Document and Entity Information Document And Entity Information Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Trading Symbol Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Voluntary Filers Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Public Float Consolidated Balance Sheets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, end of fiscal year Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of fiscal year Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and cash equivalents Available For Sale Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesCurrent Investments Available-for-sale Securities, Current, Total Fair Value Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $235 at July 31, 2010 and $216 at July 25, 2009 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $204 at July 30, 2011 and $235 at July 31, 2010 Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Inventories Total Total Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current Current Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current, Total Financing receivables, net Deferred tax assets - current Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Deferred tax assets-current Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property and equipment, net Total Total Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent Noncurrent Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent, Total Financing receivables, net Goodwill Balance, ending Balance, beginning Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Total Goodwill, Beginning Balance Purchased intangible assets, net Total, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Purchased intangible assets, net Other Assets Noncurrent Other assets Total Total TOTAL ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS Current liabilities: LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Debt Current Short-term debt Total Total Accounts Payable, Current Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Income taxes payable Employee-related Liabilities, Current Employee-related Liabilities, Current, Total Accrued compensation Deferred Revenue, Current Current Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Deferred revenue Other current liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long Term Debt Noncurrent Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Total long-term debt Total long-term debt Long-term debt Accrued Income Taxes, Noncurrent Income taxes payable Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Noncurrent Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent, Total Deferred revenue Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Total liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies (Note 11) Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) Cisco shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, no par value: 5 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.001 par value: 20,000 shares authorized; 5,655 and 5,785 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2010 and July 25, 2009, respectively Common Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Common Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.001 par value: 20,000 shares authorized; 5,435 and 5,655 shares issued and outstanding at July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively Common Stock, Including Additional Paid in Capital, Total Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Total Total Accumulated other comprehensive income Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total Cisco shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests, Beginning Balance Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Minority interest Total equity Total equity, ending balance Total equity, beginning balance BALANCE, Value Total equity TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts Preferred stock, no par value Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred stock, issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred stock, outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Consolidated Statements Of Operations NET SALES: Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Sales Revenue, Goods, Net, Total Product Sales Revenue, Services, Net Sales Revenue, Services, Net, Total Service Total net sales Net sales Total net sales Total net sales COST OF SALES: Cost of Goods Sold Cost of Goods Sold, Total Product Cost of Services Cost of Services, Total Service Total cost of sales Total cost of sales GROSS MARGIN Gross margin GROSS MARGIN OPERATING EXPENSES: The costs incurred, including software development costs, in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, excluding in-process research and development relating to business combinations (if applicable) Research And Development Costs Including Software Development Costs Research and development Sales and marketing Selling and Marketing Expense, Total General and administrative General and Administrative Expense, Total Amortization of purchased intangible assets Intangible assets amortization expense Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Research and Development in Process In-Process R&D Expense In-process research and development Restructuring and other charges Restructuring And Other Charges1 Restructuring and other charges Total operating expenses Total operating expenses Operating expenses OPERATING INCOME OPERATING INCOME Interest Income Expense Net Interest income Investment Income, Interest and Dividend, Total Interest expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest expense Other income, net Other income (loss), net Other income (loss), net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Interest and other income (loss), net Interest and other income, net Interest and other income, net Income before provision for income taxes. Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Income before provision for income taxes INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES Total Provision for income taxes Income tax expense (benefit) Provision for income taxes, total Total Net income NET INCOME Net income (1) Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income per share-basic Earnings Per Share, Basic, Total Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income per share-diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Shares used in per-share calculation-basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Weighted-average shares-basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Shares used in per-share calculation-diluted Weighted-average shares-diluted Diluted Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production, and other noncash add backs to operating cash flows not listed separately. Depreciation, amortization, and other noncash items Depreciation, amortization and other Share-based Compensation expenses Share-based Compensation, Total Share-based compensation expense Provision for doubtful accounts Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Credits Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Credits, Total Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation, Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Net (gains) losses on investments Net (gains) losses on investments Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures: Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures: