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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                               BMC SOFTWARE, INC.

                       2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN



                                   I. PURPOSE

      The purpose of the BMC SOFTWARE, INC. 2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(the "Plan") is to provide a means through which BMC SOFTWARE, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and its subsidiaries may attract able persons to
serve as consultants or advisors or to enter the employ of the Company or its
subsidiaries and to provide a means whereby those individuals upon whom the
responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company
and its subsidiaries rest, and whose present and potential contributions to the
welfare of the Company and its subsidiaries are of importance, can acquire and
maintain stock ownership, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of
the Company and its subsidiaries. A further purpose of the Plan is to provide
such individuals with additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to
enhance the profitable growth of the Company and its subsidiaries. Accordingly,
the Plan provides for granting Options and Restricted Stock Awards, or any
combination of the foregoing, as is best suited to the circumstances of the
particular employee, consultant, or advisor as provided herein.

                                 II. DEFINITIONS

      The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan unless
specifically modified by any paragraph:

      (a) "AWARD" means, individually or collectively, any Option or Restricted
Stock Award.

      (b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

      (c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference
in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any amendments
or successor provisions to such section and any regulations under such section.

      (d) "COMMITTEE" means a committee of the Board that is selected by the
Board as provided in Paragraph IV(a).

      (e) "COMMON STOCK" means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
the Company, or any security into which such Common Stock may be changed by
reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Paragraph IX.

      (f) "COMPANY" means BMC Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation.



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      (g) "CONSULTANT" means any person who is not an employee and who is
providing advisory or consulting services to the Company or any parent or
subsidiary corporation (as defined in section 424 of the Code).

      (h) "DIRECTOR" means an individual elected to the Board by the
stockholders of the Company or by the Board under applicable corporate law who
is serving on the Board on the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or is
elected to the Board after such date.

      (i) An "EMPLOYEE" means any person (including a Director) in an employment
relationship with the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation (as
defined in section 424 of the Code).

      (j) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any specified date, the mean of the
high and low sales prices of the Common Stock (i) reported by the National
Market System of NASDAQ on that date or (ii) if the Common Stock is listed on a
national stock exchange, reported on the stock exchange composite tape on that
date; or, in either case, if no prices are reported on that date, on the last
preceding date on which such prices of the Common Stock are so reported. If the
Common Stock is traded over the counter at the time a determination of its fair
market value is required to be made hereunder, its fair market value shall be
deemed to be equal to the average between the reported high and low or closing
bid and asked prices of Common Stock on the most recent date on which Common
Stock was publicly traded. In the event Common Stock is not publicly traded at
the time a determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the
determination of its fair market value shall be made by the Committee in such
manner as it deems appropriate.

      (k) "HOLDER" means an employee, Consultant, or Director who has been
granted an Award.

      (l) "1934 ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

      (m) "OPTION" means an Award granted under Paragraph VII of the Plan.

      (n) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company and a
Holder with respect to an Option.

      (o) "PLAN" means the BMC Software, Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Incentive
Plan, as amended from time to time.

      (p) "RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the
Company and a Holder with respect to a Restricted Stock Award.

      (q) "RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD" means an Award granted under Paragraph VIII
of the Plan.

      (r) "RULE 16B-3" means SEC Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the 1934 Act, as
such may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule, regulation or
statute fulfilling the same or a similar function.



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      (s) "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Paragraph VII(c) of the Plan.

                  III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF THE PLAN

      The Plan shall become effective upon the date of its adoption by the
Board. No further Awards may be granted under the Plan after ten years from the
date the Plan is adopted by the Board. The Plan shall remain in effect until all
Options granted under the Plan have been satisfied or expired, and all
Restricted Stock Awards granted under the Plan have vested or been forfeited.

                               IV. ADMINISTRATION

      (a) COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by a
committee of, and appointed by, the Board that shall be comprised solely of two
or more non-employee directors (within the meaning of "Non-Employee Director" as
defined in Rule 16b-3).

