IxNetwork VE vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG comparison

Keysight Technologies and NetAlly are both solutions in the Network Diagnostics category. Keysight Technologies is ranked #1, while NetAlly is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.0. Keysight Technologies holds a 17.1% mindshare in ND, compared to NetAlly’s 6.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of NetAlly users are willing to recommend the solution.

IxNetwork VE

Read 1 IxNetwork VE review

409 Views
409 Comparison Views

0% willing to recommend

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Read 23 NetAlly EtherScope nXG reviews

1,348 Views
216 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IxNetwork VE

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IxNetwork VE and NetAlly EtherScope nXG based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Keysight Technologies, NetAlly, IBM and others in Network Diagnostics.

To learn more, read our detailed Network Diagnostics Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Network Diagnostics

January 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 881,082 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

IxNetwork VE

Ranking in Network Diagnostics

1st

Average Rating

0.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Ranking in Network Diagnostics

2nd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Troubleshooting (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Network Diagnostics category, the mindshare of IxNetwork VE is 17.1%, down from 30.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NetAlly EtherScope nXG is 6.3%, down from 8.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Diagnostics Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
IxNetwork VE	17.1%
NetAlly EtherScope nXG	6.3%
Other	76.6%

Network Diagnostics

Featured Reviews

WilsonAitan

Deputy Country Manager at PT Securite Asia Indonesia (ABP Securite)

Reduces probe solution costs with advanced deduplication and metadata capabilities

The use case for this tool is generally for enterprise customers who have more than two monitoring tools. These customers obtain information from switches that have a limitation of up to two-point mirroring or span ports. Therefore, if I have more than two monitoring tools, I need a network packet…

Read full review

Doug Dickerson

Manager at Northwestern

Handheld form factor, intuitive interface that is easy to use, helps us quickly troubleshoot network problems

It would be helpful if this product interfaced with AirWave. The battery life should be improved. The real negative to the product is the horrible battery life. We had hoped for it to be able to deliver configurations to our network switches, and I think they're developing something for that. However, it doesn't do that now. We were hoping that we would, as we replace or refresh network components, be able to use this tool to push a config file to the switch. For example, the Aruba switches that we're deploying come with a Bluetooth function where we can push configs from our phones. It would be much more convenient to use this device, rather than using our personal cell phones to do it. I think that the capability is there, but it just hasn't been figured out yet.

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

"I would recommend IxNetwork VE to others."

"The most valuable features for me include deduplication, metadata processing, and the ability to perform media services."

"It clearly depicts the information we're looking for on a 10Gig testing, and we can also verify 100Gig links with it between our routing sites."

"The AirMapper Site Survey app is one of the biggest highlights of this product. When somebody asks me, "Why should I use this device?" it's the first thing I show them, and they usually love it. Its ability to gather WiFi site survey data is absolutely amazing."

"The solution’s AirMapper Site Survey app is extremely easy to use. We give it to the technicians and send them out to go do that function. We hand it to the technician who goes onsite, then they take a photo of the overall area of a floor plan and are able to go do that site survey without almost any instruction from any engineer. So, it is very usable for beginner-type techs."

"The whole product is valuable because it's really a bunch of features that make up the one testing utility. Between auto tests, wireless assessments, its ability to do iPerf speed and traffic testing, as well as packet captures — all of those really contribute to a very successful product and allow me to do my job in a better manner."

"The most valuable part is absolutely being able to assess existing WiFi networks quickly. You get very powerful details of networks, details that you couldn't see unless you had multiple pieces of software and hardware. This does it all in one thing."

"Being able to do a Wi-Fi walk-around survey with a handheld tool is one of the most valuable features of NetAlly EtherScope nXG."

"EtherScope has made our networking staff more productive. We have remote locations and can use the tools to collaborate. I have other people looking at it at the same time that I am looking at it. With the uploading ability, I can have more eyes on the project at the same time, instead of just one set of eyes."

"The most valuable features are the WiFi troubleshooting, network validation, and cabling validation, and the fact that it's an all-in-one tool. You don't have to carry different tools. The multi-technology functionality and its ability to do WiFi and wired Ethernet analysis in one device are the best aspects."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG pros

Cons

"The data center facet of IxNetwork Packet Broker can be improved, particularly concerning mapping from the cache."

"There is room for improvement in the battery life and price."

"The small screen is a little bit of a handicap. It would be nice if we could, for instance, connect a larger screen to the device, but it's very user-friendly. You're only limited by the size of the screen. That's the only negative aspect of doing surveys with this device."

"If I could reset it remotely, meaning reboot the unit, that would be helpful. One time, the test would not respond; the script would lock up. I had to go and manually reboot it. If I could have sent a command to reboot and it would have automatically connected to the wireless, that would have made it perfect. That was the only thing that it did not do."

"NetAlly doesn't have a spectrum analyzer. I have to use other tools to view the spectrum, and this is a problem."

"The only issue that I have ever had is the battery life. It does drain a little bit quickly... While it's true that by the time I'm finished with my assessment it's usually dead, I have usually finished what I need to do and everything has been pushed to Link-Live. But occasionally, I might need a backup battery if I need to do something for multiple hours."

