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Cisco DNA Center vs OpenText Network Node Manager i comparison

Cisco and OpenText are both solutions in the Network Management Applications category. Cisco is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.0, while OpenText is ranked #15 with an average rating of 8.5. Cisco holds a 25.1% mindshare in NMA, compared to OpenText’s 2.4% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of OpenText users who would recommend it.
Cisco DNA Center
Read 41 Cisco DNA Center reviews
  • 5,774 Views
  • 3,631 Comparison Views
89% willing to recommend
OpenText Network Node Manag...
Read 24 OpenText Network Node Manager i reviews
  • 424 Views
  • 245 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 2, 2025

OpenText Network Node Manager i and Cisco DNA Center are network management competitors. Cisco DNA Center is perceived as superior due to its advanced features and perceived value.

Features: OpenText Network Node Manager i is known for robust monitoring, extensive automation tools, and detailed network visualization. Cisco DNA Center shines with its AI-driven analytics, intuitive dashboard, and seamless integration with Cisco hardware.

Room for Improvement: OpenText Network Node Manager i could enhance its multi-vendor support, improve root cause analysis capabilities, and expand reporting options. Cisco DNA Center may benefit from simplifying its learning curve, refining its AI features for broader applications, and enhancing documentation to support new users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: OpenText offers a straightforward deployment model with responsive customer service. Cisco DNA Center has more documentation and a knowledgeable support team, although its comprehensive feature set presents a steeper learning curve.

Pricing and ROI: OpenText Network Node Manager i is more budget-friendly with lower initial setup cost and stable performance, providing good ROI. Cisco DNA Center requires a higher initial investment but aims for significant long-term ROI through reduced operational costs and improved network efficiency.

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To learn more, read our detailed Cisco DNA Center vs. OpenText Network Node Manager i Report (Updated: April 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Cisco DNA Center vs. OpenText Network Node Manager i
April 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

Cisco DNA Center
Ranking in Network Management Applications
1st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
41
Ranking in other categories
Network Monitoring Software (13th), Network Automation (2nd)
OpenText Network Node Manag...
Ranking in Network Management Applications
15th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.8
Number of Reviews
24
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Network Management Applications category, the mindshare of Cisco DNA Center is 25.1%, down from 29.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenText Network Node Manager i is 2.4%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Network Management Applications
 

Featured Reviews

AvrahamSonenthal - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features
The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage. We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks. The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective. Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play. I rate it an eight.
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Qusai Abuomar - PeerSpot reviewer
Network performance optimization achieved with comprehensive visibility and effective event handling
The root cause analysis is valuable. The availability and event handling are also very good, as our team understands the events well. Overall, the tool helps maintain the health of the network. It provides visibility for the network device status, link status, and hardware status of devices such as switches and routers.
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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

"It does a lot of things automatically, and that's the big thing with it. They're making the software so that you don't need to be as knowledgeable as me on the switching and routing side to get your work done. If you want, you can have DNA troubleshoot your problem for you and give you solutions or fix it itself, if it was something that's just a configuration issue."
"The monitoring is very valuable to me."
"It enables monitoring of various components such as access points, switch cards, and other elements within the company's solutions."
"It is very versatile in terms of analytics."
"The most valuable features of Cisco DNA Center are wireless assurance and visibility."
"I like the visibility, instant build, network, policies, and the ability to control access. I also like that you can visualize your whole network."
"Application Assurance works very well."
"The monitoring features are very useful for network engineers."
More Cisco DNA Center pros
"Most valuable function would have to the internal causal engine and its root cause analyzer which keep us updated on critical errors and incidents in our network environment."
"It is stable for fault and availability."
"Real time network monitoring application: It is very stable, which provides quick root cause analysis (RCA) for any network faults."
"You can utilize the main file from various vendors for integration."
"Overall, the tool helps maintain the health of the network."
"It's quite a mature solution."
"The platform has good stability."
"If you install one node on Network Node Manager and want to scale it up, it's pretty easy to create more nodes."
More OpenText Network Node Manager i pros
 

