Cisco Catalyst Center vs HPE Intelligent Management Center comparison

Cisco Catalyst Center vs. HPE Intelligent Management Center

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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

Cisco Catalyst Center

Ranking in Network Management Applications

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

HPE Intelligent Management ...

Ranking in Network Management Applications

9th

Average Rating

7.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Network Management Applications category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Center is 4.7%, down from 8.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of HPE Intelligent Management Center is 4.2%, down from 6.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Management Applications Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Cisco Catalyst Center	4.7%
HPE Intelligent Management Center	4.2%
Other	91.1%

Network Management Applications

Featured Reviews

AndrewRichardson

Network Engineer at Edmonton Catholic School Board

Has improved infrastructure management with customizable reporting and automated deployment

Cisco Catalyst Center's reporting is one of the best features, providing graphs and quick hit analysis in one place instead of having to search elsewhere. Historical data can be stored in Cisco Catalyst Center, and dashboards and widgets can be configured to personal preference. Device deployment can be automated to the point where all someone needs to do is plug it in. Zero Touch Provisioning, while requiring some initial work to set up properly, provides significant benefits. Once configured, it reduces the need for travel by specific network personnel, allowing on-site or other staff to handle device deployment by simply plugging in the cable.

Read full review

Muhammad_Faisal

Manager ITSM at Lucky Cement Limited

Achieve seamless network and link monitoring with comprehensive device management

The most valuable function is that the IMC takes an entire backup of my network devices, and I can also redeploy them. The really beneficial feature is the link monitoring. I had checked Check Point's product, however, my requirements are better fulfilled by IMC. The main feature is that IMC automatically configures the device for my use. I have over 200 features in my network, and IMC manages the complete environment. Automation is good, but I mainly use it for monitoring. I am too satisfied with this product.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"There is a lot of documentation for the platform, which is an advantage."

"Whenever something goes down, it's easy for us to look into a problem because before teammates reach out to us saying they're not getting to the internet, we already know there's a problem because of Cisco Catalyst Center, so it's very useful and helps us have less downtime."

"The best feature of Cisco is its industry-standard nature."

"The solution primarily focuses on visibility into Cisco products and day zero, day one, and day two operations, enabling plug-and-play features, device onboarding, hierarchy definition, and telemetry data collection to offer a comprehensive 360-degree view with basic automation and visibility assurance at its core."

"I find Cisco Catalyst Center to be a great solution because their hardware is strong, and the platform is reliable."

"Cisco Catalyst Center allows me to manage all the fabric SD Access from one location."

"What I appreciate most about Cisco Catalyst Center is that it is a product which I am deploying to work."

"The architecture and the way Cisco designs it, VXLAN and Cisco Express Forwarding are some of the features I like."

More Cisco Catalyst Center pros

"One of the notable advantages is its ability to provide quick responses, especially in critical situations."

"The most useful feature is infrastructure monitoring including switches and servers."

"This is far and away the best tool of this type I have ever used."

"The most valuable feature is the interface and its ease of use."

"It's a very complete product with a lot of functionality."

"The most valuable function is that the IMC takes an entire backup of my network devices, and I can also redeploy them."

"We chose HPE for its interoperability with non-Cisco equipment, interoperability with non HP equipment, and customizable, and a deep feature set that Cisco Prime just didn't have because it's focused on Cisco stuff only."

Cons

"The initial setup for Cisco Catalyst Center is not a simple process."

"Some features in terms of security should be there, especially in threat detection. Cisco Catalyst Center lacked intelligence in this area and required reliance on third-party appliances like firewalls or threat protection devices."

"Current pricing is too expensive for features that users may not be sure they will use, pricing the company out of the market."

"The initial setup of Cisco Catalyst Center is complex."

"The only limitation is when integrating with other products due to Cisco's proprietary protocols."

"To improve Cisco Catalyst Center, I think the dashboard and UI experience is inferior to what I used previously with Ubiquiti equipment."

"Regarding the cons of Catalyst, it is a little more expensive. With other vendors, you have one license for all features. In the case of Catalyst, there are many licensing options."

"The main drawback of Cisco Catalyst Center is that it can only manage and monitor Cisco devices with a DNA license, specifically the Catalyst 9000 series."

More Cisco Catalyst Center cons

"The integration with other network devices needs improvement."

"HPE Intelligent Management Center is a bit slow."

"It's horrible. 90% of the time we're figuring out the solution ourselves."

"I face the issue with the integration with links on Fortinet Firewall."

"Technical support is the one area where I have to rate HPE fairly poorly; when we have encountered issues, particularly around inconsistencies in the topology views, getting them fixed can be a cumbersome process."

"One notable deficiency is the lack of online support for the product."

"I would like to see additional modules included."

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"There are licensing costs and they are quite expensive."

"The price of this solution is not at all cheap, but it's reasonable compared to SolarWinds."

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902,417 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

15%

Government

12%

Financial Services Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

Government

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	18

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Center?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that licensing is always a pain, as everything involves levels of licensing, so when there are specific features I am looking for, they are ...