      (b) POWERS. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee
shall have authority, in its discretion, to determine which employees,
Consultants, or Directors shall receive an Award, the time or times when such
Award shall be made, and the number of shares to be subject to each Option or
Restricted Stock Award. In making such determinations, the Committee shall take
into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective employees,
Consultants, or Directors, their present and potential contribution to the
Company's success and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion
shall deem relevant.

      (c) ADDITIONAL POWERS. The Committee shall have such additional powers as
are delegated to it by the other provisions of the Plan. Subject to the express
provisions of the Plan, this shall include the power to construe the Plan and
the respective agreements executed hereunder, to prescribe rules and regulations
relating to the Plan, to determine the terms, restrictions and provisions of the
agreement relating to each Award, and to make all other determinations necessary
or advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any
agreement relating to an Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem
expedient to carry it into effect. The determinations of the Committee on the
matters referred to in this Paragraph IV shall be conclusive.

                V. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; GRANT OF OPTIONS;
                        GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

      (a) SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to adjustment in the same manner
as provided in Paragraph IX with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to
Options then outstanding, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that
may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed 12,000,000 shares. Shares shall be
deemed to have been issued under the Plan only (i) to the extent actually issued
and delivered pursuant to an Award or (ii) to the extent an Award is settled in
cash. To the extent that an Award lapses or the rights of its Holder terminate,
any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award shall again be available for
the grant of an Award under the Plan.



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      (b) GRANT OF OPTIONS. The Committee may from time to time grant Options to
one or more employees, Consultants, or Directors determined by it to be eligible
for participation in the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

      (c) GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS. The Committee may from time to time
grant Restricted Stock Awards to one or more employees, Consultants, or
Directors determined by it to be eligible for participation in the Plan in
accordance with the terms of the Plan.

      (d) STOCK OFFERED. Subject to the limitations set forth in Paragraph V(a),
the stock to be offered pursuant to the grant of an Award may be authorized but
unissued Common Stock or Common Stock previously issued and outstanding and
reacquired by the Company. Any of such shares which remain unissued and which
are not subject to outstanding Awards at the termination of the Plan shall cease
to be subject to the Plan but, until termination of the Plan, the Company shall
at all times make available a sufficient number of shares to meet the
requirements of the Plan.

                                 VI. ELIGIBILITY

      Awards may be granted only to persons who, at the time of grant, are
employees, Consultants, or Directors; provided, however, that Awards may not be
granted to any Director who is not an employee. An Award may be granted on more
than one occasion to the same person, and, subject to the limitations set forth
in the Plan, such Award may include an Option, a Restricted Stock Award, or any
combination thereof.

                               VII. STOCK OPTIONS

      (a) OPTION PERIOD. The term of each Option shall be as specified by the
Committee at the date of grant.

      (b) LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE OF OPTION. An Option shall be exercisable in
whole or in such installments and at such times as determined by the Committee.

      (c) OPTION AGREEMENT. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Option
Agreement in such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan as the Committee from time to time shall approve. Each
Option Agreement shall specify the effect of termination of (i) employment or
(ii) the consulting or advisory relationship, as applicable, on the
exercisability of the Option. An Option Agreement may provide for the payment of
the option price, in whole or in part, by the delivery of a number of shares of
Common Stock (plus cash if necessary) having a Fair Market Value equal to such
option price. Moreover, an Option Agreement may provide for a "cashless
exercise" of the Option by establishing procedures satisfactory to the Committee
with respect thereto. Further, an Option Agreement may provide for the surrender
of the right to purchase shares under the Option in return for a payment in cash
or shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock
equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the shares with respect
to which the right to purchase is surrendered over the option price therefor
("Stock Appreciation Rights"), on such terms and conditions as the Committee in
its sole discretion may prescribe. The terms and conditions of the respective
Option Agreements need not be identical.



