instruction or communication required or
permitted to be given under this Option Agreement to any Party shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given when actually received or, if earlier, five
days after deposit in the United States mail by certified or express mail,
return receipt requested, first class postage prepaid, addressed to the
principal office of such Party or to such other address as such Party may
request by written notice.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   25

           (e) Governing Law. To the extent that Federal laws do not otherwise
control, the Plan and this Option Agreement and all determinations made or
actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the laws of the state of
California, without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof.

           (f) Entire Agreement. This Option Agreement and the Plan constitute
the entire agreement between the Parties with regard to the subject matter
hereof. This Option Agreement supersedes all previous agreements between the
Parties, and there are now no agreements, representations or warranties between
the Parties, other than those set forth herein.

           (g) Severability. If any provision of this Option Agreement or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstances is held invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Option Agreement, or the application of
such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is
held invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby.

           (h) Optionee Representation. The Optionee acknowledges receipt of the
Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto, and hereby accepts the grant of this
Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Option Agreement has been duly executed on
behalf of the Company by an authorized representative of the Company and by the
Optionee as of the date and year first written above.

DATE OF GRANT: _________________________

Ixia Communications,
a California corporation

By: ____________________________________

Title: _________________________________

Optionee:

________________________________________

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   26

        THIS OPTION AND THE SECURITIES WHICH MAY BE PURCHASED UPON EXECUTION OF
THIS OPTION HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR QUALIFIED UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE, AND HAVE BEEN
ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE,
TRANSFER OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE, TRANSFER OR DISTRIBUTION MAY BE
EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO OR AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.

        THE SHARES WHICH MAY BE PURCHASED UPON EXERCISE OF THIS OPTION ARE
SUBJECT TO A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE TERMS OF A STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE
HOLDER OF THIS OPTION AND THE COMPANY UPON EXERCISE OF THIS OPTION, A COPY OF
WHICH AGREEMENT IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   27

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                              [For Use Upon Exercise of Options]

                               IXIA COMMUNICATIONS

                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

        This Agreement is made as of the ______ day of _______________, 19___,
by and between Ixia Communications, a California corporation (the "Company"),
and _________________________ ("Optionee"). Unless the context herein otherwise
requires, capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meaning as such
capitalized terms have under the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan.

                                 R E C I T A L S

        A. Optionee was granted a Stock Option (the "Option") on
_________________, pursuant to the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan"), the terms and conditions of which are incorporated herein by reference.

        B. Pursuant to said Option, Optionee was granted the right to purchase
__________ shares of the Company's Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with
the Plan (the "Optioned Shares").

        C. Optionee has elected to exercise the Option to purchase __________ of
such Optioned Shares (herein referred to as the "Shares") under the Stock Option
Agreement evidencing said Option (the "Option Agreement").

        D. As required by the Option Agreement, as a condition to Optionee's
exercise of his or her Option, Optionee must execute this Agreement which gives
the Company the right of first refusal upon transfer.

        NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED between the parties as follows:

        1. EXERCISE OF OPTION. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
Optionee hereby agrees to exercise his or her Option or a portion thereof to
purchase __________ Shares at $__________ per Share, payable in accordance with
the terms and provisions of the Option Agreement.

        2. COMPANY'S RIGHT TO REPURCHASE SHARES.

           (a) If an Optionee ceases to serve as an Employee for any reason,
including death or permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), and thereby
terminates his or her Continuous Status as an Employee, the Company shall have
the right to repurchase all of the Shares purchased by Optionee hereunder, at a
price to be determined as set forth below. Such right on the part of the Company
shall commence upon the last day of such Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee (the "Termination Date") and shall expire on the 90th calendar day
after the

<PAGE>   28

Termination Date (or in the case of Common Stock issued upon exercise of Options
after the Termination Date, within 90 calendar days after the date of exercise).

           (b) The repurchase price shall be an amount equal to the higher of
the exercise price of the Option or 100% of the Fair Market Value per share on
the Termination Date times the number of shares to be repurchased. The
repurchase price may be paid by the Company by cash, check, evidence of
cancellation of indebtedness of Optionee to the Company, or some combination
thereof, as the Company acting in its sole discretion may determine.

