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Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance vs OptiView XG [EOL] comparison

Cisco and NETSCOUT are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 89% of NETSCOUT users who would recommend it.
Cisco Provider Connectivity...
Read 24 Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance reviews
  • 1,642 Views
  • 878 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
OptiView XG [EOL]
Read 38 OptiView XG [EOL] reviews
    89% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive Summary
    We performed a comparison between Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance and OptiView XG [EOL] based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

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    Buyer's Guide
    Network Monitoring Software
    May 2025
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    Helped 859,579 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

    Cisco Provider Connectivity...
    Average Rating
    8.8
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.9
    Number of Reviews
    24
    Ranking in other categories
    Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability (47th), Network Monitoring Software (41st)
    OptiView XG [EOL]
    Average Rating
    8.6
    Number of Reviews
    38
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    Pifu Lin - PeerSpot reviewer
    Addresses connectivity issues with real-time monitoring while offering good local support
    I had prepared for COC and the client. I work as a vendor for a client using Flow Mount for network performance monitoring. I focus on resolving client-side issues related to Packy Performance and quality use. This involves addressing network device issues, specifically Cisco network devices One…
    Read full review
    MW
    A valuable, impressive, and portable product that saves time and has great scalability and stability
    It just saves time. We have run into situations where contractors come in, and they plug in a WiFi device that is handing out DHCP addresses, which affects the rest of the network. To be able to quickly identify from where the problem is originating, you need a network tool that can identify the device that is doing this. It just brings into clear focus the exact issue when there is a problem or outage. When there is a crisis and you've several people wanting to know an estimate of when things are going to be back up and running again, you need to have answers. I have been at places that didn't have a tool like that. I know one place that had an outage for almost a week, and it was craziness. It turned out to be just a bad cable. That's all it was. They were having trouble with their email server, which was an on-premise email server, but emails were taking six hours to appear. The whole problem was because of a bad network cable. When I plugged in the Fluke analyzer, it analyzed and told me immediately that there were transmission errors on this one port from one switch. It told me this within 10 minutes. It is an incredible product.
    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 ability to measure performance end-to-end across the cloud data center allows us to take corrective action to keep our channels online."
    "Capturing traffic [is very interesting]. Currently, with our configuration, we don't capture the payload of the packets, just the header. But when we want the body, the payload of the packets, we can do a PCAP, and then analyze it within Wireshark."
    "For us, the most valuable feature is something called TWAMP that allows for real-time traffic in a way that is 10 times lighter than things like SolarWinds. It's in the sub-milliseconds of accuracy, and you can divide tasks so that you can literally see things like the tagging for Quality of Service. That had been incorrect with the carrier, but there was no way on this planet you'd be able to tell a carrier that they're wrong. I have dozens of scenarios where we found "No, that's not right," and got it resolved instantly."
    "If [the problem] is something related to HTTP or VoIP, then I can have a quick look into the protocols, a process which gives me some good ideas..."
    "I think the analytics features are okay. My customer also likes the interface, the GUI, because it's easy to operate."
    "The feature I used to like the most was its ability to decode layer seven protocols, although this is becoming less useful now that encryption is so widespread."
    "One valuable feature we have is real-time monitoring for connection issues."
    "One valuable feature we have is real-time monitoring for connection issues."
    More Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance pros
    "It is a very valuable tool. It goes out and does a discovery, which is a great process of it. You could have something like a rogue DHCP server, and it will identify it, and then you can see to which switch port it is connected. It is quite an impressive tool. I really liked it because you didn't have to install an agent on anything. It would just go out and do its discovery. For me, that's great."
    "Gives us the ability to see our network."
     

    Cons

    "The UI interface of Accedian Skylight could improve."
    "This solution is expensive compared to some others."
    "Some of the Skylight applications are a little newer, and they're still moving through initial revs. There are certain bugs, but nothing is insurmountable... It will just take a little bit of time for their user interface to get a little bit better."
    "The Accedian Skylight user interface still has room for improvement."
    "If you want a new version, you go to the website. The hardest part is finding the link, where is that .bin file? Sometimes it's pretty hidden in a document... it's hidden in the release notes or in another file somewhere. And it's usually not on the first page either."
    "It needs the possibility to export data because it is not easy to see larger data sets, e.g., for one month. It would be interesting to export data into a PDF or dashboard to keep a history of the situation."
    "Human resource costs can be high when dealing with connection issues."
    "Because of the policies in Vietnam, we cannot connect the system to the Accedian cloud. It would be good if Accedian could provide a local cloud. In the next release, I would like them to focus on improving and adding more reporting features. This will help the operations teams."
    More Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance cons
    "I would like a built-in tap feature which doesn't interfere with the network, and it allows you to see what is happening there."
    "Its price can be improved. Their support can also be improved a little bit. In terms of features, it did everything I wanted it to do. With more features, I would have to start installing network agents or something else, and I don't want to have to install anything. This was the value for me about this device."
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "It's not for free, clearly. But on the other hand, it offers very interesting functionality. We pay around €100,000."
    "The pricing is cheaper than other competing products, which is better for our budgets."
    "If you look into Riverbed, it's a licensing nightmare. You need to pay for every type of analysis... If you don't look into licensing, Riverbed and SolarWinds are pretty comparable. But if you look into licensing it would not be smart to go for either of them. On the pure, bare-metal basis, it's the same. But when you get the bare metal and a few basic licenses, then you need all those other licenses just to be sure that there's no issue... One of the great things about Skylight is you have them all, and you actually need them all."
    "The solution was previously well-regarded, but after being acquired by Accedian, the prices have significantly increased. This has made it challenging to sell the product due to its high cost. It is an expensive solution."
    "The price is competitive overall, depending on the type of customer."
    "It provides value and the cost is not huge."
    "Pricing is a little bit expensive."
    "We understand there's a significant cost difference, but have yet to investigate fully."
    More Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance pricing and cost advice
    "Its price was a bit excessive. The device that I had died. It is under warranty, and they want $20,000 for another one. I just don't want to spend that kind of money, so I'm trying to find an alternate solution. They have annual maintenance on it, which probably was 10% a year, so it all starts to add up."
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Computer Software Company
    37%
    Financial Services Firm
    10%
    Manufacturing Company
    7%
    Government
    6%
    Government
    14%
    Financial Services Firm
    12%
    Computer Software Company
    11%
    Comms Service Provider
    9%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
     