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      (d) OPTION PRICE AND PAYMENT. The price at which a share of Common Stock
may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee
but, subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph IX, such purchase price of
an Option shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock on the date such Option is granted. The Option or portion thereof may be
exercised by delivery of an irrevocable notice of exercise to the Company, as
specified by the Committee. The purchase price of the Option or portion thereof
shall be paid in full in the manner prescribed by the Committee. Options granted
under the Plan shall not be treated as incentive stock options within the
meaning of section 422(b) of the Code.

      (e) STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES. The Holder shall be entitled to all
the privileges and rights of a stockholder only with respect to such shares of
Common Stock as have been purchased under the Option and for which certificates
of stock have been registered in the Holder's name.

      (f) OPTIONS AND RIGHTS IN SUBSTITUTION FOR STOCK OPTIONS GRANTED BY OTHER
CORPORATIONS. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted under the
Plan from time to time in substitution for stock options held by individuals
employed by corporations who become employees as a result of a merger or
consolidation or other business combination of the employing corporation with
the Company or any subsidiary.

                          VIII. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

      (a) FORFEITURE RESTRICTIONS TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE COMMITTEE. Shares of
Common Stock that are the subject of a Restricted Stock Award shall be subject
to restrictions on disposition by the Holder and an obligation of the Holder to
forfeit and surrender the shares to the Company under certain circumstances (the
"Forfeiture Restrictions"). The Forfeiture Restrictions shall be determined by
the Committee in its sole discretion, and the Committee may provide that the
Forfeiture Restrictions shall lapse upon (i) the attainment of one or more
performance targets established by the Committee, (ii) the Holder's continued
employment with the Company or continued service as a Consultant for a specified
period of time, (iii) the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any
other condition specified by the Committee in its sole discretion, or (iv) a
combination of any of the foregoing. Each Restricted Stock Award may have
different Forfeiture Restrictions, in the discretion of the Committee.

      (b) OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Common Stock awarded pursuant to a
Restricted Stock Award shall be represented by a stock certificate registered in
the name of the Holder of such Restricted Stock Award. The Holder shall have the
right to receive dividends with respect to Common Stock subject to a Restricted
Stock Award, to vote Common Stock subject thereto and to enjoy all other
stockholder rights, except that (i) the Holder shall not be entitled to delivery
of the stock certificate until the Forfeiture Restrictions have expired, (ii)
the Company shall retain custody of the stock until the Forfeiture Restrictions
have expired, (iii) the Holder may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange,
hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the stock until the Forfeiture Restrictions
have expired, and (iv) a breach of the terms and conditions established by the
Committee pursuant to the Restricted Stock Agreement shall cause a forfeiture of
the Restricted Stock Award. At the time of such Award, the Committee may, in its
sole discretion, prescribe additional terms, conditions



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or restrictions relating to Restricted Stock Awards, including, but not limited
to, rules pertaining to the termination of employment or service as a Consultant
(by retirement, disability, death or otherwise) of a Holder prior to expiration
of the Forfeiture Restrictions. Such additional terms, conditions or
restrictions shall be set forth in a Restricted Stock Agreement made in
conjunction with the Award.

      (c) PAYMENT FOR RESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee shall determine the amount
and form of any payment for Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Stock
Award, provided that in the absence of such a determination, a Holder shall not
be required to make any payment for Common Stock received pursuant to a
Restricted Stock Award, except to the extent otherwise required by law.

      (d) COMMITTEE'S DISCRETION TO ACCELERATE VESTING OF RESTRICTED STOCK
AWARDS. The Committee may, in its discretion and as of a date determined by the
Committee, fully vest any or all Common Stock awarded to a Holder pursuant to a
Restricted Stock Award and, upon such vesting, all restrictions applicable to
such Restricted Stock Award shall terminate as of such date. Any action by the
Committee pursuant to this Subparagraph may vary among individual Holders and
may vary among the Restricted Stock Awards held by any individual Holder.

      (e) RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENTS. At the time any Award is made under this
Paragraph VIII, the Company and the Holder shall enter into a Restricted Stock
Agreement setting forth each of the matters contemplated hereby and such other
matters as the Committee may determine to be appropriate. The terms and
provisions of the respective Restricted Stock Agreements need not be identical.

