Big Switch Networks vs Observer GigaStor comparison

Arista and Viavi Solutions are both solutions in the Network Packet Broker (NPB) category. Arista is ranked #4, while Viavi Solutions is ranked #8. Arista holds a 8.4% mindshare in NPB, compared to Viavi Solutions’s 5.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Arista users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Viavi Solutions users who would recommend it.

Big Switch Networks

Read 1 Big Switch Networks review

1,021 Views
633 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Observer GigaStor

Read 7 Observer GigaStor reviews

2,083 Views
396 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Big Switch Networks

Observer GigaStor

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

Big Switch Networks

Ranking in Network Packet Broker (NPB)

4th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Software Defined Networking (SDN) (9th)

Observer GigaStor

Ranking in Network Packet Broker (NPB)

8th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Monitoring Software (83rd), Network Troubleshooting (13th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Network Packet Broker (NPB) category, the mindshare of Big Switch Networks is 8.4%, up from 6.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Observer GigaStor is 5.5%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Packet Broker (NPB) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Big Switch Networks	8.4%
Observer GigaStor	5.5%
Other	86.1%

Network Packet Broker (NPB)

Featured Reviews

Jason Best

Data center network architect at Cloudwire

A flexible solution that can be integrated with third-party solutions whilst maintaining its automated nature

I think if I was to say something that could be improved, it would be a multi-data center nature of the implementation. Meaning, having an active-active data center with multiple entrance-exit points. I think that feature could be improved to provide a kind of anycast gateway solution into the functionality that would make it a lot more flexible and versatile. Maybe also making the solution a bit more like the NSX-T from VMware, more on the logical part of the solution, like micro-segmentation and the ability to have a distributed firewall across the whole solution, to implement it in an easier way than they currently do with the security aspect of the solution.

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Jeroen-Dubbelman

Director at Bitrate

Aids significantly in the threat-hunting process and provides a score-based evaluation of user experience

There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies. The retrospective network analysis capability of Observer GigaStor has been beneficial. It's a pivotal feature for network performance solutions. However, I prefer to consider the entire solution suite - GigaStor, along with GigaFlow and Apex - for comprehensive network visibility and monitoring. So, I prefer to integrate all three solutions to provide the best visibility. They complement each other well, with Apex aggregating and correlating data from both GigaStor and GigaFlow to enhance environmental understanding and troubleshooting efficiency.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I think it's an easy, versatile solution to implement."

"What I liked about the solution is the quick and easy way you can build a network data center fabric."

"There are many valuable features, but understanding end-user response times stands out. It provides a score-based evaluation of user experience, helping customers quickly pinpoint whether issues originate from the network, server, client, or application. Additionally, it facilitates in-depth analysis of application dependencies."

"The ability to capture packets. It is not only for monitoring. That is very important for a company that wants to keep an eye on the packets, the transactions, the flows..."

"It can help to write your rules, organize firewalls, your block, and also your protocols and IP address to come in or out of your network."

"Go take a look at it. It's a great product and has great capabilities."

"This solution allows us to see exactly what is going on in the network and we can very quickly solve issues with users."

"If you have the opportunity, I would strongly encourage you to get it, because it makes the IT experience easier and more flexible, by providing the ability to see things in your networks like the directory packet label."

"It's able to capture packets and, after a long time, you can come and use that information; to check, to analyze - everything you would want to do. So it's very good and helpful if you want to protect your data. It is stored in a certain place where you can access it every time you want to analyze it."

"I have no regrets using this product, I am very satisfied for what I paid for it and for the things I am able to do with the product."

More Observer GigaStor pros

Cons

"I think if I was to say something that could be improved, it would be a multi-data center nature of the implementation."

"I would like to have more than 4TB of storage available in the portable version of this solution."

"Maybe the graphical user interface could be simplified to allow people to use it more easily."

"As of this moment, the graphics might need some improvement, because a lot of the information there must be input first to have full potential."

"I would like to have more than 4TB of storage available in the portable version of this solution."

"GigaStor feeds into Apex. So, the area where there could be improvement would be in artificial intelligence. For example, the incorporation of more advanced machine learning or AI capabilities could enhance its functionality."

"The Observer Console UI is consistent and stable, but could use some updating to be more modern."

"The interface is pretty complex, so for the average user, it takes a while to get up to speed with it. I would like it to be more user-friendly."

"Graphics need improvement. Because a lot of the information there you have to input first in some case to have full potential. It could be more automated."

More Observer GigaStor cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing cost depends on the number of switches that are going to be licensed to run the software."

"It's quite expensive."

