DX Performance Management vs DX Spectrum vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager comparison

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146 views|88 comparisons
96% willing to recommend
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129 views|93 comparisons
89% willing to recommend
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"It is the gathering of the whole performance data in our environment and our network environment, for us and our customers.""The tool helps us understand network performance.""The ability to very quickly and graphically navigate around, being able to zoom in to a timeframe, apply it to all the other panels... are all very intuitive.""The solution's performance itself is very good because it is a vertical database that loads very fast in comparison to other products.""We're able to present data from multiple back-end collection sources into a single dashboard for the users. So they don't have to go to multiple locations to get data about a particular item, or device.""Since the implementation of the tool, it has cut down on probably 60% of our outages and letting us know what is going on.""​When devices are having performance issues, it proactively build dashboards which allow us to go and do health checks, and resolve problems before they become an issue.​""Scalability is the reason we bought the product to begin with. It was designed from the ground up for carrier-grade services, and we are in effect a MSP ourselves. So we were really interested in looking at something to be able to handle the multi-tenancy and scale as large as possible. This was the only solution that we really considered at that level."

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"I have found the cross analysis feature to be the most valuable.""The monitoring just comes to us: "Oh, there's something wrong with that machine." It tells us. There are some 50,000 machines or so, all doing different things. And if they go down we hear about it.""The most valuable feature is the auto-discovery, which is nice because you don't have to do anything to add a new component.""The most valuable feature is the event correlation mechanism.""Spectrum does such a great job of discovering our network that we have a high confidence in what our inventory is.""The capability of handling and monitoring with SNMP and working with the SNMP traps is much better than other products.""The most valuable features have been the interface and the ability to do equipment management.""The solution's most valuable features are its integration with Broadcom tools and scalability."

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"Its main functionality is highly beneficial as it centralizes the management of configuration items across the network.""The features we find most valuable is the configuration backup automation, the configuration compliance, the security vulnerability detection and upgrading devices.""What's nice with NCM is you can set up policies that you can then check against the configs to ensure that your device configs adhere to a baseline or standard that you've set in place.""The feature that I really enjoy is the ability to script changes across all of your devices.""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.""This solution has helped our organization by allowing us to store all the device configurations for the various network devices in NCM and making it easy for us to retrieve and look them over.""The solution's view is very nice, and they have a great customized dashboard.""It is a stable solution."

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Cons
"I think it would be helpful having a more comprehensive set of certifications so that I could natively deploy devices to my environment and the tool would immediately recognize and immediately be able to provide relevant performance information without a lot of tuning on my part.""CA PM Business Hours Filtering: I understand that all monitoring systems have defects. The Business Hours Filtering does not always function properly. Sometimes, when applying business hours to CA PM reports that are 30 or more days in duration, the report generation times out and does not display results. We have other CA PM reports that, when we apply Business Hours Filtering, the report results displayed are the same as without the filter. We are not sure if this is a defect in CA PM or if it is a result of our complex configuration (folder structure) and application of business hours.""We would like to be capable of reporting network performance with a report strictly focused on the times outside business hours, which CA PM does not currently support. We have discontinued the use of the Business Hours Filtering until CA engineers are able to resolve or offer guidance.""When it goes through discovery, or whatever it is doing in the back-end that slows it down, sometimes we get some failures with it. ​""Even though we can see when something is not available, it would also be it would be nice if some sort of alerting took place to that you could know immediately if something went down.""DX Performance Management should increase high availability. If one of my two data centers goes offline and the other is operational, I need a seamless transition from the primary to the secondary data center. It's crucial to maintain consistent monitoring of the devices during this transition. Therefore, I require continuous, 24/7 monitoring of my system using this tool.""This solution's implementation process could be quicker. They could also optimize the hardware requirements.""It would be helpful if CA provided online training for its customers."

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"It doesn't really allow for multi-tenancy. If you're an ISP or an MSP and you want to use this tool to provide these types of fault management services to your customers, you would need a separate SpectroSERVER for each customer...""Integration with some other tools, and integration with some Network Packet Broker, need some improvement.""There should be better integration with other Broadcom products, like network performance manager. Currently, for every part of a product, you need a separate server environment. You have something for Spectrum, you have something for network performance, and you have something for NetFlow. There are a lot of islands and server farms with different technologies. They should be redeveloped to get one platform for all.""​I would like to see them eliminate the Java console. The user interface for this is a Java applet that runs on your desktop, and it is very problematic for us.""It takes some time to learn how to use this solution.""Our consultant was four months on-site doing Spectrum setup and working through issues.""If the integration is simplified or improved, it will be a unique selling point in comparison to the competition on the market.""OS monitoring needs to be better developed, as well as their services, e.g., cluster monitoring, URLs, etc."

