Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 27, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012	Apr. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 764,298	$ 713,226	$ 544,339	$ 414,202
Accounts receivable, net	239,311	233,139
Inventories	52,911	68,179
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	107,975	141,035
Total current assets	1,164,495	1,155,579
Property and equipment, net	499,968	518,940
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	1,846,360	1,906,742
Total assets	3,510,823	3,581,261
Accounts payable	101,266	117,350
Current portion of long-term debt	2,306	1,977
Intercompany payables	0	0
Other current liabilities	445,650	491,141
Total current liabilities	549,222	610,468
Long-term debt, net of current portion	596,971	599,203
Other non-current liabilities	118,037	135,770
Total liabilities	1,264,230	1,345,441
Total stockholders’ equity	2,246,593	2,235,820
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,510,823	3,581,261
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	258,692	284,466	186,562	101,366
Accounts receivable, net	150,993	150,367
Inventories	42,637	55,084
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	93,396	124,690
Total current assets	545,718	614,607
Property and equipment, net	483,495	500,530
Investment in subsidiaries	949,737	871,157
Other non-current assets	1,738,214	1,814,729
Total assets	3,717,164	3,801,023
Accounts payable	77,885	92,661
Current portion of long-term debt	2,306	2,226
Intercompany payables	414,746	434,981
Other current liabilities	307,135	346,959
Total current liabilities	802,072	876,827
Long-term debt, net of current portion	596,971	599,203
Other non-current liabilities	71,528	89,173
Total liabilities	1,470,571	1,565,203
Total stockholders’ equity	2,246,593	2,235,820
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,717,164	3,801,023
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	3,318	680	2,788	1,528
Accounts receivable, net	347	(1,847)
Inventories	0	0
Intercompany receivables	483,744	478,133
Other current assets	371	514
Total current assets	487,780	477,480
Property and equipment, net	697	213
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	106,730	90,766
Total assets	595,207	568,459
Accounts payable	71	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	(249)
Intercompany payables	0	0
Other current liabilities	7,453	7,628
Total current liabilities	7,524	7,379
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	2,428	2,429
Total liabilities	9,952	9,808
Total stockholders’ equity	585,255	558,651
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	595,207	568,459
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	502,288	428,080	354,989	311,308
Accounts receivable, net	87,971	84,619
Inventories	10,274	13,095
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	13,265	15,606
Total current assets	613,798	541,400
Property and equipment, net	15,776	18,197
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	1,416	1,247
Total assets	630,990	560,844
Accounts payable	23,310	24,689
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	68,998	43,152
Other current liabilities	130,119	136,329
Total current liabilities	222,427	204,170
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	44,081	44,168
Total liabilities	266,508	248,338
Total stockholders’ equity	364,482	312,506
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	630,990	560,844
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(483,744)	(478,133)
Other current assets	943	225
Total current assets	(482,801)	(477,908)
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(949,737)	(871,157)
Other non-current assets	0	0
Total assets	(1,432,538)	(1,349,065)
Accounts payable	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	(483,744)	(478,133)
Other current liabilities	943	225
Total current liabilities	(482,801)	(477,908)
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(482,801)	(477,908)
Total stockholders’ equity	(949,737)	(871,157)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (1,432,538)	$ (1,349,065)