Basis Of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Jul. 28, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Fiscal Period Policy	The Company's fiscal year is a 52 or 53 week period ending on the last Saturday in October. Fiscal year 2012 is a 52-week fiscal year, and the third quarter of 2012 was a 13-week quarter. Fiscal year 2011 was a 52-week year, and the third quarter of 2011 was a 13-week quarter.
Consolidation Policy	The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Brocade and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates in Preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in Preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, revenue recognition, sales allowances and programs, allowance for doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation, purchase price allocations, warranty obligations, inventory valuation and purchase commitments, restructuring costs, commissions, facilities lease losses, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, litigation, income taxes and investments. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

Basis Of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Jul. 28, 2012

The Company's fiscal year is a 52 or 53 week period ending on the last Saturday in October. Fiscal year 2012 is a 52-week fiscal year, and the third quarter of 2012 was a 13-week quarter. Fiscal year 2011 was a 52-week year, and the third quarter of 2011 was a 13-week quarter.

Consolidation Policy

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Brocade and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, revenue recognition, sales allowances and programs, allowance for doubtful accounts, stock-based compensation, purchase price allocations, warranty obligations, inventory valuation and purchase commitments, restructuring costs, commissions, facilities lease losses, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, litigation, income taxes and investments. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example, common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. The accounting policy may also address the accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, noncontrolling interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for determining an entity's fiscal year or other fiscal period. This disclosure may include identification of the fiscal period end-date, the length of the fiscal period, any reporting period lag between the entity and its subsidiaries, or equity investees. If a reporting lag exists, the closing date of the entity having a different period end is generally noted, along with an explanation of the necessity for using different closing dates. Any intervening events that materially affect the entity's financial position or results of operations are generally also disclosed.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for the use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

+ References+ Details