Segment and Entity Wide Disclosures - Segment Revenue, Profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Nov. 02, 2019	Nov. 03, 2018
Revenue:
Revenues	$ 3,532,157	$ 3,572,131	$ 3,094,286
Less: non-performance operating expenses
Selling and marketing	416,425	423,046	394,060
General and administrative	169,548	174,399	160,133
Amortization of intangible assets	23,383	21,808	15,737
Acquisition and integration costs	4,031	3,370	5,111
Add: other non-performance financial items
Interest and other income (loss), net	964	3,876	(12,029)
Interest expense	(31,321)	(37,452)	(55,249)
Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt	(646)	0	(13,887)
Provision for income taxes	94,670	59,756	493,471
Net income (loss)	361,291	253,434	(344,690)
Converged Packet Optical
Revenue:
Revenues	2,547,647	2,562,841
Packet Networking
Revenue:
Revenues	267,416	348,477
Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	197,809	155,376
Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	62,632	54,555
Maintenance Support and Training
Revenue:
Revenues	269,354	261,337
Installation and Deployment
Revenue:
Revenues	152,003	148,233
Consulting and Network Design
Revenue:
Revenues	35,296	41,312
Operating Segments
Revenue:
Revenues	3,532,157	3,572,131	3,094,286
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Gross profit	1,123,003	993,927	823,126
Operating Segments | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	2,815,063	2,911,318	2,478,018
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Gross profit	827,105	759,244	581,113
Operating Segments | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	197,809	155,376
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Gross profit	105,609	64,210	78,048
Operating Segments | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	62,632	54,555
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Gross profit	(12,446)	(17,769)	(8,240)
Operating Segments | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	456,653	450,882	415,555
Segment profit (loss) and the reconciliation to consolidated net income (loss)
Gross profit	202,735	188,242	172,205
Operating Segments | Converged Packet Optical | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	2,547,647	2,562,841	2,194,519
Operating Segments | Converged Packet Optical | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Converged Packet Optical | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Converged Packet Optical | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Packet Networking | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	267,416	348,477	283,499
Operating Segments | Packet Networking | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Packet Networking | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Packet Networking | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Platform Software and Services | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Platform Software and Services | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	197,809	155,376	173,949
Operating Segments | Platform Software and Services | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Platform Software and Services | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	62,632	54,555	26,764
Operating Segments | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Maintenance Support and Training | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Maintenance Support and Training | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Maintenance Support and Training | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Maintenance Support and Training | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	269,354	261,337	245,161
Operating Segments | Installation and Deployment | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Installation and Deployment | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Installation and Deployment | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Installation and Deployment | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	152,003	148,233	128,829
Operating Segments | Consulting and Network Design | Networking Platforms
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Consulting and Network Design | Platform Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Consulting and Network Design | Blue Planet Automation Software and Services
Revenue:
Revenues	0	0
Operating Segments | Consulting and Network Design | Global Services
Revenue:
Revenues	$ 35,296	$ 41,312	$ 41,565