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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001222402-06-000075.txt : 20060824
<SEC-HEADER>0001222402-06-000075.hdr.sgml : 20060824
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060824171302
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001222402-06-000075
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060822
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060824
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060824

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CUPP B GARLAND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001007920

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16393
		FILM NUMBER:		061053628

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BMC SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000835729
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				742126120
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7139188800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>cup303.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-08-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000835729</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BMC SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BMC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001007920</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CUPP B GARLAND</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1901 OAK VALLEY TERRACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>73003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Chairman of the Board</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonemployee Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-08-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option grant under BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Employee Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Such options shall vest fully after one year provided that if the subsequent annual meeting of stockholders is held prior to the one year anniversary of the 2006 Annual Meeting such options shall vest on the date of such meeting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Christopher C. Chaffin, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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