        3. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. Before any Shares registered in the name of
Optionee may be sold or transferred (including transfer by operation of law),
such Shares shall first be offered to the Company at the same price, and upon
the same terms (or terms as similar as reasonably possible), in the following
manner:

           (a) Optionee shall deliver a notice ("Notice") to the Company stating
(i) his or her bona fide intention to sell or transfer such Shares, (ii) the
number of such Shares to be sold or transferred, (iii) the price for which he or
she proposes to sell or transfer such Shares, and (iv) the name of the proposed
purchaser or transferee.

           (b) Within 30 days after receipt of the Notice, the Company or its
assignee may elect to purchase any or all Shares to which the Notice refers, at
the price per share and on the same terms (or terms as similar as reasonably
possible) specified in the Notice.

           (c) If all or a portion of the Shares to which the Notice refers are
not elected to be purchased pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, Optionee may sell
the Shares not purchased by the Company to any person named in the Notice at the
price and terms specified in the Notice or at a higher price, provided that such
sale or transfer is consummated within 60 days of the date of said Notice to the
Company, and, provided further, that any such sale is in accordance with all the
terms and conditions hereof.

In the event of any transfer by operation of law or other involuntary transfer
(including, but not limited to, by will or by the laws of descent or
distribution) where there is no price established as a matter of law, the
Company shall have the right to repurchase all of the Shares purchased by
Optionee hereunder, at a price to be determined as set forth in Section 2(b)
above. In such event, Optionee or Optionee's estate shall notify the Company
promptly after the happening of the event giving rise to the involuntary
transfer. Within 30 days after receipt of such Notice, the Company or its
assignee may elect to purchase any or all Shares to which the Notice refers.

        4. TERMINATION OF REPURCHASE RIGHT AND RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL.
Optionee's obligations and the Company's rights under Sections 2 and 3 above
shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the first sale of Common Stock by the
Company to the public which is effected pursuant to a registration statement
filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), or (ii)
the merger or consolidation of the Company into, or the sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets to, another corporation, if
immediately after such merger, consolidation or sale of assets, at least 50% of
the capital stock of the Company or such other corporation is owned by

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   29

persons who are not holders of capital stock of the Company immediately prior to
such merger, consolidation or sale.

        5. ASSIGNMENT. The Company may assign its rights under Sections 2 and 3
hereof to one or more persons or entities who shall have the right to exercise
such rights in his, her or its own name and for his, her or its own account. If
the exercise of any such right requires the consent of the California Securities
Commissioner or the consent of the Securities Commissioner, or the equivalent,
of another state, the parties agree to cooperate in requesting such consent.

        6. ADJUSTMENT. If, from time to time during the term of the right of
first refusal available pursuant to Section 3 hereof:

           (a) There is any stock dividend or liquidating dividend of cash
and/or property, stock split or other change in the character or amount of any
of the outstanding securities of the Company; or

           (b) There is any consolidation, merger or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company;

then, in such event, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or
other property to which Optionee is entitled by reason of his or her ownership
of Shares shall be immediately subject to the right of first refusal set forth
in Section 3 hereof and be included in the word "Shares" for all purposes with
the same force and effect as the Shares presently subject to such right of first
refusal (provided, however, if such consolidation, merger or sale of all, or
substantially all, of the assets of the Company causes a termination of the
right of first refusal set forth in Section 3 hereof, then such new, substituted
or additional securities or other property shall not be included in the word
"Shares" for the purposes of this Section).

        7. LEGENDS. All certificates representing any Shares of the Company
subject to the provisions of this Agreement shall have endorsed thereon legends
in substantially the following form unless in the opinion of the Company's
counsel such legends are no longer necessary:

           (a) "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE
TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF A STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER, OR ITS PREDECESSOR IN INTEREST, A
COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY."

           (b) "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY STATE, AND HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR
IN CONNECTION WITH, THE SALE, TRANSFER OR DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. NO SUCH SALE,
TRANSFER OR DISTRIBUTION MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   30

STATEMENT RELATING THERETO OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY
THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

        8. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. Unless the Shares have been registered
under the Act, in which event the Company will so advise Optionee in writing,
Optionee agrees, represents and warrants, in connection with the proposed
purchase of the Shares, as follows:

           (a) Optionee represents and warrants that he or she is purchasing the
Shares solely for Optionee's own account for investment and not with a view to,
or for resale in connection with any distribution thereof within the meaning of
the Act. Optionee further represents that he or she does not have any present
intention of selling, offering to sell or otherwise disposing of or distributing
the Shares or any portion thereof; and that the entire legal and beneficial
interest of the Shares Optionee is purchasing is being purchased for, and will
be held for the account of, Optionee only and neither in whole nor in part for
any other person.

