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                                                                EXHIBIT 99.5

                             NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.
                         NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION

            Notice is hereby given of the following option grant (the "Option")
to purchase shares of the Common Stock of Network Appliance, Inc. (the
"Corporation"):

            OPTIONEE:  1~

            GRANT DATE:  2~

            EXERCISE PRICE:  $3~ per share

            NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES:  4~ shares

            EXPIRATION DATE:  5~

            TYPE OF OPTION:  Non-Statutory Stock Option

            NORMAL EXERCISE/VESTING SCHEDULE: All the Option Shares are
            immediately vested, and the Option shall become exercisable for
            those Option Shares upon the expiration of the six (6)-year period
            measured from the Grant Date, whether or not Optionee continues in
            Service throughout that period.

            ACCELERATED EXERCISE SCHEDULE: The Option shall become exercisable
            on an accelerated basis during Optionee's period of Service in
            accordance with the following schedule:

                  - Upon Optionee's completion of six (6) continuous months of
            Service at any time within the six (6)-year period measured from the
            Grant Date, the Option shall become exercisable for one-sixth of the
            Option Shares. Upon the Optionee's completion of each additional
            month of Service thereafter within that six (6)-year period, the
            Option shall become exercisable for an additional one-thirty-sixth
            of the Option Shares.

            Optionee agrees to be bound by the terms of the Option as set forth
in the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A.
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            No Employment or Service Contract. Nothing in this Notice or in the
attached Stock Option Agreement shall confer upon Optionee any right to continue
in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise
restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary
employing or retaining Optionee) or of Optionee, which rights are hereby
expressly reserved by each, to terminate Optionee's Service at any time for any
reason, with or without cause.

            Definitions. All capitalized terms in this Notice shall have the
meaning assigned to them in this Notice or in the attached Stock Option
Agreement.

DATED:_________________________, 1997


                                          NETWORK APPLIANCE, INC.

                                          By:___________________________________

                                          Title:________________________________


                                          ______________________________________
                                          1~, OPTIONEE

                                          Address:______________________________

                                          ______________________________________



ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A - Stock Option Agreement


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