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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IJ6ytgAeG1rhevnCIjTO+aZYW+QlbI328sg77un/ZLzotx4a8ouoClTogeqmT24l
 4vPnQRqQNAGxtgd83+fmYw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245258-05-000004.txt : 20050224
<SEC-HEADER>0001245258-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050224
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050224182303
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245258-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050224
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050224

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAWSON J HALLAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208745

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25285
		FILM NUMBER:		05638478

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2755 CAMPUS DR
		STREET 2:		3RD FL
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403-2538

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SERENA SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001073967
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942669809
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2755 CAMPUS DRIVE
		STREET 2:		3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403-2538
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6505226600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2755 CAMPUS DRIVE
		STREET 2:		3RD FLOOR
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403-2538
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001073967</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SERENA SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SRNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208745</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAWSON J HALLAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2755 CAMPUS DRIVE, 3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94403-2538</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">100% of these shares shall become exercisable on the anniversary date of the grant, provided that the Optionee continues to serve as a Director on such date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. HALLAM DAWSON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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