"The user interface could be a little bit more streamlined, a little bit easier. Sometimes it's hard to find a specific thing that you're looking for. In terms of hardware-based improvement, the battery would be the biggest issue. The battery goes out very quickly."

"For my usage, I thought the training would be maybe an hour, but I ended up having to spend an additional four to eight hours just to make sure I could adequately translate the data. So, using the tool was not that difficult, but translating the data is where there is a breakdown in what you are demonstrated and what you can actually do."

"The main area for improvement that stands out is the lack of a microburst dashboard, which some other vendors offer. However, NetAlly has carved out its niche by focusing on comprehensive network analysis up to layer seven, including automatic network mapping with tools like CyberScope. While there may be some features missing compared to competitors, NetAlly remains strong in its specialized market, providing robust solutions like EtherScope for detailed customer scans, despite being on the pricier side."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"It is worth it. The cost benefit of Link-Live is massive because it is included with the cost of the device and the licensing. A lot of people miss that part of it. It is not just the device that you get but it is the ability to look at all of that data later on. You're not having to do all of that on the device. You can just be there, use the device, and then look at the data from the comfort of your office or home afterward."

"The pricing can be a little bit high for a handheld tool, mostly because, potentially, people do not understand what's in the package. However, NetAlly offers great bundled deals. We got a significantly good deal by ordering a package of these devices that had a whole test kit together. So, while it's very high, the value is certainly there, and the vendor does offer value-added features to offset that cost."

"Depending on the company, it could be somewhat costly. But just two of these devices can save you thousands upon thousands of dollars."

"It's a pricey device, but I see value in it from a business perspective."

"In terms of pricing, EtherScope isn't cheap. It's a significant investment, and not a budget option."

"The pricing was a little bit high, but I understand that when you are getting multiple tools."

"As a business owner, it was a high price. However, it was well worth it. We have gotten our money out of it and continue to get our money out of it. For the price and usability, it is definitely worth it. The Wi-Fi survey capabilities alone justifies the price. Having all the other tools in it really adds to that."

"If we were to purchase separate meters to do similar things, it would be double or triple the cost for us to have each toolkit available. Being a small business, putting that much money on a single truck is not cost-effective. Instead, we could put the analyzer, network heat map, and cable tester all in one meter. That is why we went for it."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Diagnostics solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Manufacturing Company

11%

Healthcare Company

11%

Educational Organization

10%

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IxNetwork VE?

The pricing of this solution is usually quite high.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IxNetwork VE?

The data center facet of IxNetwork Packet Broker can be improved, particularly concerning mapping from the cache.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for IxNetwork VE?

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for NetAlly EtherScope nXG?

In terms of pricing, EtherScope isn't cheap. It's a significant investment, and not a budget option.

See all answers

What needs improvement with NetAlly EtherScope nXG?

The main area for improvement that stands out is the lack of a microburst dashboard, which some other vendors offer. However, NetAlly has carved out its niche by focusing on comprehensive network a...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for NetAlly EtherScope nXG?

We mainly use NetAlly EtherScope nXG for troubleshooting. Linksprinter helps us solve problems and understand how things work. For example, SpamTitan is automatic, but beginners might not understan...

See all answers

Comparisons

Fortinet FortiTester vs IxNetwork VE

Compared 48% of the time

IBM Tivoli Network Manager vs IxNetwork VE

Compared 25% of the time

More IxNetwork VE Competitors

LinkRunner vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 27% of the time

AirCheck G3 vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 19% of the time

AirMagnet Survey PRO vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 16% of the time

Wireshark vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 11% of the time

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Diagnostics

January 2026

Download IxNetwork VE product report

Buyer's Guide

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

January 2026

Download NetAlly EtherScope nXG product report

Also Known As

No data available

EtherScope nXG, EtherScope, netAlly EtherScope, OptiView XG

Overview

IxNetwork VE is designed to test the functional and performance testing of physical and virtual network infrastructure, capacity, scalability, and convergence using scaled protocol emulation and traffic. IxNetwork VE can emulate protocols for routing and switching, data center Ethernet, software-defined networking (SDN), broadband access, and industrial Ethernet.

Provides comprehensive protocol coverage for routing/switching, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), broadband access, data center networking, and SDN
Powerful traffic generation and statistics engine including stateless L2-3 traffic and stateful L4-7 application flows
Common IxNetwork user interface across both Ixia hardware and virtual products enables end-to-end virtual and hardware based testing from a single pane of glass
VMs of the Ixia hardware components (virtual chassis, virtual load modules_ are software that is optimized for protocol emulation and traffic generation in a virtual environement
Comprehensive platform support including standalone hypervisors (VMware ESXi and KVM) and OpenStack-based private clouds

Keysight Technologies

Multi-technology, all-in-one handheld network tester that enables engineers and technicians to get more done faster, from deployment to maintenance and documentation of their ever-changing Wi-Fi and Ethernet access networks.

The Etherscope nXG is the the industry’s first handheld analyzer for Wi-Fi 6/6E surveying (with AirMapper™ Site Survey), troubleshooting, and analysis.

Find out what your peers are saying about Keysight Technologies, NetAlly, IBM and others in Network Diagnostics. Updated: January 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our list of best Network Diagnostics vendors.

We monitor all Network Diagnostics reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.