           (b) Optionee represents and warrants that he or she is aware of the
Company's business affairs and financial condition and has acquired sufficient
information about the Company to reach an informed and knowledgeable decision to
acquire the Shares. Optionee further represents that he or she has a preexisting
personal or business relationship with the officers and directors of the Company
and that Optionee has such knowledge and experience in business and financial
matters to enable him or her to evaluate the risks of the prospective investment
and to make an informed investment decision with respect thereto and that he or
she has the capacity to protect his or her own interests in connection with the
purchase of the Shares. Optionee further represents and warrants that Optionee
has discussed the Company and its plans, operations and financial condition with
its officers, has received all such information as he or she deems necessary and
appropriate to enable Optionee to evaluate the financial risk inherent in making
an investment in the Shares and has received satisfactory and complete
information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company in
response to all inquiries in respect thereof.

           (c) Optionee represents and warrants that he or she realizes that
Optionee's purchase of the Shares will be a speculative investment and that he
or she is able, without impairing Optionee's financial condition, to hold the
Shares for an indefinite period of time and to suffer a complete loss on his or
her investment.

           (d) Optionee represents and warrants that the Company has disclosed
to him or her in writing that: (i) the sale of the Shares has not been
registered under the Act, and the Shares must be held indefinitely unless a
transfer of them is subsequently registered under the Act or an exemption from
such registration is available, and the Company is under no obligation to
register the Shares; and (ii) the Company shall make a notation in its records
of the aforementioned restrictions on transfer and legends.

           (e) Optionee represents and warrants that he or she is aware of the
provisions of Rule 144, promulgated under the Act, which, in substance, permit
limited public resale of "restricted securities" acquired, directly or
indirectly, from the issuer thereof (or an affiliate of such issuer) in a
non-public offering subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions,
including,

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   31

among other things: the resale occurring not less than one year from the date
Optionee has purchased and paid for the Shares; the availability of certain
public information concerning the Company; the sale being through a broker in an
unsolicited "brokers' transaction" or in a transaction directly with a market
maker (as such term is defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934); and
that any sale of the Shares may be made by Optionee, if he or she is an
affiliate of the Company, only in limited amounts during any three-month period
not exceeding specified limitations. Optionee further represents that Optionee
understands that at the time he or she wishes to sell the Shares there may be no
public market upon which to make such a sale, and that, even if such a public
market then exists, the Company may not be satisfying the current public
information requirements of Rule 144, and that, in such event, he or she may be
precluded from selling the Shares under Rule 144 even if the one-year minimum
holding period had been satisfied. Optionee represents that he or she
understands that in the event the applicable requirements of Rule 144 are not
satisfied, registration under the Act, compliance with Regulation A or some
other registration exemption will be required; and that, notwithstanding the
fact that Rule 144 is not exclusive, the Staff of the SEC has expressed its
opinion that persons proposing to sell private placement securities other than
in a registered offering and otherwise than pursuant to Rule 144 will have a
substantial burden of proof in establishing that an exemption from registration
is available for such offers or sales, and that such persons and their
respective brokers who participate in such transactions do so at their own risk.

        (f) Without in any way limiting Optionee's representations and
warranties set forth herein, Optionee further agrees that he or she shall in no
event make any disposition of all or any portion of the Shares which Optionee is
purchasing unless and until:

                (i) There is then in effect a Registration Statement under the
        Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in
        accordance with said Registration Statement; or

                (ii) Optionee shall have (x) notified the Company of the
        proposed disposition and furnished the Company with a detailed statement
        of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and (y)
        furnished the Company with an opinion of his or her own counsel to the
        effect that such disposition will not require registration of such
        Shares under the Act, and such opinion of his or her counsel shall have
        been concurred in by counsel for the Company and the Company shall have
        advised Optionee of such concurrence.

