Net Income Per Share (Schedule Of Calculation Of Basic And Diluted Net Income (Loss) Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Oct. 29, 2016	Jul. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Aug. 01, 2015	May 02, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 29, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015		Nov. 01, 2014	Jan. 14, 2015
Basic net income per share
Net income										$ 213,815	$ 340,362		$ 237,971
Weighted-average shares used in computing basic net income per share		401,103	426,671	400,554	407,902	414,769	417,299	420,718	428,536	409,058	420,331		435,258
Net income per share—basic attributable to Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. stockholders		$ 0.17	$ 0.02	$ 0.11	$ 0.23	$ 0.20	$ 0.22	$ 0.18	$ 0.20	$ 0.52	$ 0.81		$ 0.55
Diluted net income per share
Net income										$ 213,815	$ 340,362		$ 237,971
Weighted-average shares used in computing diluted net income per share		410,123	434,416	408,748	415,085	422,315	427,518	433,234	439,156	417,093	430,556		446,859
Net income per share—diluted attributable to Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. stockholders		$ 0.16	$ 0.02	$ 0.11	$ 0.23	$ 0.20	$ 0.21	$ 0.18	$ 0.20	$ 0.51	$ 0.79		$ 0.53
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Reconciliation
Weighted-average shares used in computing basic net income per share		401,103	426,671	400,554	407,902	414,769	417,299	420,718	428,536	409,058	420,331		435,258
Dilutive potential common shares in the form of stock options										1,329	1,722		1,995
Dilutive potential common shares in the form of other share-based awards										6,706	8,503		9,606
Weighted-average shares used in computing diluted net income per share		410,123	434,416	408,748	415,085	422,315	427,518	433,234	439,156	417,093	430,556		446,859
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Net income		$ 66,701	$ 10,495	$ 43,085	$ 93,646	$ 84,388	$ 91,667	$ 77,040	$ 87,267	$ 213,927	$ 340,362		$ 237,971
Warrant
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	[1],[2]												0
Stock options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	[2]									2,149	977		1,725
Other share based awards
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	[2]									1,600	142		893
Convertible Senior Unsecured 2020 Notes
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price														$ 15.93
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights														$ 20.65
Convertible Senior Unsecured 2020 Notes | Warrant
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount										36,288	28,880	[1],[2]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price		$ 15.80								$ 15.80
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights		$ 20.48								$ 20.48

[1] In connection with the issuance of the 2020 Convertible Notes, the Company entered into convertible note hedge and warrant transactions as described in Note 8, “Borrowings.” The 2020 Convertible Notes have no impact on diluted earnings per share until the average quarterly price of the Company’s common stock exceeds the adjusted conversion price of $15.80 per share. If the common stock price exceeds this adjusted conversion price, then, prior to conversion, the Company will calculate the effect of the additional shares that may be issued using the treasury stock method. If the average price of the Company’s common stock exceeds $20.48 per share for a quarterly period, the Company’s weighted-average shares used in computing diluted net income per share will be impacted by the effect of the additional potential shares that may be issued related to the warrants using the treasury stock method. The convertible note hedge is not considered for purposes of the diluted earnings per share calculation, as its effect would be antidilutive.

[2] These amounts are excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share.