Employee Compensation Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Shares reserved for issuance under director plan	35,000,000
Minimum percentage holding requirement for principal shareholder	10.00%
Minimum percentage of fair market value of the Company's common stock granted to principal shareholder	110.00%
Shares remaining for future issuance	18,700,000
2009 Stock Plan [Member]
Maximum number of shares added to the plan	40,300,000
Shares reserved for issuance under director plan	48,000,000
2009 Director Plan [Member]
Maximum number of shares added to the plan	900,000
Shares reserved for issuance under director plan	2,000,000
2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Shares reserved for issuance under director plan	35,000,000
Discount rate from the fair market value	15.00%
Purchase price as a percentage lesser than fair market value	85.00%
Maximum shares per employee	3,750
Shares remaining for future issuance	18,700,000
ESPP Offering Periods, months	twenty-four
Equity Compensation Plans [Member]
Stock reserved for issuance under plan	26,500,000	48,400,000
Reduction in number of shares available for issuance, shares for every one share subject to award	1.56
Term of stock option and a stock appreciation right, years	7
Shares authorized for future issuance under the Company's equity compensation plans	100,600,000	149,000,000
1999 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan [Member]
Shares reserved for issuance under director plan	51,400,000
Shares remaining for future issuance	11,400,000
Employee 401(k) Plan [Member]
Company's matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan	$ 9,300,000	$ 8,700,000	$ 7,800,000
Maximum contribution by employee	$ 3,000
Employee contribution maximum rate	60.00%
McData Equity Plans [Member]
Shares authorized for future issuance under the Company's equity compensation plans	2,200,000
Principal Owner [Member] | Equity Compensation Plans [Member]
Term of stock option and a stock appreciation right, years	5
Maximum [Member] | Equity Compensation Plans [Member]
Term of stock option and a stock appreciation right, years	4
Minimum [Member] | Equity Compensation Plans [Member]
Term of stock option and a stock appreciation right, years	3