What needs improvement with Cisco Catalyst Center?

I would say Cisco Catalyst Center's PNP functionality is not as good as it could be. When the switches come out of the box and we try to configure it, the onboarding is kind of hard where I assign ...

What is your primary use case for Cisco Catalyst Center?

The main use case for us is to centralize managing our switches in one spot. We have a lot of switches to manage, so it's very easy to find that useful.

What needs improvement with HPE Intelligent Management Center?

I face the issue with the integration with links on Fortinet Firewall. This will be sorted out with the help of IMC, and now I have a modem dialing as per my needs.

What is your primary use case for HPE Intelligent Management Center?

I am using this solution for network monitoring, links monitoring, and complete monitoring of my infrastructure. I also deploy FortiVAF, FortiAnalyzer, and FortiManager as part of a complete securi...

What advice do you have for others considering HPE Intelligent Management Center?

I rate the overall solution nine out of ten.

Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Comparisons

Compared 28% of the time

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 19% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 10% of the time

SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 7% of the time

More Cisco Catalyst Center Competitors

Cisco DNA Center vs HPE Intelligent Management Center

Compared 12% of the time

Aruba Airwave vs HPE Intelligent Management Center

Compared 10% of the time

H3C intelligent Management Center vs HPE Intelligent Management Center

Compared 9% of the time

Fortinet FortiManager vs HPE Intelligent Management Center

Compared 8% of the time

ExtremeManagement vs HPE Intelligent Management Center

Compared 7% of the time

More HPE Intelligent Management Center Competitors

Product Reports

Cisco Catalyst Center

Download Cisco Catalyst Center product report

Network Management Applications

Download HPE Intelligent Management Center product report

HPE Intelligent Management Center report

Also Known As

No data available

HPE IMC

Overview

Cisco Catalyst Center offers a comprehensive platform for network management, providing scalable solutions and advanced analytics for enterprise-level operations.

Focusing on efficient network management, Cisco Catalyst Center effectively addresses dynamic enterprise environments, ensuring operational scalability and actionable insights through its robust feature set. It emphasizes seamless management with an intuitive interface tailored for professional use, facilitating enhanced network visibility and control among IT professionals and service providers.

What are the standout features of Cisco Catalyst Center?

Automated Provisioning: Simplifies and speeds up network configuration processes by automating repetitive tasks.
Advanced Analytics: Provides real-time insights and trends for network optimization and security enhancements.
Policy-Based Configuration: Ensures consistent network settings adherence with centralized policy management.
Comprehensive Monitoring: Offers in-depth visibility into network performance, facilitating quick identification of issues.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Improved Efficiency: Streamlined operations lead to reduced manual input and increased productivity.
Cost Savings: Automation and analytics reduce operational expenses and enhance ROI.
Enhanced Security: Policy enforcement and monitoring provide robust defense against vulnerabilities.
Scalability: Supports growing network infrastructures and evolving enterprise demands.

Cisco Catalyst Center is widely implemented across industries like finance, healthcare, and education due to its ability to handle complex network requirements. It addresses specific needs by offering tailored solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency and security, catering to professionals managing large-scale IT ecosystems.

Cisco

HPE Intelligent Management Center offers extensive features for network device management, monitoring, and interoperability across various equipment, valued for its user-friendly interface, automation, and rapid insights.

HPE Intelligent Management Center is a comprehensive network management platform allowing seamless integration with non-Cisco equipment, aiding in managing diverse environments. It is essential for network device backups, infrastructure monitoring, and comprehensive device management. With its Application Monitor, users gain deep platform insights. The tool offers efficient device interrogation, capable firmware deployment, and customizable reports, significantly enhancing its functionality. Though users find it challenging in configuration and interface intuitiveness, its core capabilities remain respected for network oversight. Additional improvements in documentation and Fortinet Firewall integration would enhance its appeal further.

What are the most important features of HPE Intelligent Management Center?

Network Device Backups: Ensures data safety and easy recovery.
Infrastructure Monitoring: Provides robust oversight of network conditions.
Interoperability: Works seamlessly with non-Cisco equipment.
Application Monitor: Delivers in-depth platform performance insights.
Customizable Reports: Allows tailored documentation and analysis.

What benefits and ROI should users expect in reviews?

User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies network management tasks.
Automation Capabilities: Enhances efficiency and accuracy.
Comprehensive Management: Facilitates complete device oversight.
Rapid Critical Insights: Provides quick access to vital information.
Device Interrogation Efficiency: Improves network troubleshooting and analysis.

HPE Intelligent Management Center is primarily implemented for network monitoring and infrastructure management. It is crucial for end-to-end tracking, link, switch, and bandwidth management within industries reliant on robust IT frameworks. Leveraging tools like FortiVAF, FortiAnalyzer, and FortiManager creates a comprehensive security infrastructure, enhancing user management and report generation. The focus remains on the core platform, with additional modules used less frequently.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Cisco Catalyst Center vs. HPE Intelligent Management Center