Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2014	Dec. 12, 2014	May 03, 2014
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	BROCADE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001009626
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--11-01
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Nov. 01, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		430,939,700
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 3,846,799,989