"It depends on the requirements you have. There are three types of license. There's the updates license, the work group license, and the workstation license."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Healthcare Company

12%

Construction Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

19%

Financial Services Firm

16%

Wholesaler/Distributor

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Large Enterprise	3

Comparisons

Gigamon Deep Observability Pipeline vs Big Switch Networks

Compared 19% of the time

Ixia Network Packet Brokers vs Big Switch Networks

Compared 12% of the time

Niagara Packet Brokers vs Big Switch Networks

Compared 12% of the time

SmartNA-PortPlus HyperCore vs Big Switch Networks

Compared 9% of the time

More Big Switch Networks Competitors

Wireshark vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 14% of the time

Gigamon Deep Observability Pipeline vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 8% of the time

IxChariot vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 7% of the time

Viavi Observer Platform vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 6% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Observer GigaStor

Compared 6% of the time

More Observer GigaStor Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Software Defined Networking (SDN)

April 2026

Download Big Switch Networks product report

Buyer's Guide

Observer GigaStor

April 2026

Download Observer GigaStor product report

Overview

Big Switch Networks specializes in network management solutions designed to optimize and streamline data center operations, leveraging advanced SDN technology for increased efficiency and scalability.

Big Switch Networks harnesses the power of software-defined networking (SDN) to transform traditional network infrastructures. By providing innovative, agile, and adaptable solutions, it enhances data center performance, supports dynamic workloads, and ensures seamless integration with existing systems. Users experience enhanced control and visibility over network resources, facilitating faster deployment and reduced complexity.

What are the key features of Big Switch Networks?

SDN Technology: Enables centralized management and automation, reducing manual configurations.
Network Virtualization: Allows flexible resource allocation for dynamic traffic adjustment.
Application Visibility: Provides detailed insights into application performance and traffic flows.
Security Features: Incorporates advanced security protocols to protect data integrity and privacy.
Cloud Integration: Supports seamless connection with public and private cloud environments.

What benefits should users expect from Big Switch Networks?

Cost Reduction: Lowers operating expenses through automated management and reduced hardware dependencies.
Improved Performance: Enhances data flow efficiency and network speed, leading to increased productivity.
Scalability: Offers flexible growth options to accommodate expanding business needs.
Increased Reliability: Minimizes downtime with robust failover mechanisms.

Big Switch Networks finds application across multiple industries, tailoring its capabilities to meet the demands of sectors such as finance, healthcare, and telecommunications. In finance, it optimizes high-frequency trading networks, while in healthcare, it ensures secure and efficient data management. Telecommunications benefit from its advanced traffic routing and load balancing features.

Arista

Observer GigaStor provides detailed network visibility and data capture for efficient troubleshooting and analysis. It's a robust tool designed to manage today’s complex network environments, offering reliability and performance insights.

Observer GigaStor specializes in long-term network traffic capture, delivering comprehensive forensic analysis capabilities. It stands as a trusted resource for IT departments aiming to resolve network performance issues swiftly. By capturing and storing packets with high precision, it aids in identifying both current and past anomalies, ensuring network health and performance continuity through proactive monitoring.

What are the key features of Observer GigaStor?

Long-term Data Capture: Enables storage of vast amounts of data for extensive historical analysis.
Comprehensive Protocol Support: Offers support for diverse protocols, enhancing troubleshooting accuracy.
Retrospective Analysis: Provides the ability to trace issues back to their origin point, improving issue resolution speed.
Scalability: Adapts to network growth without sacrificing performance capabilities.

What benefits and ROI can be expected from reviews?

Increased Troubleshooting Efficiency: Provides quicker resolution times, reducing network downtime.
Enhanced Network Visibility: Improves understanding of network performance and traffic patterns.
Reduced Operational Costs: Limits the need for manual troubleshooting, saving on labor costs.
Improved Decision Making: Data insights aid in strategic planning for infrastructure improvements.

Observer GigaStor's implementation spans across various industries, from telecommunications to finance, where maintaining robust and secure network performance is crucial. Its ability to analyze and retrieve historical network data supports compliance and operational stability demands in these sectors.

Viavi Solutions

Sample Customers

A10 Networks, Edge-Core Networks, Blue Coat Systems, BlueData, Broadcom Corporation, Canonical, Check Point Software Technologies, Citrix, Dell, FireEye, Garland, Hortonworks, Mirantis, Nexenta, Riverbed

Cisco Systems, Hawaiian Telecom, Renown Health, State of Nevada, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Allstate Insurance, Jack Henry & Associates, United States Airforce, US Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Chicago Board Options Exchange

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