Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 03, 2014	Oct. 26, 2013	Apr. 27, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,137,613	$ 986,997	$ 764,298	$ 713,226
Accounts receivable, net	193,804	249,598
Inventories	40,773	45,344
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	164,244	140,864
Total current assets	1,536,434	1,422,803
Property and equipment, net	452,722	472,940
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	1,619,753	1,725,648
Total assets	3,608,909	3,621,391
Accounts payable	79,952	88,218
Current portion of long-term debt	2,277	2,996
Intercompany payables	0	0
Other current liabilities	439,960	469,449
Total current liabilities	522,189	560,663
Long-term debt, net of current portion	595,452	596,208
Other non-current liabilities	155,521	117,707
Total liabilities	1,273,162	1,274,578
Total stockholders’ equity	2,335,747	2,346,813
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,608,909	3,621,391
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	431,158	396,710	258,692	284,466
Accounts receivable, net	115,769	159,436
Inventories	43,088	40,072
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	152,246	127,709
Total current assets	742,261	723,927
Property and equipment, net	438,747	457,054
Investment in subsidiaries	1,116,621	1,026,247
Other non-current assets	1,534,165	1,626,031
Total assets	3,831,794	3,833,259
Accounts payable	62,749	68,190
Current portion of long-term debt	2,277	2,996
Intercompany payables	412,299	409,590
Other current liabilities	312,899	335,261
Total current liabilities	790,224	816,037
Long-term debt, net of current portion	595,452	596,208
Other non-current liabilities	110,371	74,201
Total liabilities	1,496,047	1,486,446
Total stockholders’ equity	2,335,747	2,346,813
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,831,794	3,833,259
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	8,403	9,301	3,318	680
Accounts receivable, net	12	328
Inventories	0	0
Intercompany receivables	476,800	464,443
Other current assets	112	7
Total current assets	485,327	474,079
Property and equipment, net	325	567
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	82,020	95,624
Total assets	567,672	570,270
Accounts payable	0	28
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	0	0
Other current liabilities	4,550	7,075
Total current liabilities	4,550	7,103
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	4,550	7,103
Total stockholders’ equity	563,122	563,167
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	567,672	570,270
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	698,052	580,986	502,288	428,080
Accounts receivable, net	78,023	89,834
Inventories	(2,315)	5,272
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	11,595	11,395
Total current assets	785,355	687,487
Property and equipment, net	13,650	15,319
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	3,568	3,993
Total assets	802,573	706,799
Accounts payable	17,203	20,000
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	64,501	54,853
Other current liabilities	122,220	125,360
Total current liabilities	203,924	200,213
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	45,150	43,506
Total liabilities	249,074	243,719
Total stockholders’ equity	553,499	463,080
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	802,573	706,799
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(476,800)	(464,443)
Other current assets	291	1,753
Total current assets	(476,509)	(462,690)
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,116,621)	(1,026,247)
Other non-current assets	0	0
Total assets	(1,593,130)	(1,488,937)
Accounts payable	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	(476,800)	(464,443)
Other current liabilities	291	1,753
Total current liabilities	(476,509)	(462,690)
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(476,509)	(462,690)
Total stockholders’ equity	(1,116,621)	(1,026,247)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (1,593,130)	$ (1,488,937)