Accounts receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Increase (Decrease) in Finance Receivables Financing receivables, net Financing receivables, net Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets, Total Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Total Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Income Taxes Payable Income taxes payable Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities, Total Accrued compensation Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Other liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities, Total Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of investments Purchases of investments Payments to Acquire Investments, Total Proceeds from sales of investments Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities, Total Proceeds from maturities of investments Acquisition of property and equipment Acquisition of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Acquisition of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total The net cash inflow (outflow) associated with the acquisition or disposal of investments in privately held companies. Payments For Proceeds From Investments In Privately Held Companies Change in investments in privately held companies Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Issuance of common stock Issuances of common stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Repurchases of common stock Short-term borrowings (payment), net Short-term borrowings, maturities less than 90 days, net Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-term Debt, Total Issuance of long-term debt Issuance of debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Issuances of debt, maturities greater than 90 days Repayment of long-term debt Repayments of debt, maturities greater than 90 days Repayment of long-term debt Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation Payments of Dividends Dividends paid Dividends paid Payments of Dividends, Total Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities Other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash paid for: Interest Interest Paid, Total Income Taxes Paid, Net Income taxes Income Taxes Paid, Net, Total Consolidated Statements Of Equity Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Shares Of Common Stock [Member] Common Stock And Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Total Cisco Shareholders' Equity [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member] Shares, Issued BALANCE, Shares BALANCE, Shares BALANCE, Shares Period Change In Other Comprehensive Income Period Change In Other Comprehensive Income Change in: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Unrealized gains and losses on investments, parent Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent, Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Unrealized gains and losses on investments, noncontrolling Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax Net change in unrealized gains/losses on available-for-sale investments, Total Net change in unrealized gains/losses on available-for-sale investments, Total Unrealized gains and losses on investments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent, Total Derivative instruments, parent Change in derivative instruments Derivative instruments Net change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments, Total Net change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments, Total Derivative instruments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Cumulative translation adjustment and other, parent Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent, Total Change in cumulative translation adjustment and other Net change in cumulative translation adjustment and other, net of tax benefit (expense) of $(34), $(9), and $38 for fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively Other Comprehensive Income, Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Cumulative translation adjustment and other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income attributable to Cisco Systems, Inc. Comprehensive income (loss), parent Comprehensive income Comprehensive income (loss), noncontrolling Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income attributable to Cisco Systems, Inc. Comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income (loss) Total comprehensive income Cumulative effect of adoption of accounting standard - other-than-temporary impairments of debt securities Cumulative Effect Of Adoption Of Accounting Standard - Other-Than-Temporary Impairments Of Debt Securities Cumulative effect of adoption of accounting standard Issuance of common stock, Shares Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues Issuance of common stock, Value Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares Repurchase of common stock, Shares Repurchases of common stock under the repurchase program, shares Repurchase of common stock under the stock repurchase program, shares Repurchase Of Common Stock, Value Repurchase Of Common Stock, Value Repurchase of common stock, value Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Cash dividends declared Cash dividends declared ($0.06 per common share) Cash dividends paid Tax benefits from employee stock incentive plans Tax effects from employee stock incentive plans Tax effects from employee stock incentive plans Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions Purchase acquisitions, Shares Purchase acquisitions Purchase acquisitions, Value Purchase acquisitions Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Value Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition, Total Share-based compensation expense Supplemental Financial Information Supplemental Information Treasury Stock [Text Block] Supplemental Information Basis of Presentation Basis Of Presentation Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Basis Of Presentation Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies Text Block Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies Business Combinations Business Combination Disclosure Text Block Business Combinations Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets Goodwill And Purchased Intangible Assets Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure Text Block Goodwill and Purchased Intangible Assets Goodwill And Purchased Intangible Assets Restructuring And Other Charges Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring And Other Charges Balance Sheet Details Balance Sheet Details Schedule of Other Assets and Other Liabilities [Table Text Block] Balance Sheet Details Financing Receivables and Guarantees Financing Receivables And Guarantees Financing Receivables [Text Block] Financing Receivables And Guarantees Investments Investments In Debt And Marketable Equity Securities And Certain Trading Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Investments Fair Value Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Borrowings Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Borrowings Derivative Instruments Schedule of Derivative Instruments [Text Block] Gains and losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Derivative Instruments Commitments and Contingencies Commitments And Contingencies Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure Text Block Commitments And Contingencies