Cisco UCS Manager vs SolarWinds NPM comparison

Cisco and SolarWinds are both solutions in the IT Infrastructure Monitoring category. Cisco is ranked #30 with an average rating of 8.8, while SolarWinds is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.3. Cisco holds a 1.3% mindshare in IM, compared to SolarWinds’s 3.5% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.

Cisco UCS Manager

Read 27 Cisco UCS Manager reviews

4,513 Views
4,242 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

SolarWinds NPM

Read 161 SolarWinds NPM reviews

23,097 Views
11,779 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Cisco UCS Manager

SolarWinds NPM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 9, 2024

SolarWinds NPM and Cisco UCS Manager compete in the IT management software category, focusing on network and server management respectively. Cisco UCS Manager appears to have an edge in centralized management and adaptability to different configurations, particularly in large server environments.

Features: SolarWinds NPM is renowned for its SNMP monitoring, customizable alerts, and seamless integration with multiple vendors, providing comprehensive network visibility. Cisco UCS Manager excels in server management with features like ease in server maintenance, centralized management, and flexibility for diverse configurations.

Room for Improvement: SolarWinds NPM needs enhancements in network discovery, accuracy in network mapping, and bulk node management. Its licensing model complicates adoption, requiring better integration with other products. Cisco UCS Manager could improve its interface complexity, firmware upgrade processes, and reduce costs for maintenance and licenses.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SolarWinds NPM offers versatile deployments from on-premises to hybrid clouds but faces criticism for response times and sales tactics despite generally positive customer service. Cisco UCS Manager, commonly used on-premises, is commended for reliable customer service and technical support.

Pricing and ROI: SolarWinds NPM has competitive pricing; however, its complex licensing might deter smaller companies. Users find value in its network management efficiency. Cisco UCS Manager is pricey compared to competitors like Dell and HP, yet offers stability and reliability justifying the cost. ROI is generally favorable, correlating with deployment scale and organizational needs.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco UCS Manager vs. SolarWinds NPM Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco UCS Manager vs. SolarWinds NPM

August 2026

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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:

ROI

Sentiment score

5.1

Cisco UCS Manager enhances ROI by minimizing hardware failures, downtime, and maintenance, simplifying management, and integrating efficiently with other tools.

Sentiment score

6.8

SolarWinds NPM is praised for reducing costs, offering quick ROI, and enhancing network management with reliable alerts and reporting.

There's no need for an extra management device or virtual machine, as everything runs within the fabric interconnect.

Sidi Abdul

CTO at Next Technologies Ltd

Cisco UCS Manager provides cost savings by reducing the time support staff spend on long deployments.

Humphrey Hlatshwayo

Systems Engineer at FNB South Africa

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS Manager report

The return on investment is significant as the solution effectively reduces costs while being worth its expense.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

8.2

Cisco UCS Manager support is praised for expertise and responsiveness, though European support and urgent issues may vary.

Sentiment score

6.9

SolarWinds NPM's customer service is praised, but technical support varies, with some users noting slow responses and availability issues.

For a severity one case, a call ensures immediate assistance and resolution of the matter.

Sidi Abdul

CTO at Next Technologies Ltd

With Intersight, service requests are automatically generated, enhancing the user experience and providing timely resolutions.

Humphrey Hlatshwayo

Systems Engineer at FNB South Africa

Regarding Cisco tech, they are pretty good.

Rob-Croxford

Consultant at rcnss

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS Manager report

If there is no timely response, getting a resolution is more difficult.

SJ6

Network Security Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

Regarding technical support from SolarWinds, I find it excellent.

Vijay Samant

Assistant Manager at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

We had contact with SolarWinds regarding the implementation, and they were helpful.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.8

Cisco UCS Manager offers scalable infrastructure solutions, though constrained by chassis limits, with largely positive user feedback.

Sentiment score

6.9

SolarWinds NPM efficiently scales in large environments, but may require extra polling engines and face complex licensing challenges.