        9. ESCROW. As security for his or her faithful performance of the terms
of this Agreement and to insure the availability for delivery of Optionee's
Shares upon exercise of the Company's right to repurchase and right of first
refusal herein provided for, Optionee agrees to deliver to and deposit with the
Secretary of the Company or the Secretary's nominee (in either case, the "Escrow
Agent"), as Escrow Agent in this transaction, two Assignments Separate From
Certificate duly endorsed (with date and number of shares blank) in the form
attached hereto as Attachment A, together with the certificate or certificates
evidencing the Shares; said documents are to be held by the Escrow Agent and
delivered to said Escrow Agent pursuant to the Joint Escrow Instructions of the
Company and Optionee set forth in Attachment B attached hereto and

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   32

incorporated herein by this reference, which instructions shall also be
delivered to the Escrow Agent at the closing hereunder.

        10. RESTRICTION ON ALIENATION. Optionee agrees that he or she will not
sell, transfer, gift, pledge, hypothecate, assign or otherwise dispose of any of
the Shares or any right or interest therein, whether voluntary, by operation of
law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Company, except a
transfer which meets the requirements of this Agreement and complies with all
applicable law. Any sale, transfer, gift, pledge, hypothecation, assignment or
purported sale, transfer or other disposition of such Shares by Optionee shall
be null and void unless the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement
are strictly observed.

        11. LOCKUP AGREEMENT. Optionee, if requested by the Company and an
underwriter of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, agrees not to
sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Common Stock (or other securities)
of the Company held by Optionee during the period not to exceed 180 days as
requested by the managing underwriter following the effective date of a
registration statement of the Company filed under the Act, provided that all
officers and directors of the Company are required or agree to enter into
similar agreements. Such agreement shall be in writing in a form satisfactory to
the Company and such underwriter. The Company may impose stop-transfer
instructions with respect to the shares or other securities subject to the
foregoing restriction until the end of such period.

        12. MISCELLANEOUS.

            (a) The Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books
any Shares which shall have been sold or transferred in violation of any of the
provisions set forth in this Agreement, or (ii) 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 shall have been so transferred.

            (b) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Optionee shall,
during the term of this Agreement, exercise all rights and privileges of a
shareholder of the Company with respect to the purchased Shares.

            (c) The parties agree to execute such further instruments and to
take such further action as may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent
of this Agreement.

            (d) Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon
deposit in the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail with
postage and fees prepaid, addressed to the other party hereto at such party's
address hereinafter shown below such party's signature or at such other address
as such party may designate by ten days advance written notice to the other
party hereto.

            (e) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and
assigns of the Company and, subject to all compliance with the restrictions on
transfer herein set forth, be binding upon Optionee, his or her heirs,
executors, administrators and permitted successors and assigns.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   33

            (f) This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of
California and constitutes the entire Agreement of the parties with respect to
the subject matter hereof superseding all prior written or oral agreements, and
no amendment or addition hereto shall be deemed effective unless agreed to in
writing by the parties hereto.

            (g) Optionee agrees that, until a public market for the Shares
exists, the Shares cannot be readily purchased, sold or evaluated in the open
market, that they have a unique and special value, and that the Company and its
shareholders would be irreparably damaged if the terms of this Agreement were
not capable of being specifically enforced and, for this reason, among others,
Optionee agrees that the Company shall be entitled to a decree of specific
performance of the terms hereof or an injunction restraining violation of this
Agreement, said right to be in addition to any other remedies available to the
Company.

            (h) If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining
provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect without being
impaired or invalidated in any way and shall be construed in accordance with the
purposes and tenor and effect of this Agreement.

            (i) Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any term of
employment or affect in any manner whatsoever the right or power of the Company
to terminate Optionee's employment, for any reason, with or without cause.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.

                                        Ixia Communications,
                                        a California corporation

                                        By: ___________________________________

                                        Title: ________________________________

                                        Address: ______________________________

                                                 ______________________________

                                        OPTIONEE

                                        Signature: ____________________________

                                        Address: ______________________________

                                                 ______________________________

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   34

                                 SPOUSAL CONSENT

        The undersigned spouse of Optionee acknowledges that he or she has read
the foregoing Agreement and agrees that his or her interest, if any, in the
Shares subject to the foregoing Agreement shall be irrevocably bound by this
Agreement and further understands and agrees that any community property
interest, if any, in the Shares shall be similarly bound by this Agreement.

