Segment and Entity Wide Disclosures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 533,703	$ 453,093
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit	124,354	106,670
Less: non-performance operating expenses
Selling and marketing	78,348	66,588
General and administrative	30,097	28,208
Amortization of intangible assets	12,439	12,453
Restructuring costs	115	5,030
Add: other non-performance financial items
Interest expense and other income (loss), net	(17,026)	(10,869)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(28,630)
Less: Provision for income taxes	2,265	2,216
Net loss	(15,936)	(47,324)
Converged Packet Optical [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	333,401	239,960
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit	78,698	47,118
Packet Networking [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	51,709	45,837
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit	385	5,083
Optical Transport [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	40,097	57,597
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit	15,650	20,587
Software and Services [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	108,496	109,699
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit	$ 29,621	$ 33,882