Adding new chassis and extra blades is streamlined.

Sidi Abdul

CTO at Next Technologies Ltd

I would rate the scalability at nine out of ten, probably.

Rob-Croxford

Consultant at rcnss

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS Manager report

SolarWinds NPM is scalable and effective in handling large network infrastructures.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.6

Cisco UCS Manager is praised for its stability, reliability, and prompt support, often outperforming competitors in overall robustness.

Sentiment score

7.5

SolarWinds NPM is praised for stability, with resource allocation and documentation adherence mitigating most upgrade-related issues.

If there's a really complex problem, I would probably give it a ten since it gets escalated quickly.

Rob-Croxford

Consultant at rcnss

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS Manager report

For stability, I rate SolarWinds NPM as a ten, which is the best.

Vijay Samant

Assistant Manager at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

The NPM product is stable, particularly when used for simple network monitoring.

SJ6

Network Security Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Room For Improvement

Cisco UCS Manager needs a streamlined interface, enhanced support, simpler updates, better integration, affordability, and improved monitoring.

SolarWinds NPM requires enhancements in analytics, scalability, UI, security, integration, customization, monitoring, automation, stability, and cost-effectiveness.

We would benefit from advancements in AI that offer firmware recommendations automatically, reducing the need for human intervention and vendor communication.

Humphrey Hlatshwayo

Systems Engineer at FNB South Africa

It doesn't work straight out of the UCS, so someone who knows what they're doing is needed immediately, and it can be quite confusing.

Rob-Croxford

Consultant at rcnss

While it has been improved from using Java to HTML, simplifying the tabs would enhance user experience.

Sidi Abdul

CTO at Next Technologies Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS Manager report

SolarWinds needs to upscale on observability and add full-fledged observability features, including security features.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

Customers have given feedback about the delayed response times from the technical team.

SJ6

Network Security Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees

I would need a feature in SolarWinds in the future for some kind of malfunctioning detection, such as malware attacks or that type of environment.

Vivek Jaiswal

Manager IT at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Setup Cost

Cisco UCS Manager is seen as expensive but offers competitive value with bundled discounts, quality, and reliability.

SolarWinds NPM offers a flexible licensing model with competitive pricing, though costs may rise for extensive setups.

Recently, we acquired an excellent bundle with significant discounts, with offers like buying three servers and getting one free, along with UCSC and fabric included for free.

Sidi Abdul

CTO at Next Technologies Ltd

As long as they can afford it, there is a setup cost involved.

Rob-Croxford

Consultant at rcnss

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS Manager report

The solution is considered expensive.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

Pricing-wise, SolarWinds NPM is more expensive than PRTG.

Tochukwu Uzomba

Solutions Architect at Boch Systems Company Limited

It is not too pricey and is adequate.

Vivek Jaiswal

Manager IT at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Valuable Features

Cisco UCS Manager offers unified management, easy deployment, flexible configurations, high availability, and cross-infrastructure security compatibility.

SolarWinds NPM provides intuitive network monitoring with advanced customization, scalability, and proactive alerts, suiting diverse business needs.

It supports ease of deployment, allowing for quick mass deployments in the data center, saving time and resources by doing so from a remote location.

Humphrey Hlatshwayo

Systems Engineer at FNB South Africa

Whenever there's a failure of any component, it's very easy to swap because you just disassociate that profile, remove the faulty blade, connect the new blade, and associate that profile, maintaining the same MAC address and worldwide port name.

Sidi Abdul

CTO at Next Technologies Ltd

One of the valuable features is the user interface base, specifically the C user interface.

Rob-Croxford

Consultant at rcnss

For more quotes and insights, download the Cisco UCS Manager report

Whenever any node is down in our network, whether it is a server or any network device, we receive information through email that the device is down.

Vivek Jaiswal

Manager IT at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

The ability to customize the dashboard in SolarWinds NPM provides key benefits like saving time and money, and streamlining some processes.