DATE _________________________              ___________________________________
                                            Spouse of Optionee

                                            Print Spouse's Name: ______________

<PAGE>   35

                      ASSIGNMENT SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED _________________________________ hereby sells,
assigns and transfers unto_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ (______________)
shares of the Common Stock (the "Shares") of Ixia Communications, a California
corporation (the "Company"), standing in the undersigned's name on the books of
the Company represented by Certificate No. ________ herewith, and does hereby
irrevocably constitute and appoint __________________________________ attorney
to transfer the Shares on the books of the Company with full power of
substitution in the premises.

DATE _________________________

                                            Signature: ________________________

                                            Printed Name: _____________________

<PAGE>   36

                    ATTACHMENT B TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                            JOINT ESCROW INSTRUCTIONS

                             _______________, 199__

Corporate Secretary
Ixia Communications
4505 Las Virgenes Road, Suite 209
Calabasas, California  91302

Dear ___________________:

        As Escrow Agent for both Ixia Communications, a California corporation
(the "Company"), and the undersigned grantee of an option to purchase stock of
the Company ("Optionee"), you are hereby authorized and directed to hold the
documents delivered to you pursuant to the terms of that certain Stock Purchase
Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of _______________, 199___, to which a
copy of these Joint Escrow Instructions is attached as Attachment B, in
accordance with the following instructions:

        1. In the event the Company and/or any assignee of the Company (referred
to collectively for convenience herein as the "Company") shall elect to exercise
the repurchase right or the right of first refusal (collectively, the
"Repurchase Rights") set forth in the Agreement, the Company shall give to
Optionee and you a written notice specifying the number of shares of stock to be
purchased, the purchase price and the time for a closing hereunder at the
principal office of the Company. Optionee and the Company hereby irrevocably
authorize and direct you to close the transaction contemplated by such notice in
accordance with the terms of said notice.

        2. At the closing, you are directed (a) to date the stock assignments
necessary for the transfer in question, (b) to fill in the number of shares
being transferred and (c) to deliver same, together with the certificate
evidencing the shares of stock to be transferred, to the Company against the
simultaneous delivery to you of the purchase price (by check, evidence of
cancellation of indebtedness of Optionee to the Company or a promissory note, or
some combination thereof) for the number of shares of stock being purchased
pursuant to the exercise of the Repurchase Rights.

        3. Optionee irrevocably authorizes the Company to deposit with you any
certificates evidencing shares of stock to be held by you hereunder and any
additions and substitutions to said stock as provided in the Agreement. Optionee
does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint you as his or her
attorney-in-fact and agent for the term of this escrow to execute with respect
to such securities all stock certificates, stock assignments or other documents
necessary or appropriate to make such securities negotiable and to complete any
transaction herein contemplated.

<PAGE>   37

        4. This escrow shall terminate at such time as there are no longer any
shares of stock subject to the Repurchase Rights under the Agreement.

        5. If at the time of termination of this escrow you should have in your
possession any documents, securities or other property belonging to Optionee,
you shall deliver all of same to Optionee and shall be discharged of all further
obligations hereunder.

        6. Your duties hereunder may be altered, amended, modified or revoked
only by a writing signed by all of the parties hereto.

        7. You shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are
specifically set forth herein and may rely and shall be protected in relying or
refraining from acting on any instrument reasonably believed by you to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. You
shall not be personally liable for any act you may do or omit to do hereunder as
Escrow Agent or as attorney-in-fact for Optionee while acting in good faith and
in the exercise of your own good judgment, and any act done or omitted by you
pursuant to the advice of your own attorneys shall be conclusive evidence of
such good faith.

        8. You are hereby expressly authorized to disregard any and all warnings
given by any of the parties hereto or by any other person or corporation,
excepting only orders or process of courts of law, and you are hereby expressly
authorized to comply with and obey orders, judgments or decrees of any court. In
case you obey or comply with any such order, judgment or decree of any court,
you shall not be liable to either of the other parties hereto or to any other
person, firm or corporation by reason of such compliance, notwithstanding any
such order, judgment or decree being subsequently reversed, modified, annulled,
set aside, vacated or found to have been entered without jurisdiction.

        9. You shall not be liable in any respect on account of the identity,
authorities or rights of the parties executing or delivering or purporting to
execute or deliver the Agreement or any documents or papers deposited or called
for hereunder.

        10. You shall not be liable for the outlawing of any rights under any
statute of limitations with respect to these Joint Escrow Instructions or any
documents deposited with you.