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"When it comes to the way of managing the network devices, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager should provide the simplest way that devices can relate to the server. For example, when we want to get the devices on board, we go by SSH to make the SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager create the connectivity with the device. After that, we pull the configuration. It would be helpful if they could combine both so that everything will be done in one step.""The only thing that requires some experience, and training doesn't fix, is how to set up your custom policy-based reports to check compliance.""The solution could have better integration.""It would be great if they include a network service manager, network performance manager, or a privileged assessment in the next release.""The Network Configuration Manager needs to improve the access control list compliance.""I would like to see more integration tools. Something like dialysis, for example.""The third-party plugins available in the solution could improve. I have received some issues with the templates.""Our experience has shown that most of the problems we've had with SolarWinds NCM are related to software issues."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "We were looking at other vendors in the marketplace for NetFlow, and CA just beat everybody else in price, cost, and the size to implement. ​"
  • "Do your homework and know how many devices you will be managing out of the gate. Be sure to project what your growth will be each year."
  • "They should provide more scalable licensing for the product."
  • "I like the licensing model because it's device-based."
  • "We purchase a license to use the solution every three years and we have multiple contracts. They have been increasing the price annually. We have a baseline for three years and then we need to pay the difference from the baseline, and we are in the process of negotiating a new price for all the licenses we need. The price overall is affordable."
  • "The tool's pricing is based on the number of network devices."
  • More DX Performance Management Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "It is very pricey. With the current trend of enterprises moving towards cheaper and more modern looking solutions like ManageEngine, SevOne, ServicePilot, and Paesller."
  • "It’s a great tool, but an expensive one. Learn how to use it properly."
  • "The cost of some of these products are a little cost prohibitive, which is unfortunate. We have to find lower cost solutions for some of the things that we have to pull in. For the most part, CA has capabilities in pretty much everything that you would need. You just have to figure out where are you going to spend the most money for what you have to actually get done. You can do all these things but, which ones do you have to do? And that's hard to choose sometimes because you want to do them all."
  • "In general, the license cost will be about 30% of the total TCO for this tool (hardware/support team, OS costs, and OS management)."
  • "The product, support, and maintenance are all expensive, which is another reason that we are switching to another solution."
  • "The price is very high."
  • "The price of the solution is reasonable."
  • "Currently, a perpetual license but some services are moving to a subscription"
  • More DX Spectrum Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "With a minimal bundle, we pay about $3000 a year in licensing costs. If you have multiple devices in your network, you must buy the bundle, which is 100% identical for your infrastructure. If you have 15 devices, you need 15 licenses, for example. That's one bundle. You don't pay for anything over and above that."
  • "You have a base license for 50 devices, and then you can add more licenses as you go."
  • "There is a license for the use of this solution and it is priced well, there is a lot of value for the money."
  • "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."
  • "The price of the solution is high compared to other solutions."
  • "We have to pay additionally for its support and maintenance."
  • More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The tool helps us understand network performance.
    Top Answer:The tool's pricing is based on the number of network devices.
    Top Answer:DX Performance Management should increase high availability. If one of my two data centers goes offline and the other is… more »
    Top Answer:The solution's most valuable features are its integration with Broadcom tools and scalability.
    Top Answer:DX Spectrum's pricing depends on the license number. It is affordable.
    Top Answer:DX Spectrum needs better documentation on its complex features.
    Top Answer:The configuration compliance aspect of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager allows for easy comparison of… more »
    Top Answer:I'd like to see additional features like support for devices that don't use CLI for configuration backups, expanded… more »
    Ranking
    2nd
    out of 4 in DX NetOps
    Views
    146
    Comparisons
    88
    Reviews
    7
    Average Words per Review
    512
    Rating
    8.4
    1st
    out of 4 in DX NetOps
    Views
    129
    Comparisons
    93
    Reviews
    10
    Average Words per Review
    457
    Rating
    8.7
    11th
    Views
    951
    Comparisons
    739
    Reviews
    12
    Average Words per Review
    675
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    CA Performance Management
    CA Spectrum
    SolarWinds NCM
    Learn More
    Overview

    CA Performance Management is a comprehensive and highly scalable network performance monitoring and analytics platform. It was built to meet the unique demands of big data and modern networks architectures, including highly dynamic and complex hybrid cloud and software-defined networks (SDN).

    The platform is design to reduce complexity inherent in modern networks built across numerous technology stacks through advanced network performance monitoring and relationship mapping for improved operational assurance.

    Combined with CA Virtual Network Assurance, the platform extends operator visibility through advanced discovery and network performance monitoring of highly sensitive cloud and multi-layered SDN networks and service chains.