Vijay Samant

Assistant Manager at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees

The most valuable feature for us is the database performance analyzer, which we use a lot.

Wahyu Krisnamukti

Network Administrator at PT Bni Life Insurance

For more quotes and insights, download the SolarWinds NPM report

Categories and Ranking

Cisco UCS Manager

Ranking in IT Infrastructure Monitoring

30th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SolarWinds NPM

Ranking in IT Infrastructure Monitoring

6th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

161

Ranking in other categories

Network Monitoring Software (2nd), Cloud Monitoring Software (7th)

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the IT Infrastructure Monitoring category, the mindshare of Cisco UCS Manager is 1.3%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds NPM is 3.5%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

IT Infrastructure Monitoring Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SolarWinds NPM	3.5%
Cisco UCS Manager	1.3%
Other	95.2%

IT Infrastructure Monitoring

Featured Reviews

Rob-Croxford

Consultant at rcnss

A market leader with an enhanced user interface for seamless experience

There is room for improvement in terms of cost and complexity to set up. It doesn't work straight out of the UCS, so someone who knows what they're doing is needed immediately, and it can be quite confusing. Some settings are still fairly well hidden, even the basic ones. Companies don't really understand how long it takes to set up. Also, when changes are pushed, it can take their phone line off the system for twenty minutes to half an hour. Out-of-the-box functionality is an issue, too. I know that my company is different, however, the basics are always the same. You do your tap lines, zip lines, and stuff like that, then you get your internal phone line system. That can all be automated and scripted, and it's probably part of the automation process. However, I haven't really seen it.

Read full review

Vivek Jaiswal

Manager IT at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Central monitoring has improved outage alerts and now needs smarter detection and modern dashboards

Regarding the automated network topology and mapping feature in SolarWinds NPM, I am not satisfied with it. For static monitoring, it is acceptable. However, if it is possible, I would need a feature in SolarWinds in the future for some kind of malfunctioning detection, such as malware attacks or that type of environment. We did not have any facility to detect that in SolarWinds. I think it would be better to incorporate those types of features. Regarding customization options in SolarWinds, the ability to customize the dashboard has room for improvement. The dashboard is quite old, and we need some improvement in it. Nowadays, we have multiple tools with AI-based monitoring and web-based dashboards. SolarWinds also has a web-based dashboard, but I think there is scope for improvement in the UI. There may be other areas I would like to improve in SolarWinds NPM.

Read full review

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Comparison Review

it_user174738

IT Developer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

May 31, 2015

Nagios vs. Zabbix vs. PRTG vs. Spiceworks vs. Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor

I have researched a quite a few network monitoring tools which can be used for various monitoring purposes of not only the servers, but the intermediate routers as well. There are majorly three types of these softwares. Ones which are completely open-source, you can do almost anything you want…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	19

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	59
Midsize Enterprise	33
Large Enterprise	87

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco UCS Manager?

My experience with the pricing of Cisco UCS Manager ( /products/cisco-ucs-manager-reviews ) is that it is reasonable. Recently, we acquired an excellent bundle with significant discounts, with offe...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco UCS Manager?

For improvements, while the current graphical user interface is satisfactory, it could be further simplified for different tasks. While it has been improved from using Java to HTML, simplifying the...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cisco UCS Manager?

Our primary use case involves working with Cisco UCS B-Series ( /products/cisco-ucs-b-series-reviews ), specifically the UCS X modular deployment. We are setting up a new deployment shortly.

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

It actually depends on the exact purpose or kind of devices (network devices, servers, something else). Some tools are better for only network devices while others are better for a cloud monitoring...

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

From my point of view, SolarWind is the best tool.