        11. You shall be entitled to employ such legal counsel and other experts
as you may deem necessary or proper to advise you in connection with your
obligations hereunder, may rely upon the advice of such counsel, and may pay
such counsel reasonable compensation therefor.

        12. Your responsibilities as Escrow Agent hereunder shall terminate if
you shall cease to be Secretary of the Company or if you shall resign by written
notice to each of the other parties hereto. In the event of any such
termination, the Company shall appoint any officer of the Company as successor
Escrow Agent.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   38

        13. If you reasonably require other or further instruments in connection
with these Joint Escrow Instructions or obligations in respect hereto, the
necessary parties hereto shall join in furnishing such instruments.

        14. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise with
respect to the delivery and/or ownership or right of possession of the
securities held by you hereunder, you are authorized and directed to retain in
your possession without liability to anyone all or any part of said securities
until such dispute shall have been settled either by mutual written agreement of
the parties concerned or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court of
competent jurisdiction after the time for appeal has expired and no appeal has
been perfected, but you shall be under no duty whatsoever to institute or defend
any such proceedings.

        15. Any notice required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing
and shall be deemed effectively given upon personal delivery or upon deposit in
the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail with postage and
fees prepaid, addressed to each of the other parties thereunto entitled at the
following addresses, or at such other address as a party may designate by ten
days advance written notice to each of the other parties hereto.

                         COMPANY:      Ixia Communications
                                       4505 Las Virgenes Road, Suite 209
                                       Calabasas, California 91302
                                       Attention: Secretary

                         OPTIONEE:
                                       _______________________________________
                                       _______________________________________
                                       _______________________________________

                         ESCROW AGENT: Ixia Communications
                                       4505 Las Virgenes Road, Suite 209
                                       Calabasas, California  91302
                                       Attention: Secretary

        16. By signing these Joint Escrow Instructions, you become a party
hereto only for the purpose of said Joint Escrow Instructions; you do not become
a party to the Agreement.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   39

        17. This instrument shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       Ixia Communications,
                                       a California corporation

                                       By: ____________________________________
                                       Title:__________________________________

                                       OPTIONEE

                                       ________________________________________

                                       Signature: _____________________________
                                       Print Name:_____________________________

Agreed to and accepted as of the date set forth above.

ESCROW AGENT

Signature:________________________________

Print Name:_______________________________

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   40

                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                               IXIA COMMUNICATIONS
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

        Section 3 of the Ixia Communications 1997 Stock Option Plan is hereby
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

        "3. SHARES RESERVED.

                The maximum aggregate number of Shares reserved for issuance
        pursuant to the Plan shall be 6,000,000 Shares* or the number of shares
        of stock to which such Shares shall be adjusted as provided in Section
        12 of the Plan; provided, however, that at no time shall the total
        number of shares issuable upon exercise of all outstanding options and
        the total number of shares provided for under any stock bonus or similar
        plan of the Company exceed the applicable percentage as calculated in
        accordance with the conditions and exclusions set forth in Section
        260.140.45 of the California Code of Regulations, based on the shares of
        the Company which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made.
        Such number of Shares may be set aside out of authorized but unissued
        Shares not reserved for any other purpose, or out of issued Shares
        acquired for and held in the treasury of the Company from time to time.

                Shares subject to, but not sold or issued under, any Option
        terminating, expiring or canceled for any reason prior to its exercise
        in full shall again become available for Options thereafter granted
        under the Plan and the same shall not be deemed an increase in the
        number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan."

Dated:  May 10, 1998

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

* Such number of shares has been adjusted to reflect the Company's three-for-one
stock split effective on March 21, 2000.

<PAGE>   41

                               AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO
                               IXIA COMMUNICATIONS
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

        Section 3 of the Ixia Communications 1997 Stock Option Plan is hereby
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                "3. SHARES RESERVED.

                        The maximum aggregate number of Shares reserved for
                issuance pursuant to the Plan shall be 9,000,000 Shares* or the
                number of shares of stock to which such Shares shall be adjusted
                as provided in Section 12 of the Plan; provided, however, that
                at no time shall the total number of shares issuable upon
                exercise of all outstanding options and the total number of
                shares provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan of the
                Company exceed the applicable percentage as calculated in
                accordance with the conditions and exclusions set forth in
                Section 260.140.45 of the California Code of Regulations, based
                on the shares of the Company which are outstanding at the time
                the calculation is made. Such number of Shares may be set aside
                out of authorized but unissued Shares not reserved for any other
                purpose, or out of issued Shares acquired for and held in the
                treasury of the Company from time to time.

