Debt Instrument, Term of Loan

No definition available.

Name:	brcd_DebtInstrumentTermOfLoan
Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Redemption amount percentage of aggregate principal amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	brcd_RedemptionAmountOfNotesPercentageOfAggregatePrincipalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Redemption price percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	brcd_RedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Repayment towards the principal of the term loan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	brcd_RepaymentTowardsPrincipalOfTermLoan
Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Repurchase price of Senior Secured Notes as percentage of principal amount in case of change in control.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	brcd_RepurchasePriceOfNotesAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmountInCaseOfChangeInControl
Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Repurchase price of Senior Secured Notes as percentage of principal amount in case of sale of assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	brcd_RepurchasePriceOfNotesAsPercentageOfPrincipalAmountInCaseOfSaleOfAssets
Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Voluntary prepayments of term loan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	brcd_VoluntaryPrepaymentsOfTermLoan
Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount represents the difference between the fair value of the payments made and the carrying amount of the debt at the time of its extinguishment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 26

-Paragraph 20, 21

-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.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-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.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Jul. 28, 2012	Jul. 30, 2011	Jul. 28, 2012 Senior Secured Notes	Oct. 29, 2011 Senior Secured Notes	Jan. 20, 2010 Senior Secured Notes	Jul. 28, 2012 Senior Secured 2018 Notes	Jan. 20, 2010 Senior Secured 2018 Notes	Jul. 28, 2012 Senior Secured 2020 Notes	Jan. 20, 2010 Senior Secured 2020 Notes	Jul. 28, 2012 Term Loan Facility	Oct. 31, 2008 Term Loan Facility	Oct. 31, 2008 Revolving Credit Facility	Oct. 31, 2008 Swing Line Loan Subfacility	Oct. 31, 2008 Letter Of Credit Subfacility
Debt Instrument
Principal amount of Senior Secured Notes					$ 600,000,000		$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Fair value of senior secured notes			642,000,000	626,000,000
Redemption price, percentage of face value						100.00%		100.00%
Redemption amount of notes, percentage of principal amount			35.00%
Repurchase price of notes in case of change in control, percentage of face value			101.00%
Repurchase price of notes in case of sale of assets, percentage of face value			100.00%
Term of loan											5 years	5 years
Senior secured credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity											1,100,000,000	125,000,000	25,000,000	25,000,000
Losses (Gains) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	25,465,000
Repayment Towards Principal Of Term Loan										160,000,000
Voluntary prepayments of term loan										$ 142,600,000