-----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,
 FsCcVBr1glm4jvaIV3ZAHMdXUOIF3TkcdDW3JyIBZD/NlN/Q4Ls7PalBZY9xz5a8
 rKPTh2e5MwLzdEqa9EJnpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001222402-06-000112.txt : 20061208
<SEC-HEADER>0001222402-06-000112.hdr.sgml : 20061208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061208172539
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001222402-06-000112
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20061208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061208

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRAY LEW W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001007554
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16393
		FILM NUMBER:		061266607

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>gra326.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-12-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001007554</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRAY LEW W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>632 MIMOSA BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROSWELL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>300754406</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.6981</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Christopher C. Chaffin, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----