    DX Spectrum is a complete event and fault management system for network operations teams. The tool provides powerful capabilities for managing your dynamic, complex IT infrastructure, which includes physical, virtual, and cloud environments.The technology allows you to manage and optimize the infrastructure and the professional services that operate on top of it. DX Spectrum is a unified platform that helps your company enhance network service levels while lowering monitoring costs.

    DX Spectrum has intelligent event correlation and root-cause analysis capabilities. It can pinpoint the precise components that are causing issues with availability and network settings. Reports and dashboards can be customized with role-based views. Change management solutions can also be used by teams to govern, track, and remediate changes across network devices.

    DX Spectrum can identify multi-technology and multi-vendor stacks, as well as new software-defined networks (SDNs). It supports Multicast, MPLS, VPN, and VRF, among other routing protocols and technologies.

    DX Spectrum Features

    DX Spectrum has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • Service management: DX Spectrum assists personnel in discovering, modeling, visualizing, monitoring, and managing the links between infrastructure and the business services it supports.
    • Fault detection: DX Spectrum offers unique solutions that automate device discovery and root cause analysis, allowing for faster issue detection and resolution.
    • Change management capabilities: DX Spectrum gives administrators the visibility and control they need to prevent erroneous modifications from causing network performance problems and outages.
    • Comprehensive visibility: With DX Spectrum, managers can receive comprehensive insight across physical, virtualized, and cloud environments, as well as a variety of technologies, platforms, and suppliers.
    • Customization: DX Spectrum provides administrators, users, and customers with pre-packaged, easily configurable dashboards and reports that may be adjusted to their individual needs. For maximum performance and visibility, it is intimately connected with other solutions within the DX Service Assurance and DX Service Management systems.

    DX Spectrum Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing DX Spectrum. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • Reduce symptomatic alarms and hasten resolution with DX Spectrum’s root-cause analysis and robust event correlation. Automatically map the relationships between your network infrastructure to find the source of service issues for faster resolution. Whether it's a network configuration or availability issue, our network fault management system pinpoints the exact component responsible for the issue.
    • DX Spectrum supports network access from wireless wearables, mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. Provide network operators with the tools they need to manage their wireless networks, decrease outages, and make them as stable as their wired networks. For wired and wireless networks, DX Spectrum offers a unified view.
    • Fault and event management can be integrated across the Agile Ops, Network Operations, and Analytics portfolios. Fault, inventory, and topology knowledge are combined with performance, application, and log monitoring and a unified view across a full-stack NetOps solution. Additional connections include business service and service desk management.

    Reviews from Real Users

    DX Spectrum stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its robust root cause analysis and its event correlation tool. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:

    Umair A., Enterprise Solutions & Services Head at Duroob Technologies, writes of the product, “It covers networks very well. It has all the capabilities that you're looking for when it comes to monitoring. Spectrum is great for root cause analysis. It has excellent correlation event management. Spectrum's stability and scalability are also amazing. If you have a CA Service Desk, then it can be integrated so that if you have open tickets they can be closed automatically.”

    Itarchit, an IT Architect at a comms service provider, notes, “The most valuable feature is the event correlation mechanism. I also like the product's multi-customer approach.” He adds, “We haven't seen a better product. Overall, I am happy with this solution. Based on the current market, I would rate DX Spectrum a nine out of ten.”

    Before you monitor your network, configure it! A reliable and secure network starts with carefully planned, executed, and monitored network configuration and change management. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) saves time and improves network reliability and security by managing configurations, changes, and compliance for routers, switches, and other network devices from Cisco, Juniper, HP, Dell, Brocade, Aruba, Rukus, and more.
    Sample Customers
    Jack Henry & Assoc, Target, CenturyLink, Bell Canada, BrightHouse Networks, Telus, Unisys, Verizon, Southern California Edison, GEICO, Fidelity Investments, Wells Fargo, American Family Insurance Group, Deutsche Telekom AG 
    National Informatics Centre India, Banese, Olympus, AlphaServe Technologies, Sicredi
    United Lincolnshire Hospitals, Air Rarotonga, NetSuite, Thai AirAsia, REA Group, 335th Signal Command, Agilisys, Marine Expeditionary Force
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm24%
    Insurance Company24%
    Comms Service Provider19%
    Retailer10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm24%
    Computer Software Company15%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Comms Service Provider6%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm16%
    Comms Service Provider13%
    Healthcare Company13%
    Insurance Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm16%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Manufacturing Company13%
    Government9%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company25%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Government13%
    Energy/Utilities Company13%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Government12%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business17%
    Large Enterprise83%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise9%
    Large Enterprise66%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise66%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business18%
    Midsize Enterprise8%
    Large Enterprise73%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business48%
    Midsize Enterprise22%
    Large Enterprise30%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise64%
    Buyer's Guide
    DX Performance Management vs. DX Spectrum
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about DX Performance Management vs. DX Spectrum and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    770,292 professionals have used our research since 2012.