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
	May 03, 2014		Apr. 27, 2013		May 03, 2014		Apr. 27, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	$ (13,684)		$ 46,949		$ 67,200		$ 25,694
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	1,094		(1,915)		170		(1,992)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	32	[1]	(32)	[1]	1	[1]	(210)	[1]
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	1,126		(1,947)		171		(2,202)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,298		(1,762)		475		(2,142)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	2,424		(3,709)		646		(4,344)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(11,260)		43,240		67,846		21,350
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(13,685)		46,949		67,200		26,084
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	(68)		100		40		498
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(68)		100		40		498
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(13,753)		47,049		67,240		26,582
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	5,463		(14,195)		(46)		(27,776)
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 income (loss)	0		0		0		0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	5,463		(14,195)		(46)		(27,776)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	39,616		13,150		89,813		53,476
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	1,094		(1,915)		170		(1,992)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	32		(32)		1		(210)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	1,126		(1,947)		171		(2,202)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	1,366		(1,862)		435		(2,640)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	2,492		(3,809)		606		(4,842)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	42,108		9,341		90,419		48,634
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(45,078)		1,045		(89,767)		(26,090)
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 income (loss)	0		0		0		0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	$ (45,078)		$ 1,045		$ (89,767)		$ (26,090)

[1] For Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations classification of amounts reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), see Note 10, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.