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Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs OptiView XG [EOL] comparison

Cisco and NETSCOUT are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Additionally, 92% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 89% of NETSCOUT users who would recommend it.
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabri...
Read 25 Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) reviews
  • 822 Views
  • 281 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
OptiView XG [EOL]
Read 38 OptiView XG [EOL] reviews
    89% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive Summary
    We performed a comparison between Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) and OptiView XG [EOL] based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

    Find out what your peers are saying about Zabbix, Auvik, SolarWinds and others in Network Monitoring Software.

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    To learn more, read our detailed Network Monitoring Software Report (Updated: May 2025).
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Monitoring Software
    May 2025
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    Helped 860,592 peers since 2012

    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 Nexus Dashboard Fabri...
    Average Rating
    8.0
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.8
    Number of Reviews
    25
    Ranking in other categories
    Network Monitoring Software (16th)
    OptiView XG [EOL]
    Average Rating
    8.6
    Number of Reviews
    38
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    Upul Abhayasena - PeerSpot reviewer
    Robust management tool with an easy setup and room for more features
    DCNM is used by one of the airline customers in Qatar to manage many data centers and rack switches running on normal Nexus or NX-OS mode. They required a controller platform to manage these Nexus switches, and thus, they utilized DCNM as a Fabric controller. Given that ACI deployment is very low…
    Read full review
    MW
    A valuable, impressive, and portable product that saves time and has great scalability and stability
    It just saves time. We have run into situations where contractors come in, and they plug in a WiFi device that is handing out DHCP addresses, which affects the rest of the network. To be able to quickly identify from where the problem is originating, you need a network tool that can identify the device that is doing this. It just brings into clear focus the exact issue when there is a problem or outage. When there is a crisis and you've several people wanting to know an estimate of when things are going to be back up and running again, you need to have answers. I have been at places that didn't have a tool like that. I know one place that had an outage for almost a week, and it was craziness. It turned out to be just a bad cable. That's all it was. They were having trouble with their email server, which was an on-premise email server, but emails were taking six hours to appear. The whole problem was because of a bad network cable. When I plugged in the Fluke analyzer, it analyzed and told me immediately that there were transmission errors on this one port from one switch. It told me this within 10 minutes. It is an incredible 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

    "It uses push technology, which pushes the changes to all relevant devices to ensure they are updated accordingly."
    "We use the product to manage access points."
    "The feature I find most valuable, is the stability of the solution."
    "The monitoring capability is the best in Cisco Data Center Network Manager. It helps me improve network management tasks and optimize processes."
    "Stability is not an issue."
    "The most valuable feature is the connectivity monitoring."
    "The product makes the management of our environment simpler."
    "Monitoring system provides a clear indication of what's going on in the network."
    More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) pros
    "Gives us the ability to see our network."
    "It is a very valuable tool. It goes out and does a discovery, which is a great process of it. You could have something like a rogue DHCP server, and it will identify it, and then you can see to which switch port it is connected. It is quite an impressive tool. I really liked it because you didn't have to install an agent on anything. It would just go out and do its discovery. For me, that's great."
     

