Noncontrolling Interest	12 Months Ended
Noncontrolling Interest	Dec. 31, 2011
Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Noncontrolling Interest	NOTE 11 — NONCONTROLLING INTEREST In October 2011, we acquired a 60 percent voting equity interest in Smarsh, Inc., a privately-held company. The minority shareholder who holds the remaining 40 percent noncontrolling interest was granted the right to require us to purchase half of the 40 percent noncontrolling interest from the first anniversary until the fifth anniversary of the acquisition date. The maximum redemption value payable by us in that case would be $22 million. The put right is embedded in the shares owned by the minority shareholder and is not freestanding. This 20 percent noncontrolling interest is accounted for as redeemable noncontrolling interest because redemption is outside our control. As such, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is reported in the mezzanine section as temporary equity in our consolidated balance sheets. The remaining 20 percent noncontrolling interest is presented within total equity in our consolidated balance sheets. Noncontrolling interest that is redeemable at other than fair value is recorded at the higher of its carrying amount or redemption value as if the end of the reporting period was the redemption date. As of December 31, 2011, the carrying amount of the redeemable noncontrolling interest was increased to the redemption value of $22 million. The increase of $8.2 million was recorded in net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, thereby directly affecting net income attributable to Quest Software, Inc. Net income per share is calculated based on net income attributable to Quest Software, Inc. stockholders.

The entire disclosure for noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries, which could include the name of the subsidiary, the ownership percentage held by the parent, the ownership percentage held by the noncontrolling owners, the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the location of this amount on the balance sheet (when not reported separately), an explanation of the increase or decrease in the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the noncontrolling interest share of the net Income or Loss of the subsidiary, the location of this amount on the income statement (when not reported separately), the nature of the noncontrolling interest such as background information and terms, the amount of the noncontrolling interest represented by preferred stock, a description of the preferred stock, and the dividend requirements of the preferred stock.

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