                     IX. RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION

      (a) NO EFFECT ON RIGHT OR POWER. The existence of the Plan and the Awards
granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or
the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment,
recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company's or any
subsidiary's capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of
the Company or any subsidiary, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of
or affecting Common Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation
of the Company or any subsidiary or any sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate
act or proceeding.

      (b) SUBDIVISION OR CONSOLIDATION OF SHARES; STOCK DIVIDENDS. The shares
with respect to which Options may be granted are shares of Common Stock as
presently constituted, but if, and whenever, prior to the expiration of an
Option theretofore granted, the Company shall effect a subdivision or
consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a stock dividend on
Common Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of
shares of Common Stock with respect to which such Option may thereafter be
exercised (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares
shall be proportionately increased, and the purchase price per share shall be



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proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of
outstanding shares shall be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per
share shall be proportionately increased. Any fractional share resulting from
such adjustment shall be rounded up to the next whole share.

      (c) RECAPITALIZATIONS AND CORPORATE CHANGES. If the Company recapitalizes,
reclassifies its capital stock, or otherwise changes its capital structure (a
"recapitalization"), the number and class of shares of Common Stock covered by
an Option theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Option shall
thereafter cover the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which
the Holder would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the
recapitalization if, immediately prior to the recapitalization, the Holder had
been the holder of record of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered
by such Option. If (i) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in any
merger or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity), (ii)
the Company sells, leases or exchanges or agrees to sell, lease or exchange all
or substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity, (iii) the
Company is to be dissolved and liquidated, (iv) any person or entity, including
a "group" as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act, acquires or gains
ownership or control (including, without limitation, power to vote) of more than
50% of the outstanding shares of the Company's voting stock (based upon voting
power), or (v) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of
Directors, the persons who were Directors of the Company before such election
shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board (each such event is referred
to herein as a "Corporate Change"), no later than (x) ten days after the
approval by the stockholders of the Company of such merger, consolidation,
reorganization, sale, lease or exchange of assets or dissolution or such
election of Directors or (y) thirty days after a Corporate Change of the type
described in clause (iv), the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without
the consent or approval of any Holder, shall effect one or more of the following
alternatives, which alternatives may vary among individual Holders and which may
vary among Options held by any individual Holder: (1) accelerate the time at
which Options then outstanding may be exercised so that such Options may be
exercised in full for a limited period of time on or before a specified date
(before or after such Corporate Change) fixed by the Committee, after which
specified date all unexercised Options and all rights of Holders thereunder
shall terminate, (2) require the mandatory surrender to the Company by selected
Holders of some or all of the outstanding Options held by such Holders
(irrespective of whether such Options are then exercisable under the provisions
of the Plan) as of a date, before or after such Corporate Change, specified by
the Committee, in which event the Committee shall thereupon cancel such Options
and cause the Company to pay to each Holder an amount of cash per share equal to
the excess, if any, of the amount calculated in Subparagraph (d) below (the
"Change of Control Value") of the shares subject to such Option over the
exercise price(s) under such Options for such shares, (3) make such adjustments
to Options then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such
Corporate Change (provided, however, that the Committee may determine in its
sole discretion that no adjustment is necessary to Options then outstanding), or
(4) provide that the number and class of shares of Common Stock covered by an
Option theretofore granted shall be adjusted so that such Option shall
thereafter cover the number and class of shares of stock or other securities or
property (including, without limitation, cash) to which the Holder would have
been entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger, consolidation or
sale of assets and dissolution if, immediately prior to such merger,
consolidation or sale of assets and dissolution, the Holder had been the holder
of record of the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by such Option.