    Cons

    "Data Center Network Manager is a little complex because it includes a lot of hardware to be installed."
    "The reporting is not very intuitive and has room for improvement."
    "If the customer thinks about using additional solutions, Cisco should make sure they are not left out."
    "Sometimes the product gives us problems that require support."
    "API lacks robustness."
    "Could integrate better with VMware products."
    "The tool's pricing strategy could be improved to compete more effectively in the market, especially against competitors like Huawei, Aruba, and Juniper."
    "It is not very easy to monitor or to browse."
    More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) cons
    "I would like a built-in tap feature which doesn't interfere with the network, and it allows you to see what is happening there."
    "Its price can be improved. Their support can also be improved a little bit. In terms of features, it did everything I wanted it to do. With more features, I would have to start installing network agents or something else, and I don't want to have to install anything. This was the value for me about this device."
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "The solution is very expensive."
    "I would say that the pricing offers great value for the money."
    "We usually opt for a yearly plan, commonly for three or five years upfront. Some customers may not utilize all the features included in the product, and this can lead to them paying for functionalities they don't need."
    "On average, Data Center Network Manager's pricing isn't too costly unless you choose a premier license."
    "The product is licensed with contracts that work on a yearly basis rather than a monthly model."
    "When we purchase a Nexus box, the MDS CM license comes with it."
    "The tool is always expensive, but their service, product quality, and support are good. We're happy with it, but it's still an expensive solution. There are cheaper alternatives but no similar platform across all domains."
    "The price of Cisco Data Center Network Manager is expensive compared to other vendors on the market."
    "Its price was a bit excessive. The device that I had died. It is under warranty, and they want $20,000 for another one. I just don't want to spend that kind of money, so I'm trying to find an alternate solution. They have annual maintenance on it, which probably was 10% a year, so it all starts to add up."
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Computer Software Company
    17%
    Government
    12%
    Financial Services Firm
    9%
    Real Estate/Law Firm
    7%
    Government
    14%
    Financial Services Firm
    12%
    Computer Software Company
    11%
    Comms Service Provider
    9%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
     

    Questions from the Community

    What do you like most about Cisco Data Center Network Manager?
    It uses push technology, which pushes the changes to all relevant devices to ensure they are updated accordingly.
    See all answers
    What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Data Center Network Manager?
    The tool is always expensive, but their service, product quality, and support are good. We're happy with it, but it's still an expensive solution. There are cheaper alternatives but no similar plat...
    See all answers
    What needs improvement with Cisco Data Center Network Manager?
    In a mixed architecture where Nexus switches are used as border devices and are connected to a Palo Alto firewall (e.g., version 9.1 or 10.1), you might encounter issues with BGP peering. For insta...
    See all answers
    Ask a question
    Earn 20 points
     

    Comparisons

    Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
    Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
    Compared 61% of the time
    Zabbix vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
    Zabbix vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
    Compared 15% of the time
    SolarWinds Network Automation Manager vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
    SolarWinds Network Automation Manager vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
    Compared 14% of the time
    Icinga vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
    Icinga vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
    Compared 10% of the time
    More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Competitors
    No data available
     

    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
    June 2025
    Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) reportDownload Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) product report
    Buyer's Guide
    OptiView XG [EOL]
    June 2025
    OptiView XG [EOL] reportDownload OptiView XG [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    Cisco Data Center Network Manager
    No data available
     

    Overview

    The Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) offers a comprehensive solution for managing Cisco NX-OS switches in hybrid-cloud environments, providing automation, visibility, and consistent operations. Designed to simplify and enhance data center management, NDFC integrates with Cisco Nexus Dashboard to streamline network connectivity, reduce deployment times, and ensure seamless transitions with minimal disruptions. Its modular architecture, new user interface, and support for non-Nexus OS platforms make it a robust tool for LAN, SAN, and IP Fabric for Media management. Additionally, NDFC enhances fabric reliability, automates workflows, and supports cloud connectivity with AWS and Microsoft Azure, making it ideal for businesses adapting to increasingly complex digital environments.

    Cisco

    OptiView XG is the first network analysis tablet designed specifically for the network engineer. It combines critical functions necessary to automate root-cause analysis of both wired and wireless network performance issues – whether network or application related to reduce time for problem identification. OptiView XG supports repeatable, effective troubleshooting – whether pre- or post-deployment.

    NETSCOUT
     

    Sample Customers

    Banco de Guayaquil, Cox Communications, Kuwait Petroleum Italia, Roper St. Francis, University of British Columbia
    XG is used in all industries. Example customers include: Republic National Distributing Company, Titelive, CitiGroup, Los Angeles Unified School District, Saudi German Hospital, DeKalb County Schools, Valdosta State University, The Everett Clinic, Bio-Reference, Miami-Dade Library, Mitel, Borsa Istanbul, Cimarex, Air National Guard Lowndes County, High Point City, Carrollton City Schools, Kern County, Pruitt Communications and Bosch Group.
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Monitoring Software
    May 2025
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