Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 27, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012	Apr. 27, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	$ 46,949	$ 39,296	$ 25,694	$ 97,880
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,915)	(113)	(1,992)	(4,282)
Net (gains) losses reclassified into earnings	(32)	1,599	(210)	2,923
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,947)	1,486	(2,202)	(1,359)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,762)	84	(2,142)	(1,476)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,709)	1,570	(4,344)	(2,835)
Total comprehensive income	43,240	40,866	21,350	95,045
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	46,949	39,296	26,084	97,880
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0	0
Net (gains) losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	100	(8)	1,126	134
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	100	(8)	1,126	134
Total comprehensive income	47,049	39,288	27,210	98,014
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(14,195)	(18,336)	(27,776)	(43,283)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0	0
Net (gains) losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0	(628)	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	(628)	0
Total comprehensive income	(14,195)	(18,336)	(28,404)	(43,283)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	13,150	22,236	53,476	43,949
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,915)	(113)	(1,992)	(4,282)
Net (gains) losses reclassified into earnings	(32)	1,599	(210)	2,923
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,947)	1,486	(2,202)	(1,359)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,862)	92	(2,640)	(1,610)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,809)	1,578	(4,842)	(2,969)
Total comprehensive income	9,341	23,814	48,634	40,980
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	1,045	(3,900)	(26,090)	(666)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0	0
Net (gains) losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	$ 1,045	$ (3,900)	$ (26,090)	$ (666)