    Questions from the Community

    What needs improvement with Accedian Skylight?
    Human resource costs can be high when dealing with connection issues. I require more tools to file and resolve these issues efficiently.
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for Accedian Skylight?
    I had prepared for COC and the client. I work as a vendor for a client using Flow Mount for network performance monitoring. I focus on resolving client-side issues related to Packy Performance and ...
    See all answers
    What advice do you have for others considering Accedian Skylight?
    I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
    See all answers
    Ask a question
    Earn 20 points
     

    Comparisons

    ThousandEyes vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance Logo
    ThousandEyes vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
    Compared 43% of the time
    SolarWinds NPM vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance Logo
    SolarWinds NPM vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
    Compared 14% of the time
    Dynatrace vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance Logo
    Dynatrace vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
    Compared 13% of the time
    NETSCOUT nGeniusONE vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance Logo
    NETSCOUT nGeniusONE vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
    Compared 10% of the time
    Zabbix vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance Logo
    Zabbix vs Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
    Compared 7% of the time
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    vRealize Network Insight vs OptiView XG [EOL] Logo
    vRealize Network Insight vs OptiView XG [EOL]
    Compared 52% of the time
    NETSCOUT nGeniusONE vs OptiView XG [EOL] Logo
    NETSCOUT nGeniusONE vs OptiView XG [EOL]
    Compared 48% of the time
    More OptiView XG [EOL] Competitors
     

    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
    June 2025
    Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance reportDownload Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance product report
    Buyer's Guide
    OptiView XG [EOL]
    June 2025
    OptiView XG [EOL] reportDownload OptiView XG [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    Accedian Skylight, Accedian SkyLIGHT PVX, SkyLIGHT PVX, SecurActive, Performance Vision
    No data available
     

    Overview

    Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance offers real-time application and network performance monitoring, VPN management, and network diagnostics across multiple sites.

    Organizations use Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance for active and passive monitoring, stress testing, and troubleshooting performance issues. Deployed both on-premise and in the cloud, it supports IT infrastructure, security, and analytics with end-to-end performance measurement across cloud data centers. The modern, intuitive interface features TWAMP for real-time traffic accuracy and standardized reports, along with insightful dashboards for circuit performance, latency, jitter, and throughput monitoring.

    What are the most important features?
    • TWAMP: Provides real-time traffic accuracy and standardized reporting.
    • Insightful Dashboards: Monitor circuit performance, latency, jitter, and throughput.
    • Security Integration: Compatible with tools like Splunk for enhanced security.
    • Application Support: Facilitates comprehensive network performance analysis.
    What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?
    • Quick Corrective Actions: Immediate response capabilities for performance issues.
    • Easy Navigation: User-friendly layouts simplify monitoring and troubleshooting.
    • Comprehensive Analytics: Advanced tools for in-depth network performance insights.
    • Cloud and On-Premise Options: Flexible deployment to meet different needs.

    In industries like finance and healthcare, Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance ensures robust performance monitoring and quick diagnostics for VPNs and internet lines. It aids in maintaining the integrity and security of data transference, facilitating active and passive monitoring, stress testing, and performance troubleshooting across geographically dispersed locations, ensuring seamless operation and compliance with industry standards.

    Cisco

    OptiView XG is the first network analysis tablet designed specifically for the network engineer. It combines critical functions necessary to automate root-cause analysis of both wired and wireless network performance issues – whether network or application related to reduce time for problem identification. OptiView XG supports repeatable, effective troubleshooting – whether pre- or post-deployment.

    NETSCOUT
     

    Sample Customers

    T-Systems, Thomson Reuters, Bordeaux Metropole, CGI, Citadelle Regional Hospital Center, Lorraine Institute of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Groupe BPCE, Group S, Splitpoint, Horus-Net, Audatex, Indexis, Province de Liège, EASI, Spie Batignolles, Faymonville
    XG is used in all industries. Example customers include: Republic National Distributing Company, Titelive, CitiGroup, Los Angeles Unified School District, Saudi German Hospital, DeKalb County Schools, Valdosta State University, The Everett Clinic, Bio-Reference, Miami-Dade Library, Mitel, Borsa Istanbul, Cimarex, Air National Guard Lowndes County, High Point City, Carrollton City Schools, Kern County, Pruitt Communications and Bosch Group.
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Monitoring Software
    May 2025
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