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OpenText Network Node Manager i vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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

OpenText Network Node Manag...
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.9
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
Network Management Applications (15th)
SolarWinds Network Configur...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
27
Ranking in other categories
Configuration Management (12th), Network Automation (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Network Management solutions, they serve different purposes. OpenText Network Node Manager i is designed for Network Management Applications and holds a mindshare of 2.1%, up 1.5% compared to last year.
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager, on the other hand, focuses on Configuration Management, holds 1.3% mindshare, up 1.1% since last year.
Network Management Applications
Configuration Management
 

Featured Reviews

Mirit Goldring-Boymshtain - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy-to-implement product with a valuable map topology feature
The platform has a lot of interesting capabilities. Implementation is simplified, in contrast to some products like SolarWinds, where external assistance is often required for meet uploads. It is more inexpensive than other products in the market. In a specific customer implementation, the complex topology of the customer's network revealed a separate and closed segment at one of their sites. We could not understand the status of the broken network and devices. With the help of NNMi, we got a view of the issues. The product helps us reduce downtime and improve incident response time by offering remediation options. The tools run automatically, checking the network activities for different areas and time zones. It provides efficient documentation, interface, and integration features. I rate the product a nine out of ten.
RajeshB - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers additional functionality, including warranty management
Setting up a solution involves configuring a server and a web console, which is straightforward. Network team coordination is necessary when applying it to devices. This involves creating device connection profiles and ensuring SNMP is enabled. Initially, there were challenges involved in this process, but once the setup was complete, operations proceeded smoothly. All network devices are automatically added to NPM during auto-discovery in SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, including Network Configuration Manager features. Once configuration profile credentials are established in NCM, they are automatically deployed to all network devices. The solution is easy to use and deploy, although initial setup may require coordination and overcoming challenges.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"It is a scalable product."
"It gives us a good overview of what's happening in our networks and the devices in the networks."
"Our monitoring and network teams of less than 100 people use this solution. The availability and fault monitoring are good."
"Real time network monitoring application: It is very stable, which provides quick root cause analysis (RCA) for any network faults."
"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."
"If you install one node on Network Node Manager and want to scale it up, it's pretty easy to create more nodes."
"A good enterprise-level solution."
"It is stable for fault and availability."
"Compared to other vendors, like NetBrain, managing the solution is easy. They made it very user-friendly."
"The features we find most valuable is the configuration backup automation, the configuration compliance, the security vulnerability detection and upgrading devices."
"It is pretty straightforward to set up."
"The feature that I really enjoy is the ability to script changes across all of your devices."
"It is a stable solution."
"It allows us to manage backups in big companies. It is also useful in managing the configuration changes."
"The most valuable Real-time fault detection is beneficial as it enables the identification of changes made to a device's configuration through the SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager. This makes it easy to pinpoint which configurations were added or removed, potentially causing network issues. Such changes are saved in logs for future reference."
"Configuration refers to the specific settings and options that determine how a device or system behaves. It can include things, such as network settings, security settings, and other options that are specific to the device or system in question. One of the most valuable features of the solution was its ability to track and monitor changes to the configuration of devices on a network. This can be useful for troubleshooting and identifying potential issues. By keeping track of who made changes to the configuration and when it can be easier to determine the cause of any problems that may arise."
 

Cons

"The dashboards are not customizable and it's not user-friendly."
"The resources utilized could be a bit higher, and that is one of the challenges that isn't optimized"
"Micro Focus Network Node Manager is not the best when it comes to drilling down for more visibility, especially regarding traffic."
"We had some issues with some of the features, some modules are not meeting expectations."
"Reporting. Even though this is available in separate software (iSPI) there is potential in making the reporting more SLA-aware and more intuitive."
"The deployment architecture and installation part needs improvement."
"Only to improve the GUI."
"They should add AI options in the product's next release."
"The Network Configuration Manager needs to improve the access control list compliance."
"There is room for improvement in automation."
"There are certain limitations of node-related monitoring"
"Improvements are needed in the automatic network mapping function."
"Our experience has shown that most of the problems we've had with SolarWinds NCM are related to software issues."
"The solution could improve by being more secure."
"The third-party plugins available in the solution could improve. I have received some issues with the templates."
"I'd like to see additional features like support for devices that don't use CLI for configuration backups, expanded inventory support for other vendors beyond Cisco, and compatibility with newer SD WAN devices. These enhancements would further improve the product's versatility and utility for users. we hope for future enhancements, especially in supporting security devices that lack CLI backup options."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is more inexpensive than other products in the market."
"The solution is quite expensive."
"It's an expensive solution."
"The solution is priced mid-range compared to the competition."
"I wasn't involved in the pricing, but I think it's quite expensive."
"We have to pay additionally for its support and maintenance."
"I have a yearly subscription."
"In Africa, the cost is a major factor in decision-making for many companies. As a result, some companies may choose cheaper solutions, even if they are open-source, over more expensive ones, such as SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager. However, as an engineer, I believe that the functionalities and services offered by SolarWinds justify the cost. Nonetheless, many companies in Africa may still view the prices as unaffordable."
"There is a license needed to use SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager."
"There is a license for the use of this solution and it is priced well, there is a lot of value for the money."
"Available at a moderate price"
"The price of the solution is high compared to other solutions."
"The pricing is good."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
12%
Government
11%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Micro Focus Network Node Manager?
They should add AI options in the product's next release.
What is your primary use case for Micro Focus Network Node Manager?
We use the product monitoring network infrastructure, interfaces, and devices.
What do you like most about SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
The configuration compliance aspect of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager allows for easy comparison of configuration settings across branches, ensuring adherence to security guidelines and b...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
The licensing costs of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager are expensive, but considering its reliability, feature enhancements, and support, it is worthwhile.
What needs improvement with SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
Further improvements in automation are needed. Currently, there are limitations in performing tasks without logging into routers directly, and we expect more comprehensive device control.
 

Also Known As

Micro Focus Network Node Manager, Network Node Manager, HPE Network Node Manager
SolarWinds NCM
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

IPC, Exelon, VivaCom, 
United Lincolnshire Hospitals, Air Rarotonga, NetSuite, Thai AirAsia, REA Group, 335th Signal Command, Agilisys, Marine Expeditionary Force
Find out what your peers are saying about OpenText Network Node Manager i vs. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager and other solutions. Updated: March 2023.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.