                        Shares subject to, but not sold or issued under, any
                Option terminating, expiring or canceled for any reason prior to
                its exercise in full shall again become available for Options
                thereafter granted under the Plan and the same shall not be
                deemed an increase in the number of Shares reserved for issuance
                under the Plan."

Dated: May 15, 1999

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

* Such number of shares has been adjusted to reflect the Company's three-for-one
stock split effective on March 21, 2000.

<PAGE>   42

                               AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO
                               IXIA COMMUNICATIONS
                             1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN

        Section 3 of the Ixia Communications 1997 Stock Option Plan is hereby
amended to read in its entirety as follows:

                "3. SHARES RESERVED.

                        The maximum aggregate number of Shares reserved for
                issuance pursuant to the Plan shall be 15,000,000 Shares* or the
                number of shares of stock to which such Shares shall be adjusted
                as provided in Section 12 of the Plan; provided, however, that
                at no time shall the total number of shares issuable upon
                exercise of all outstanding options and the total number of
                shares provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan of the
                Company exceed the applicable percentage as calculated in
                accordance with the conditions and exclusions set forth in
                Section 260.140.45 of the California Code of Regulations, based
                on the shares of the Company which are outstanding at the time
                the calculation is made. Such number of Shares may be set aside
                out of authorized but unissued Shares not reserved for any other
                purpose, or out of issued Shares acquired for and held in the
                treasury of the Company from time to time.

                        Shares subject to, but not sold or issued under, any
                Option terminating, expiring or canceled for any reason prior to
                its exercise in full shall again become available for Options
                thereafter granted under the Plan and the same shall not be
                deemed an increase in the number of Shares reserved for issuance
                under the Plan."

Dated: February 11, 2000

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

* Such number of shares has been adjusted to reflect the Company's three-for-one
stock split effective on March 21, 2000.<PAGE>   1

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.6

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$500,000                                                            June 1, 1998

             FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Ixia Communications, a
California corporation, promises to pay to the order of Jean-Claude Asscher, an
individual residing in France, by wire transfer to such account as the holder
may designate or, at the option of the holder, by check at such place as the
holder may designate, the principal sum of $500,000, without interest thereon.

             The principal sum of this Note shall be due and payable in full on
the earlier to occur of (i) demand by the holder or (ii) December 31, 1999.

             In the event that (i) any sum owing hereunder is not paid as
agreed, (ii) a petition or application for a receiver or for any form of relief
under any provision of the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, U.S.C.) or any law
pertaining to the reorganization, insolvency or readjustment of debts is filed
by or against the undersigned, or its assets or affairs or (iii) the undersigned
makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, admits in writing an inability
to pay debts as they become due or is adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, then
all obligations hereunder shall become immediately due and payable without
presentment for payment, diligence, grace, exhibition of this Note, protest,
dishonor, demand or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived
by the undersigned.

             Upon the default of the undersigned under this Note, the holder
hereof will have full recourse against the undersigned.

             The undersigned hereby: (i) agrees to pay the holder hereof, upon
demand, any and all costs, expenses and fees, including reasonable attorneys'
fees incurred before or after suit is commenced, in enforcing payment hereof,
and, in the event suit is brought to enforce payment hereof, that such costs,
expenses and fees shall be determined by a court sitting without a jury; (ii)
waives all counterclaims and setoffs, and any and all applicable exemption,
valuation and appraisal rights; (iii) agrees to any and all extensions and
renewals hereof, from time to time, without notice; and (iv) expressly agrees
that the acceptance by the holder of this Note of any performance which does not
strictly comply with the terms of this Note shall not be deemed to be a waiver
of any rights of the holder.

             This Note may be transferred or assigned at the option of the
holder hereof.

             The interpretation, construction and enforcement of this Note shall
be governed by the laws of the State of California.

<PAGE>   2

             IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Note as
of the date written above.

                                       IXIA COMMUNICATIONS

                                       By:    /s/ Errol Ginsberg
                                          ------------------------------------
                                            Errol Ginsberg, President

                                       2

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