Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2013	Feb. 22, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001009626
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--10-26
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jan. 26, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		451,058,020