Segment and Entity Wide Disclosures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Revenue:
Revenue	$ 1,833,923	$ 1,741,970	$ 1,236,636
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit (loss)	360,045	329,284	169,875
Less: non-performance operating expenses
Selling and marketing	266,338	251,990	193,515
General and administrative	114,002	126,242	102,692
Acquisition and integration costs	0	42,088	101,379
Amortization of intangible assets	51,697	69,665	99,401
Restructuring costs	7,854	5,781	8,514
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(3,289)	(13,807)
Add: other non-performance financial items
Interest expense and other income (loss), net	(54,853)	(31,904)	(14,702)
Gain on cost method investments	0	7,249	0
Gain on extinguishment of debt	0	0	4,948
Less: Provision for income taxes	9,322	7,673	1,941
Net loss	(144,021)	(195,521)	(333,514)
Packet-Optical Transport [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	1,172,159	1,121,811	705,551
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit (loss)	242,137	191,727	69,319
Packet-Optical Switching [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	132,705	148,395	112,058
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit (loss)	22,842	49,286	15,662
Carrier-Ethernet Solutions [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	131,693	127,868	179,083
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit (loss)	(4,066)	10,849	28,742
Software and Services [Member]
Revenue:
Revenue	397,366	343,896	239,944
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Segment profit (loss)	$ 99,132	$ 77,422	$ 56,152