Concentration percentage of accounts receivable from major customer.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Costs related to internally developed software.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Increase in accumulated deficit resulting from new standard adopted.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of net revenues accounted for by customer's accounting for 10% or more of the Company's net revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percent range of VSOE median rates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	brcd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum Percentage Threshold For Measuring Tax Benefit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 93-7

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 720

-SubTopic 35

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13537-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 18

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of interest that was capitalized during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 34

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Details

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- Definition

The maximum useful life of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Product Information [Line Items]
Minimum percentage of revenue represented by major customers	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Percentage of total net revenues represented by major customers	43.00%	47.00%	48.00%
Percent Range used to establish VSOE median rates	15.00%
Net book value of developed software	$ 4,000,000	$ 3,700,000
Advertising costs	12,100,000	7,900,000	5,900,000
Interest costs capitalized		7,755,000	9,093,000
Minimum percentage threshold for measuring tax benefit	50.00%
Increase in accumulated deficit as a result of applying new accounting standard			$ 11,200,000
Major Customer One [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Concentration of accounts receivable from major customer	14.00%	17.00%
Major Customer Three [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Concentration of accounts receivable from major customer	16.00%	10.00%
Major Customer Two [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Concentration of accounts receivable from major customer		14.00%
EMC [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Percentage of total net revenues represented by major customers	15.00%	16.00%	18.00%
HP [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Percentage of total net revenues represented by major customers	13.00%	14.00%	13.00%
IBM [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Percentage of total net revenues represented by major customers	15.00%	17.00%	17.00%
Computer Equipment [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life, years	3
Furniture [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life, years	7
Engineering And Other Equipment [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life, years	4
Buildings [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life, years	39
Maximum [Member] \| Software [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life, years	7
Minimum [Member] \| Software [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Property and equipment useful life, years	4