HPE Intelligent Management Center vs IBM Tivoli NetCool comparison

HPE Intelligent Management Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool

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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

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

IBM Tivoli NetCool

Ranking in Network Management Applications

10th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

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 HPE Intelligent Management Center is 4.2%, down from 6.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Tivoli NetCool is 3.7%, up from 2.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Management Applications Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
HPE Intelligent Management Center	4.2%
IBM Tivoli NetCool	3.7%
Other	92.1%

Network Management Applications

Featured Reviews

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

Petar Ganev

Senior Enterprise Monitoring Engineer at Commerzbank

Reliable for enterprise monitoring but no longer actively developed

There are problems with the latest security requirements because many things have changed in recent years, and now the security audits are very strict. And we need to switch to something else. We need to patch it constantly. Moreover, it is a very old tool and a little bit difficult to support. Otherwise, they work okay.

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

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

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

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

"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."

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

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

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

"Anything is possible with Tivoli. It's quite a robust system."

"Full featured - event/fault management, performance management, topology map, discovery, RCA, event enrichment, Proviso will chart data from almost any source with a variety of aggregation options."

"NetCool has a huge database that can collect and process about one million alarms a day."

"Support is one of the best aspects of this solution. NetCool is a good product that has good flexibility. There are a lot of documents available online which is one of the best features of IBM Tivoli Suite. Whenever an issue happens, rather than going to technical support, if you find the exact issue in Google, you can get tech notes for that particular issue."

"It improves customer satisfaction, deploy-ability, adaptability, flexibility, scalability, and reduces cost of operation."

"The scalability of monitoring, the breadth of supported network components, the scale of the number of monitoring events, and the flexibility in customization make this a well-rounded product."

"Tivoli NetCool allows us to grasp a lot of data that can be applied toward predictive analytics and auto-remediation."

"The feature I have found most valuable with NetCool is how it collaborates all the alarms, and then it does a predictive analysis, providing a consolidated alarm view and management."

More IBM Tivoli NetCool pros

Cons

"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."

"The integration with other network devices needs improvement."

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

"I would like to see additional modules included."

"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."

"HPE Intelligent Management Center is a bit slow."

"From a customer perspective, it is quite an expensive solution to initially implement and then support."

"I think the UI should be updated and made more presentable and eye-catching. Compared to NCE in Huawei, NSN in Nokia, the UiPath and Ubiquiti, it feels very old legacy."

"UI is outdated, very old legacy."

"Tivoli NetCool's has medium scalability - there are some problems with its replications not being mature."

"The solution does not have any AI capabilities."

"IBM's technical support takes a long time to do root cause analysis, and we have to go through several levels of help before getting a solution."

"This is another one of those suites glued together from a myriad of acquisitions and it shows once you get under the hood."

"The solution is not user-friendly."

More IBM Tivoli NetCool cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"Customers are required to pay a licensing fee."

"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."

"It costs around 100k for every ten servers, which is lower than similar products from other vendors."

"The price of the product is too expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

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.

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

I have worked from 1973 with all kind of systems in large enterprises across the world. And have experience with all kind of software in monitoring from infra to end to end, it depends on the funct...

What needs improvement with IBM Tivoli NetCool?

The main challenge is its licensing model, which is very complicated.

What is your primary use case for IBM Tivoli NetCool?

NetCool is the manager of managers in the stack. It basically combines the devices of the whole network. We are the mobile network operator, so we use it to assist us in cross-domain correlations a...

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Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Network Management Applications

Download HPE Intelligent Management Center product report

HPE Intelligent Management Center report

IBM Tivoli NetCool

Download IBM Tivoli NetCool product report

Also Known As

HPE IMC

Tivoli NetCool

Overview

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

IBM Tivoli NetCool is an advanced event management and network monitoring tool that efficiently processes alarms, offers extensive integration, and provides reliable customization capabilities. It is a comprehensive solution for network operations, catering to complex environments with vast data needs.

IBM Tivoli NetCool features a robust architecture that prioritizes critical alerts through effective event correlation and analysis. It offers seamless integration with numerous systems and provides custom dashboards for enhanced control. Users benefit from its scalability and predictive analysis, while its comprehensive documentation supports implementation. Despite its strengths, challenges like its complex licensing model, high costs, and requirement for expertise in integration are notable. Additionally, modernizing its interface and enhancing AI capabilities could improve user experience.

What are the most important features of IBM Tivoli NetCool?

Event Correlation & Analysis: Prioritizes critical alerts efficiently.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with numerous systems.
Customization Flexibility: Offers extensive dashboard customization.
Automation: Streamlines operational tasks effectively.
Scalability: Adapts to growing network demands.
Performance Management: Provides insight into network performance.

What benefits can users expect when using IBM Tivoli NetCool?

Operational Efficiency: Enhances alarm management and IT element monitoring.
Robust Reliability: Ensures stable performance in network operations.
Ease of Use: Simplifies workflows with comprehensive documentation.
Predictive Analysis: Anticipates network issues before they occur.

IBM Tivoli NetCool is frequently deployed in industries like telecommunications, finance, and healthcare, where it performs essential roles in event management and network monitoring. As a manager of managers, it consolidates device oversight, providing an integrated view crucial for mobile operators, financial firms, and hospitals.

IBM

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Claranet, Consolidated Communications, Telus, €sterreichische Bundesbahnen (€BB), Telekom Srbija, Bendigo Community Telco, Capgemini, Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB)

HPE Intelligent Management Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool