Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 560,642	$ 545,756
Total net revenues	560,642	545,756
Cost of revenues	215,873	224,873
Total cost of revenues	215,873	224,873
Gross margin (loss)	344,769	320,883
Operating expenses	275,350	278,479
Total operating expenses	275,350	278,479
Income (loss) from operations	69,419	42,404
Other income (expense)	(14,042)
Other income (expense)		(21,203)
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)	55,377	21,201
Income tax provision (benefit)	(3,207)	(5,717)
Net income (loss) before equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	58,584	26,918
Net income (loss)	58,584	26,918
Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	340,144	326,920
Intercompany revenues	10,660	31,018
Total net revenues	350,804	357,938
Cost of revenues	131,136	139,737
Intercompany cost of revenues	(8,374)	6,175
Total cost of revenues	122,762	145,912
Gross margin (loss)	228,042	212,026
Operating expenses	198,255	212,882
Intercompany operating expenses	(36,756)	(42,186)
Total operating expenses	161,499	170,696
Income (loss) from operations	66,543	41,330
Other income (expense)	(10,282)
Other income (expense)		(21,185)
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)	56,261	20,145
Income tax provision (benefit)	(5,557)	(7,760)
Net income (loss) before equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	61,818	27,905
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(3,234)	(987)
Net income (loss)	58,584	26,918
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	1,489	7,464
Intercompany revenues		777
Total net revenues	1,489	8,241
Cost of revenues	17,136	20,655
Total cost of revenues	17,136	20,655
Gross margin (loss)	(15,647)	(12,414)
Operating expenses	15,327	16,229
Intercompany operating expenses	(6,022)	(6,381)
Total operating expenses	9,305	9,848
Income (loss) from operations	(24,952)	(22,262)
Other income (expense)	5
Other income (expense)		(738)
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)	(24,947)	(23,000)
Net income (loss) before equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(24,947)	(23,000)
Net income (loss)	(24,947)	(23,000)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Revenues	219,009	211,372
Intercompany revenues	6,720	7,712
Total net revenues	225,729	219,084
Cost of revenues	65,378	60,884
Intercompany cost of revenues	25,754	33,332
Total cost of revenues	91,132	94,216
Gross margin (loss)	134,597	124,868
Operating expenses	63,991	52,965
Intercompany operating expenses	42,778	48,567
Total operating expenses	106,769	101,532
Income (loss) from operations	27,828	23,336
Other income (expense)	(3,765)
Other income (expense)		720
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)	24,063	24,056
Income tax provision (benefit)	2,350	2,043
Net income (loss) before equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	21,713	22,013
Net income (loss)	21,713	22,013
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Intercompany revenues	(17,380)	(39,507)
Total net revenues	(17,380)	(39,507)
Cost of revenues	2,223	3,597
Intercompany cost of revenues	(17,380)	(39,507)
Total cost of revenues	(15,157)	(35,910)
Gross margin (loss)	(2,223)	(3,597)
Operating expenses	(2,223)	(3,597)
Total operating expenses	(2,223)	(3,597)
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	3,234	987
Net income (loss)	$ 3,234	$ 987