Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Nov. 01, 2014	Oct. 26, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,255,017	$ 986,997	$ 713,226	$ 414,202
Accounts receivable, net	224,913	249,598
Inventories	38,718	45,344
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	139,357	140,864
Total current assets	1,658,005	1,422,803
Property and equipment, net	445,433	472,940
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	1,630,237	1,725,648
Total assets	3,733,675	3,621,391
Accounts payable	93,705	88,218
Current portion of long-term debt	1,826	2,996
Intercompany payables	0	0
Other current liabilities	491,777	469,449
Total current liabilities	587,308	560,663
Long-term debt, net of current portion	595,450	596,208
Other non-current liabilities	142,856	117,707
Total liabilities	1,325,614	1,274,578
Total stockholders’ equity	2,408,061	2,346,813
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,733,675	3,621,391
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	486,472	396,710	284,466	101,367
Accounts receivable, net	146,908	159,436
Inventories	38,266	40,072
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	131,555	127,709
Total current assets	803,201	723,927
Property and equipment, net	426,785	457,054
Investment in subsidiaries	1,197,620	1,026,247
Other non-current assets	1,540,854	1,626,031
Total assets	3,968,460	3,833,259
Accounts payable	73,311	68,190
Current portion of long-term debt	1,826	2,996
Intercompany payables	423,347	409,590
Other current liabilities	367,247	335,261
Total current liabilities	865,731	816,037
Long-term debt, net of current portion	595,450	596,208
Other non-current liabilities	99,218	74,201
Total liabilities	1,560,399	1,486,446
Total stockholders’ equity	2,408,061	2,346,813
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	3,968,460	3,833,259
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	8,146	9,301	680	1,527
Accounts receivable, net	12	328
Inventories	0	0
Intercompany receivables	500,321	464,443
Other current assets	28	7
Total current assets	508,507	474,079
Property and equipment, net	156	567
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	80,655	95,624
Total assets	589,318	570,270
Accounts payable	0	28
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	0	0
Other current liabilities	3,472	7,075
Total current liabilities	3,472	7,103
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	3,472	7,103
Total stockholders’ equity	585,846	563,167
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	589,318	570,270
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Cash and cash equivalents	760,399	580,986	428,080	311,308
Accounts receivable, net	77,993	89,834
Inventories	452	5,272
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Other current assets	7,735	11,395
Total current assets	846,579	687,487
Property and equipment, net	18,492	15,319
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0
Other non-current assets	8,728	3,993
Total assets	873,799	706,799
Accounts payable	20,394	20,000
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	76,974	54,853
Other current liabilities	121,019	125,360
Total current liabilities	218,387	200,213
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	43,638	43,506
Total liabilities	262,025	243,719
Total stockholders’ equity	611,774	463,080
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	873,799	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	(500,321)	(464,443)
Other current assets	39	1,753
Total current assets	(500,282)	(462,690)
Property and equipment, net	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,197,620)	(1,026,247)
Other non-current assets	0	0
Total assets	(1,697,902)	(1,488,937)
Accounts payable	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Intercompany payables	(500,321)	(464,443)
Other current liabilities	39	1,753
Total current liabilities	(500,282)	(462,690)
Long-term debt, net of current portion	0	0
Other non-current liabilities	0	0
Total liabilities	(500,282)	(462,690)
Total stockholders’ equity	(1,197,620)	(1,026,247)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ (1,697,902)	$ (1,488,937)