-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 SuCOsgBYiV/nof9C7y9rJe/n7q6471OZxhTgurPc84eNLyH6tmZSfnBy8oEzld7G
 bpWBEnsUi1EvoTTnOWPJjw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001088033-03-000058.txt : 20030912
<SEC-HEADER>0001088033-03-000058.hdr.sgml : 20030912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030912123806
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001088033-03-000058
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030912

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH VINCENT C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106662

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26937
		FILM NUMBER:		03893299

	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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-10</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001088033</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QUEST SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>QSFT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106662</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH VINCENT C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O QUEST SOFTWARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8001 IRVINE CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92618</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman of the Board and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.56</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>750000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-09-10</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurity
Title><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>750000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>750000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These options vest as follows: (a) 20% on the first anniversary date of grant; and (b) 10% upon the completion of each of the next eight six-month periods of employment.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>J. Michael Vaughn, Attorney-in-Fact for Vincent C. Smith</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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