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

We are partners with SolarWinds and we sell a lot of Network management to large enterprises also because of scalability, products like Network Performance Monitor & Netflow Traffic Analyzer ar...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Intersight vs Cisco UCS Manager

Compared 58% of the time

HPE OneView vs Cisco UCS Manager

Compared 4% of the time

Nutanix Prism vs Cisco UCS Manager

Compared 4% of the time

Splunk Observability Cloud vs Cisco UCS Manager

Compared 4% of the time

Datadog vs Cisco UCS Manager

Compared 3% of the time

More Cisco UCS Manager Competitors

ManageEngine OpManager vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

Nagios XI vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

DX Spectrum vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

Zabbix vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

PRTG Network Monitor vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 2% of the time

More SolarWinds NPM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco UCS Manager

August 2026

Download Cisco UCS Manager product report

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds NPM

July 2026

Download SolarWinds NPM product report

Also Known As

No data available

Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor, SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer

Overview

Cisco UCS Manager enables streamlined operations through unified storage, networking, and computing management, offering enhanced reliability and flexibility.

Cisco UCS Manager provides enhanced management capabilities for infrastructures, simplifying server deployment and operations. Its user-friendly interface aids in easy configuration and visibility, including robust reporting. UCS Manager supports efficient firmware and OS updates for large deployments, ensuring smooth operations across physical and virtual environments.

What key features does Cisco UCS Manager offer?

Hardware Profile Association: Ensures seamless hardware configurations.
Unified Management: Centralizes control of storage, networking, and computing resources.
Service Profiles: Simplifies server deployment and management.
User-Friendly Dashboards: Provides intuitive interface and strong reporting.
High Availability: Facilitates resource expansion and stability.

What benefits are important when considering Cisco UCS Manager?

Operational Efficiency: Reduces downtime and enhances deployment speed.
Centralized Control: Streamlines management across blades and configurations.
Scalability: Supports mass deployments and expansion.
Visibility and Reporting: Improves infrastructure monitoring and analytics.

In industries managing extensive IT infrastructures, such as healthcare and finance, Cisco UCS Manager is crucial for optimizing server and network operations. It enables efficient creation of server profiles, integration with networking systems, and comprehensive monitoring, ensuring high availability and reduced setup time for complex environments.

Cisco

SolarWinds NPM is a network performance monitoring tool offering a user-friendly interface with customizable dashboards. It provides real-time tracking of device health, latency, and bandwidth utilization, supporting diverse integration and scalability needs.

SolarWinds NPM's robust features include real-time monitoring of network performance and efficient tracking of device health, latency, and bandwidth utilization. The tool is appreciated for its ease of deployment, scalability, and support for integration with other tools. Features like SNMP monitoring, NetPath, and comprehensive reporting enhance its diagnostic capabilities and network visibility. However, users identify areas for improvement such as real-time analytics, advanced customization options, and enhanced scalability for larger enterprises. Better customer support, improved integrations, and security measures are also desired.

What are the key features of SolarWinds NPM?

User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies navigation and operation.
Customizable Dashboards: Allows personalized data views.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides instant updates on network performance.
Strong Alerting Capabilities: Offers immediate notifications for issues.
Scalability: Supports growth with ease.
Integration: Works smoothly with other tools for comprehensive monitoring.
SNMP Monitoring: Tracks device stats effectively.
NetPath: Helps visualize network paths and performance.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Improved Network Visibility: Enables proactive issue resolution.
Enhanced Diagnostics: Facilitates quicker troubleshooting.
Real-Time Performance Data: Supports informed decision-making.
Ease of Deployment: Reduces setup time and complexity.
Infrastructure Monitoring: Ensures network stability and reliability.
Custom Integration: Adapts to existing IT environments.

In enterprise environments, SolarWinds NPM is deployed to monitor network health and device status, sending alerts for any issues. It provides visibility into network performance, tracking bandwidth utilization and server metrics efficiently. Its applications span from monitoring routers, switches, and firewalls to supporting infrastructure monitoring across industries.

SolarWinds

Sample Customers

Management Science Associates, Peak 10, Virtual Consulting Professionals

Microsoft, Federal Express, Hewlett-Packard, and MasterCard

Buyer's Guide

Cisco UCS Manager vs. SolarWinds NPM

August 2026

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