Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Jul. 27, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	$ 118,696	$ 43,300	$ 144,390	$ 141,180
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,000)	(3,518)	(2,998)	(7,800)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(10)	2,099	(214)	5,022
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,010)	(1,419)	(3,212)	(2,778)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,470)	(2,951)	(3,612)	(4,427)
Total other comprehensive loss	(2,480)	(4,370)	(6,824)	(7,205)
Total comprehensive income	116,216	38,930	137,566	133,975
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	118,696	43,300	144,780	141,180
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0	0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	23	162	1,149	296
Total other comprehensive loss	23	162	1,149	296
Total comprehensive income	118,719	43,462	145,929	141,476
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(15,365)	(14,130)	(43,141)	(57,413)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0	0
Net gains and 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 loss	0	0	(628)	0
Total comprehensive income	(15,365)	(14,130)	(43,769)	(57,413)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	65,541	20,302	119,017	64,251
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,000)	(3,518)	(2,998)	(7,800)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(10)	2,099	(214)	5,022
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1,010)	(1,419)	(3,212)	(2,778)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,493)	(3,113)	(4,133)	(4,723)
Total other comprehensive loss	(2,503)	(4,532)	(7,345)	(7,501)
Total comprehensive income	63,038	15,770	111,672	56,750
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(50,176)	(6,172)	(76,266)	(6,838)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0	0
Net gains and 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 loss	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	$ (50,176)	$ (6,172)	$ (76,266)	$ (6,838)