Subsequent Events Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Subsequent Events On November 2, 2016, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Broadcom Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore (“Ultimate Parent”), Broadcom Corporation, a California corporation and an indirect subsidiary of Ultimate Parent (“Parent”), and Bobcat Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of the Company’s common stock that is outstanding immediately prior to such time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive $12.75 per share in cash, without interest, less any required tax withholding. In general, at the effective time of the Merger: (i) Ultimate Parent will assume and convert all vested Brocade stock options that are not in-the-money and all unvested Brocade stock options, restricted stock units and performance stock units, in each case held by continuing employees and service providers; (ii) all vested in-the-money Brocade stock options, after giving effect to any acceleration, will be cashed out; (iii) all other Brocade restricted stock units and performance stock units will accelerate vesting and be cashed out; and (iv) all other Brocade stock options not assumed or cashed out will be cancelled in exchange for no consideration. Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including, without limitation, the absence of certain legal impediments, the expiration or termination of the required waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), antitrust regulatory approval in the People’s Republic of China, the European Union and Japan, review and clearance by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and approval by the Company’s stockholders. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. On November 30, 2016, the Company submitted its notification and report form with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice under the HSR Act. Assuming timely satisfaction of these closing conditions, Brocade expects that the Merger will be completed in the second half of its fiscal year 2017. The Merger Agreement contains certain customary termination rights for the Company and Parent. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, including, but not limited to, if the Company accepts a superior acquisition proposal or the Company’s Board of Directors changes or withdraws its recommendation of the Merger, the Company will be required to pay Parent a termination fee of $195 million.

Subsequent Events

On November 2, 2016, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Broadcom Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the Republic of Singapore (“Ultimate Parent”), Broadcom Corporation, a California corporation and an indirect subsidiary of Ultimate Parent (“Parent”), and Bobcat Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), providing for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

At the effective time of the Merger, each share of the Company’s common stock that is outstanding immediately prior to such time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive $12.75 per share in cash, without interest, less any required tax withholding.

In general, at the effective time of the Merger: (i) Ultimate Parent will assume and convert all vested Brocade stock options that are not in-the-money and all unvested Brocade stock options, restricted stock units and performance stock units, in each case held by continuing employees and service providers; (ii) all vested in-the-money Brocade stock options, after giving effect to any acceleration, will be cashed out; (iii) all other Brocade restricted stock units and performance stock units will accelerate vesting and be cashed out; and (iv) all other Brocade stock options not assumed or cashed out will be cancelled in exchange for no consideration.

Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including, without limitation, the absence of certain legal impediments, the expiration or termination of the required waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), antitrust regulatory approval in the People’s Republic of China, the European Union and Japan, review and clearance by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and approval by the Company’s stockholders. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition. On November 30, 2016, the Company submitted its notification and report form with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice under the HSR Act. Assuming timely satisfaction of these closing conditions, Brocade expects that the Merger will be completed in the second half of its fiscal year 2017.

The Merger Agreement contains certain customary termination rights for the Company and Parent. Upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, including, but not limited to, if the Company accepts a superior acquisition proposal or the Company’s Board of Directors changes or withdraws its recommendation of the Merger, the Company will be required to pay Parent a termination fee of $195 million.