Redemption amount percentage of aggregate principal amount.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Redemption price percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Repayment towards the principal of the term loan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Repurchase price of Senior Secured Notes as percentage of principal amount in case of change in control.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Repurchase price of Senior Secured Notes as percentage of principal amount in case of sale of assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Voluntary prepayments of term loan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Jan. 20, 2010	Jan. 28, 2012 2018 Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Jan. 20, 2010 2018 Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 2020 Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Jan. 20, 2010 2020 Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Oct. 07, 2008 Five Year Term Loan Facility [Member]	Oct. 07, 2008 Five Year Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Oct. 07, 2008 Swing Line Loan Sub-Facility [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Letter Of Credit Sub-Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of senior secured notes			$ 600,000,000		$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000
Fair value of senior secured notes	645,000,000	626,000,000
Redemption price, percentage of face value				100.00%		100.00%
Redemption amount of notes, percentage of principal amount								35.00%
Repurchase price of notes in case of change in control, percentage of face value	101.00%
Repurchase price of notes in case of sale of assets, percentage of face value	100.00%
Senior secured credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity									1,100,000,000	125,000,000	25,000,000	25,000,000
Payment towards the principal of the term loan	70,000,000
Voluntary prepayments of term loan	$ 62,000,000