Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Jul. 30, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$ 473,340	$ 335,982
Accounts receivable, net	296,030	317,363
Inventories	78,430	76,808
Other current assets	144,372	135,313
Total current assets	992,172	865,466
Property and equipment, net	534,179	539,117
Other non-current assets	2,154,574	2,240,607
Total assets	3,680,925	3,645,190
Accounts payable	115,476	147,130
Current portion of debt	50,391	30,540
Other current liabilities	366,461	391,260
Total current liabilities	532,328	568,930
Debt, net of current portion	788,938	899,273
Other non-current liabilities	143,179	139,318
Total liabilities	1,464,445	1,607,521
Total stockholders' equity	2,216,480	2,037,669
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,680,925	3,645,190
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. [Member]
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	57,786	23,455
Accounts receivable, net	176,776	212,542
Inventories	56,255	63,713
Other current assets	122,894	121,370
Total current assets	413,711	421,080
Property and equipment, net	463,159	466,247
Other non-current assets	1,502,805	1,499,774
Total assets	2,379,675	2,387,101
Accounts payable	86,272	128,182
Current portion of debt	50,391	30,540
Intercompany payables	443,914	412,555
Other current liabilities	228,538	256,710
Total current liabilities	809,115	827,987
Debt, net of current portion	788,938	899,273
Other non-current liabilities	103,368	99,679
Total liabilities	1,701,421	1,826,939
Total stockholders' equity	678,254	560,162
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,379,675	2,387,101
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	9,660	8,905
Accounts receivable, net	3,010	1,698
Intercompany receivables	455,596	399,868
Other current assets	569	875
Total current assets	468,835	411,346
Property and equipment, net	56,182	58,040
Other non-current assets	643,656	734,469
Total assets	1,168,673	1,203,855
Accounts payable	2,458	389
Other current liabilities	19,857	29,752
Total current liabilities	22,315	30,141
Other non-current liabilities	771	3,361
Total liabilities	23,086	33,502
Total stockholders' equity	1,145,587	1,170,353
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	1,168,673	1,203,855
Foreign Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	405,894	303,622
Accounts receivable, net	116,244	103,456
Inventories	22,175	13,095
Other current assets	15,291	9,999
Total current assets	559,604	430,172
Property and equipment, net	14,838	14,830
Other non-current assets	8,113	6,364
Total assets	582,555	451,366
Accounts payable	26,746	18,892
Intercompany payables	11,682	(12,687)
Other current liabilities	112,448	101,729
Total current liabilities	150,876	107,934
Other non-current liabilities	39,040	36,278
Total liabilities	189,916	144,212
Total stockholders' equity	392,639	307,154
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	582,555	451,366
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Accounts receivable, net		(333)
Intercompany receivables	(455,596)	(399,868)
Other current assets	5,618	3,069
Total current assets	(449,978)	(397,132)
Total assets	(449,978)	(397,132)
Accounts payable		(333)
Intercompany payables	(455,596)	(399,868)
Other current liabilities	5,618	3,069
Total current liabilities	(449,978)	(397,132)
Total liabilities	(449,978)	(397,132)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (449,978)	$ (397,132)