-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Plqe/+Th5GTeame6Mwx5n4SWtkbDiA3YNZLbFmWdGHHeFzVzn5H+t2YgsZ2xHKu7
 GpQN5UINUxNxCnd09Fe6cw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001088033-03-000028.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0001088033-03-000028.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030602194520
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001088033-03-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030529
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACHIN DORAN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214154

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26937
		FILM NUMBER:		03728991

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		QUEST SOFTWARE INC
		STREET 2:		8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUEST SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001088033
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				330231678
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9497548000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			IRVINE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92618
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-29</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001088033</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUEST SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>QSFT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214154</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MACHIN DORAN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.67</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>15000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-29</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-29</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><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>J. Michael Vaughn, Attorney-in-Fact for Doran G. Machin</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----