Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2014		Jan. 26, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	$ 80,884		$ (21,255)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(924)		(76)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(31)	[1]	(179)	[1]
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	(955)		(255)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(823)		(380)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,778)		(635)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	79,106		(21,890)
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	80,885		(20,865)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0		0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0		0
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	0		0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(63)		398
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(63)		398
Total comprehensive income (loss)	80,822		(20,467)
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(5,509)		(13,581)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0		0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0		0
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	0		0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	171		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	171		0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(5,338)		(13,581)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	50,197		40,326
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(924)		(76)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(31)		(179)
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	(955)		(255)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(931)		(778)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,886)		(1,033)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	48,311		39,293
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(44,689)		(27,135)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0		0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0		0
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges	0		0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0		0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ (44,689)		$ (27,135)

[1] For Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations classification of amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, see Note 10, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.