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BMC Helix Monitor vs IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus comparison

BMC and IBM are both solutions in the Event Monitoring category. BMC is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.0, while IBM is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.0. BMC holds a 8.8% mindshare in EM, compared to IBM’s 10.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of BMC users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 78% of IBM users who would recommend it.
BMC Helix Monitor
Read 4 BMC Helix Monitor reviews
  • 748 Views
  • 197 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
Read 14 IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus reviews
  • 1,070 Views
  • 369 Comparison Views
78% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus and BMC Helix Monitor compete in the IT operations management domain, with BMC Helix Monitor having the upper hand due to its advanced analytics and user satisfaction.

Features: IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus is recognized for real-time event management, customizable dashboards, and strong integration capabilities. Its event management capacity allows detailed examination and rapid response. The solution is known for handling multiple protocols and providing comprehensive system integration. BMC Helix Monitor is distinguished by its advanced analytics, agentless architecture, and cloud-native design. It offers automated asset relationship tracking and comprehensive server monitoring, suitable for modern IT ecosystems.

Room for Improvement: IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus could benefit from enhanced user interface modernity, more seamless integration with non-IBM platforms, and reduction in configuration complexity. BMC Helix Monitor might improve by addressing its cost efficiency, expanding support for more legacy systems, and enhancing user training resources for complex analytics.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: BMC Helix Monitor's SaaS model allows easy deployment and rapid scalability, with superior customer support praised by users. IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus requires more upfront configuration but integrates well with existing systems, offering dependable customer support to assist with setup challenges.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus typically involves a higher initial investment but promises long-term ROI through effective integration. BMC Helix Monitor, while more expensive, offers faster time-to-value with its SaaS model, appealing to businesses seeking quick and flexible returns.

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To learn more, read our detailed BMC Helix Monitor vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
BMC Helix Monitor vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

BMC Helix Monitor
Ranking in Event Monitoring
7th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
Ranking in Event Monitoring
5th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
14
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Event Monitoring category, the mindshare of BMC Helix Monitor is 8.8%, down from 12.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus is 10.0%, up from 8.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Event Monitoring
 

Featured Reviews

Jijil GHosh - PeerSpot reviewer
An agentless tool that offers great scalability and a straightforward setup phase
The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that BMC Helix Monitor is an agentless tool, because of which you don't need to deploy agents on each and every system in your IT environment. If you want to install an agent on each and every system, manpower is needed, while there is no such need when one uses BMC Helix Monitor. BMC Helix Monitor provides you with details on asset relationships. If a particular printer is connected to a core network printer or a particular desktop is connected to the servers, the product scans and gives you a free structure of relationship, which doesn't need any human intervention, making it an automated process. BMC Helix Monitor gives you the entire information about your assets, because of which you can sit in one place and keep track of whether a particular asset is online or offline.
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Ahmed Salman - PeerSpot reviewer
Aids in network performance monitoring and management
I am working as a customer, mainly using IntelliQ and another product, IBM NetCool, Watson AI. These products are used for monitoring network performance and management.  The primary use case involves network performance monitoring, and it is compatible only with IBM DB2 IBM Tivoli NetCool…
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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The product's initial setup phase is easy."
"It is evolving more and more into artificial intelligence."
"The service operations monitoring features are valuable."
"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that BMC Helix Monitor is an agentless tool, because of which you don't need to deploy agents on each and every system in your IT environment."
"Offers very good event/alert drill-down and statistical reporting capabilities."
"OMNIbus is valuable for its compatibility and performance, as I haven't encountered any performance issues."
"It is an easy-to-use solution."
"Probes are the best feature because they are well written which rarely requires you to write additional rules. These probes monitor activity within your environment."
"It's good for managed systems. The end query on the user interface is good. You can view lots of charts and graphs."
"The biggest plus points for me are the configurability and scalability of the solution, as well as the multi-tenancy of the platform."
"The most valuable feature is the event management capability."
"The monitoring is the solution's most valuable feature."
More IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus pros
 

Cons

"The initial setup of the solution is complex."
"The solution's GUI and some patching-related information are areas with shortcomings where enhancements are needed, though I believe they are areas that fall under BMC's roadmap for the future."
"I feel that the tool's stability has some scope for improvement."
"The product must provide more information and dashboards."
"The web portal and typical event controls are a little outdated."
"I would like for the next release to be more user-friendly and out of date. The next release should focus on the cloud, AI, and ML technologies."
"The solution needs to invest in the development of a knowledge base and use of AI services for providing event resolution and intervention directions."
"They could enhance the visibility to give us a unified view of our entire IT infrastructure."
"The solution has limitations in database integration as it cannot integrate with databases other than IBM DB2."
"Its technical support team takes longer to reply."
"There should be an easier-to-understand model, more of a flat-structured model rather than different tiers of licenses which complicates licensing."
"The cost of the product is quite high. They should work to adjust their pricing models."
More IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product’s price could be improved."
"You have to have the right level of budget to afford this solution."
"Its license cost is a little bit more than other solutions. Our customers expect a standard market price that is comparative to other products. For each and every NetCool OMNIbus component, we have to purchase a separate license. These components are not free with the product."
"It is a costly solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
26%
Computer Software Company
14%
Insurance Company
6%
Healthcare Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
27%
Computer Software Company
16%
Energy/Utilities Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about BMC Helix Monitor?
The service operations monitoring features are valuable.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for BMC Helix Monitor?
The product’s price could be improved. The company is quite flexible with pricing. Legacy products need to revise their pricing strategy without losing their position in the market. The legacy mode...
See all answers
What needs improvement with BMC Helix Monitor?
I feel that the tool's stability has some scope for improvement.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus?
If the various HW elements are from the same vendor, a monitoring solution provided by that vendor or its partners will potentially result in lower licensing and operational costs. Moreover, for ve...
See all answers
What needs improvement with IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus?
IBM is working on converting NetCool to NetCool Operations Insight, which runs on Watson AI. There were areas needing improvement in terms of AI, however, they have migrated the entire NetCool suit...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus?
OMNIbus is used for alert processing and deduplication of alarms. It is used for performing certain actions on any alarm processed through NetCool. It serves as a core component for action triggers...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Compared 13% of the time
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Compared 10% of the time
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Compared 29% of the time
IBM Tivoli NetCool Impact vs IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus Logo
IBM Tivoli NetCool Impact vs IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
Compared 15% of the time
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ScienceLogic vs IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
Compared 11% of the time
PagerDuty Operations Cloud vs IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus Logo
PagerDuty Operations Cloud vs IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Event Monitoring
June 2025
BMC Helix Monitor reportDownload BMC Helix Monitor product report
Buyer's Guide
IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
June 2025
IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus reportDownload IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus product report
 

Also Known As

Helix Monitor
Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
 

Overview

BMC Helix Monitor is a SaaS solution that combines broad monitoring and event management capabilities with a containerized microservices architecture. Improve performance across complex environments while supporting the agility and speed required by digital businesses.

BMC
Tivoli Netcool OMNIbus provides near real-time service assurance for business infrastructure, applications, servers, network devices and protocols, Internet protocols, storage and security devices.
IBM
 

Sample Customers

Grupo Moura, Goodman, Aspect, Telefónica Colombia, Fujitsu
Consolidated Communications, €sterreichische Bundesbahnen (€BB), Capgemini
Buyer's Guide
BMC Helix Monitor vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
June 2025
Free Report: BMC Helix Monitor vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus
Find out what your peers are saying about BMC Helix Monitor vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool OMNIbus and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
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