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      (d) CHANGE OF CONTROL VALUE . For the purposes of clause (2) in
Subparagraph (c) above, the "Change of Control Value" shall equal the amount
determined in clause (i), (ii) or (iii), whichever is applicable, as follows:
(i) the per share price offered to stockholders of the Company in any such
merger, consolidation, sale of assets or dissolution transaction, (ii) the price
per share offered to stockholders of the Company in any tender offer or exchange
offer whereby a Corporate Change takes place, or (iii) if such Corporate Change
occurs other than pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, the fair market value
per share of the shares into which such Options being surrendered are
exercisable, as determined by the Committee as of the date determined by the
Committee to be the date of cancellation and surrender of such Options. In the
event that the consideration offered to stockholders of the Company in any
transaction described in this Subparagraph (d) or Subparagraph (c) above
consists of anything other than cash, the Committee shall determine the fair
cash equivalent of the portion of the consideration offered which is other than
cash.

      (e) OTHER CHANGES IN THE COMMON STOCK. In the event of changes in the
outstanding Common Stock by reason of recapitalizations, reorganizations,
mergers, consolidations, combinations, split-ups, split-offs, spin-offs,
exchanges or other relevant changes in capitalization or distributions to the
holders of Common Stock occurring after the date of the grant of any Award and
not otherwise provided for by this Paragraph IX, such Award and any agreement
evidencing such Award shall be subject to adjustment by the Committee at its
discretion as to the number and price of shares of Common Stock or other
consideration subject to such Award. In the event of any such change in the
outstanding Common Stock or distribution to the holders of Common Stock, the
aggregate number of shares available under the Plan and the maximum number of
shares that may be subject to Awards granted to any one individual may be
appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be
conclusive.

      (f) STOCKHOLDER ACTION. Any adjustment provided for in the above
Subparagraphs shall be subject to any required stockholder action.

      (g) NO ADJUSTMENTS UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED. Except as hereinbefore
expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class
or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property,
labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to
subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company
convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not
for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be
made with respect to, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards
theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable.

                    X. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

      The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with
respect to any shares of Common Stock for which Awards have not theretofore been
granted. The Board shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part
thereof from time to time; provided that no change in any Award theretofore
granted may be made which would impair the rights of the Holder without the
consent of the Holder.



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                                XI. MISCELLANEOUS

      (a) NO RIGHT TO AN AWARD. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor any action
of the Board or of the Committee shall be deemed to give an employee or
Consultant any right to be granted an Option, a right to a Restricted Stock
Award, or any other rights hereunder except as may be evidenced by an Option
Agreement or a Restricted Stock Agreement duly executed on behalf of the
Company, and then only to the extent and on the terms and conditions expressly
set forth therein. The Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required
to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of
funds or assets to assure the performance of its obligations under any Award.

      (b) NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS CONFERRED. Nothing contained in the Plan shall
(i) confer upon any employee or Consultant any right with respect to
continuation of employment or of a consulting or advisory relationship with the
Company or any subsidiary or (ii) interfere in any way with the right of the
Company or any subsidiary to terminate his or her employment or consulting or
advisory relationship at any time.

      (c) OTHER LAWS; WITHHOLDING. The Company shall not be obligated to issue
any Common Stock pursuant to any Award granted under the Plan at any time when
the shares covered by such Award have not been registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and such other state and federal laws, rules and
regulations as the Company or the Committee deems applicable and, in the opinion
of legal counsel for the Company, there is no exemption from the registration
requirements of such laws, rules and regulations available for the issuance and
sale of such shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be delivered,
nor shall any cash in lieu of fractional shares be paid. The Company shall have
the right to deduct in connection with all Awards any taxes required by law to
be withheld and to require any payments required to enable it to satisfy its
withholding obligations.

      (d) NO RESTRICTION ON CORPORATE ACTION. Nothing contained in the Plan
shall be construed to prevent the Company or any subsidiary from taking any
corporate action which is deemed by the Company or such subsidiary to be
appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an
adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No employee,
Consultant, Director, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against
the Company or any subsidiary as a result of any such action.

      (e) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. An Award shall not be transferable otherwise
than (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules
thereunder, or (iii) with the consent of the Committee.

      (f) GOVERNING LAW. THE PLAN SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.



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