Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	$ 208,623	$ 195,181	$ 50,610
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,748)	(3,468)	(1,831)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(376)	7,433	(6,444)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(2,124)	3,965	(8,275)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,456)	(1,833)	(894)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,580)	2,132	(9,169)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	205,043	197,313	41,441
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	209,014	195,181	50,610
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	(6,701)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	(6,701)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,021	128	(89)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	1,021	128	(6,790)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	210,035	195,309	43,820
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(47,398)	(74,765)	(114,733)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(628)	11	458
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(628)	11	458
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(48,026)	(74,754)	(114,275)
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	150,914	99,877	(85,111)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,748)	(3,468)	4,870
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(376)	7,433	(6,444)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(2,124)	3,965	(1,574)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,849)	(1,972)	(1,263)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,973)	1,993	(2,837)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	146,941	101,870	(87,948)
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(103,907)	(25,112)	199,844
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ (103,907)	$ (25,112)	$ 199,844