Cons

"I would like is to have a small information pointer available. It could be a plus feature that I want to implement. When I hover my mouse over the user interface, it should provide a brief explanation. It would be helpful to have it incorporated into the UI."
"There are some software problems from version to version. It takes a long time for DNA Center to recognize the video and control access devices."
"The solution’s security side could be improved."
"An area that needs improvement is the integration with other vendors."
"As a user, it would be good if I could plug in controllers, suites, and devices from other vendors to Cisco DNA Center."
"When it comes to deploying wireless fields, integrating defaults into the DNS interface can be challenging."
"An area for improvement in Cisco DNA Center is the latency in data correlation. For example, sometimes, when an issue happens, and I check the logs, I can't find the corresponding log. There's a delay in log replication, so this is what needs improvement in Cisco DNA Center. Reporting in Cisco DNA Center could also be improved because it only has a few templates, and you can't customize it based on your requirements. There aren't many options available in Cisco DNA Center regarding reporting, versus Cisco Prime, which has excellent features for different levels of detailed reports. I'd like to see real-time data replication in the next release of Cisco DNA Center, similar to what's done in Meraki. Data in Meraki is real-time with no delay, so data is immediately replicated in the cloud. Currently, there's a lag in Cisco DNA Center, and addressing that lag is the enhancement I'd like to see in Cisco DNA Center. The solution also needs to be more user-friendly."
"They can improve the network visibility. Licensing and its maintenance are also needed."
More Cisco DNA Center cons
"We have not had a good experience with technical support from OpenText. Many cases take a month to be resolved."
"The dashboards are not customizable and it's not user-friendly."
"When I open a ticket, usually they respond very late. Some of the people I negotiate with seem undertrained."
"The solution should integrate with NAC servers."
"The way the solution currently works means I'm not able to customize my own reports."
"As the technologies evolve, also these solutions or the monitoring tools should evolve to cover the progress in technology, including capabilities related to monitoring of virtualized devices today, as the DNS is on the table in this way."
"Right now, we have open tickets and they are not closing as expected."
"The deployment architecture and installation part needs improvement."
More OpenText Network Node Manager i cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Cisco DNA Center is expensive."
"I rate the product's pricing an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is very cheap, and ten is very expensive."
"Licensing for Cisco DNA Center is a little bit expensive, just like any Cisco solution. Its cost could still be improved."
"Affordability is a problem because it's created for large enterprises only. So, some customers, even if their engineers want the solution, might have problems with budget limitations."
"The product is very costly."
"Cisco DNA Center is too expensive."
"The price could be better. It's a very expensive tool."
"We get a yearly license at the time we buy the product."
More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice
"I wasn't involved in the pricing, but I think it's quite expensive."
"The solution is quite expensive."
"It's an expensive solution."
"The solution is priced mid-range compared to the competition."
"It is more inexpensive than other products in the market."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
16%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Computer Software Company
21%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Government
9%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?
The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?
The cost is very high.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?
The system is working fine for me currently.
See all answers
What do you like most about Micro Focus Network Node Manager?
The platform has good stability.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Micro Focus Network Node Manager?
The interface is outdated and needs to be more dynamic and faster. It would be better if the product was a single module rather than requiring additional modules and licensing for APIs and extra fe...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Micro Focus Network Node Manager?
We use OpenText Network Node Manager i ( /products/opentext-network-node-manager-i-reviews ) primarily for network monitoring and diagnostics in our organization. We use this product for fault and ...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 11% of the time
Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 7% of the time
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 6% of the time
Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 6% of the time
Meraki Dashboard vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Meraki Dashboard vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 5% of the time
More Cisco DNA Center Competitors
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs OpenText Network Node Manager i Logo
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs OpenText Network Node Manager i
Compared 23% of the time
DX Spectrum vs OpenText Network Node Manager i Logo
DX Spectrum vs OpenText Network Node Manager i
Compared 16% of the time
Fortinet FortiManager vs OpenText Network Node Manager i Logo
Fortinet FortiManager vs OpenText Network Node Manager i
Compared 15% of the time
IBM Tivoli NetCool vs OpenText Network Node Manager i Logo
IBM Tivoli NetCool vs OpenText Network Node Manager i
Compared 12% of the time
OpenText Network Automation vs OpenText Network Node Manager i Logo
OpenText Network Automation vs OpenText Network Node Manager i
Compared 10% of the time
More OpenText Network Node Manager i Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco DNA Center
May 2025
Cisco DNA Center reportDownload Cisco DNA Center product report
Buyer's Guide
OpenText Network Node Manager i
May 2025
OpenText Network Node Manager i reportDownload OpenText Network Node Manager i product report
 

Also Known As

DNA Center
Micro Focus Network Node Manager, Network Node Manager, HPE Network Node Manager
 

Overview

Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?
  • Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
  • Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
  • Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
  • Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
  • Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
  • Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.
What benefits should users consider?
  • Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
  • Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
  • Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
  • Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

Cisco
OpenText Network Node Manager i (NNMi) delivers powerful capabilities enabling NOCs to manage modern networks. NNMi Smart Plug-ins expand NNMi into specialized environments, helping your team reduce time to resolve issues. NNMi is a core component of Network Operations Management.
OpenText
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
IPC, Exelon, VivaCom, 
Buyer's Guide
Cisco DNA Center vs. OpenText Network Node Manager i
April 2025
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