Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2014	Oct. 26, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	$ 237,971	$ 208,623	$ 195,181
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,939)	(1,748)	(3,468)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(235)	(376)	7,433
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(2,174)	(2,124)	3,965
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(3,196)	(1,456)	(1,833)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,370)	(3,580)	2,132
Total comprehensive income	232,601	205,043	197,313
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	237,971	209,014	195,181
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	68	1,021	128
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	68	1,021	128
Total comprehensive income	238,039	210,035	195,309
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	22,679	(47,398)	(74,765)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	171	(628)	11
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	171	(628)	11
Total comprehensive income	22,850	(48,026)	(74,754)
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	153,978	150,914	99,877
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	(1,939)	(1,748)	(3,468)
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	(235)	(376)	7,433
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(2,174)	(2,124)	3,965
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(3,435)	(1,849)	(1,972)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,609)	(3,973)	1,993
Total comprehensive income	148,369	146,941	101,870
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions
Net income (loss)	(176,657)	(103,907)	(25,112)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges:
Change in unrealized gains and losses	0	0	0
Net gains and losses reclassified into earnings	0	0	0
Net unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income	$ (176,657)	$ (103,907)	$ (25,112)