Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG comparison

Broadcom and NetAlly are both solutions in the Network Troubleshooting category. Broadcom is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.0, while NetAlly is ranked #3 with an average rating of 9.0. Broadcom holds a 5.4% mindshare in NT, compared to NetAlly’s 9.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of NetAlly users who would recommend it.

Broadcom Network Flow Analysis

Read 6 Broadcom Network Flow Analysis reviews

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220 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Read 23 NetAlly EtherScope nXG reviews

1,328 Views
1,248 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Broadcom Network Flow Analysis

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 11, 2024

Broadcom Network Flow Analysis and NetAlly EtherScope nXG compete in the network analysis and diagnostic space. Broadcom's robust analysis features make it a strong contender, while NetAlly stands out for portability and on-the-go diagnostics.

Features: Broadcom Network Flow Analysis offers in-depth data analytics, extensive reporting tools, and comprehensive network monitoring. NetAlly EtherScope nXG provides portability, ease of use, and quick diagnostics in the field.

Room for Improvement: Broadcom Network Flow Analysis can be complex to configure, requires intuitive documentation, and needs a simplified setup process. NetAlly EtherScope nXG lacks enhanced data visualization, needs extended battery life, and should focus on expanding diagnostic features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Broadcom Network Flow Analysis offers powerful deployment options but has a challenging initial setup, requiring robust customer support. NetAlly EtherScope nXG is user-friendly, quick to deploy, and supported by helpful customer service.

Pricing and ROI: Broadcom Network Flow Analysis is premium-priced with high ROI due to its detailed analytics. NetAlly EtherScope nXG has a lower upfront cost, providing solid ROI for in-field diagnostics.

To learn more, read our detailed Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG

September 2025

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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

Broadcom Network Flow Analysis

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

11th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (20th), Network Monitoring Software (60th)

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Ranking in Network Troubleshooting

3rd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Network Diagnostics (3rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Network Troubleshooting category, the mindshare of Broadcom Network Flow Analysis is 5.4%, up from 2.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of NetAlly EtherScope nXG is 9.7%, down from 13.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Troubleshooting Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
NetAlly EtherScope nXG	9.7%
Broadcom Network Flow Analysis	5.4%
Other	84.9%

Network Troubleshooting

Featured Reviews

Purneswara Rao

Principal Consultant at KyndleIT Consulting

A stable tool that helps identify the complete flow analysis in a network

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that the complete flow analysis can be identified through the tool. The classification of each protocol and how the bandwidth utilization is happening with the protocols while managing to get SLAs, IP protocols, and QoS metrics is possible because of the product.

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Chase McGee

Cyber Range Engineer 2 at Tech Data Limited

Reduces troubleshooting from hours to minutes, and increases our security by finding rogue devices

My favorite features, ones that I have used continuously almost every single day, are the Link-Live Cloud Service and the AirMapper Site Survey. The latter is absolutely essential to almost every business I go to. I move around the building and mark where I've been and then, when I get back to my desk, the information is on the dashboard, showing me exactly where devices are. I can see, "Okay, here are printers that shouldn't be there," and I can relocate them better. Or I can check whether the WiFi signal is strong at a given spot and whether I need another access point. 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. You can collect so many different things including using its spectrum analyzer. You can also use the directional antenna and other features to detect the WiFi signal, its strength and where things are at. If devices are having an issue, you can figure out the cause. Maybe it is behind a wall that is not allowing WiFi signals and you can determine, "Hey, I need another access point here to get my users the internet coverage they need." The AirMapper Site Survey Heat Maps were one of the first things that I used the device for. I wanted to see the WiFi signals, where everything was at, and what was the most used. That was able to help me determine that I needed a new access point inside our center for demos. We were getting a lot of drops there and I figured out that the coverage was not good. We had to get a replacement access point. Overall, the EtherScope nXG is easy to use for less skilled staff but it has deep diagnostics for experts. I had no experience when I first received this device. I had no training and, in less than a week, I was fully proficient with it. When I really wanted to do a deep dive and figure out everything about it through the Link-Live Cloud Service, I had so much data. It made my life a lot easier.

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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

"It is an overall stable solution."

"This solution has helped our organization by allowing us to have visibility. We deal with cybersecurity, so visibility is very important."

"It has reduced our internal troubleshooting time. In the cases where we could not internally solve the troubleshooting, we would have had to contact an external vendor to test cable, rerun it, etc. NetAlly EtherScope has let us eliminate that in most cases so we can resolve an issue on our own without having to call a third-party out to identify the problem. It has reduced our troubleshooting time for network cabling issues by a good 75 percent."

"The most valuable feature is the ability to identify the switchboards, when you plug the EtherScope into the network drop, and all other details about the switch. This is very useful because when you are not in that IDF or network closet but far away from that switch, you can identify the board and then configure the board for your needs, remotely."

"My impression of the ease of use is that it definitely is easy to use both the handheld device and the app walking around."

"The wireless aspect of it has been super valuable. The AirMagnet Survey feature is very useful for site surveys. For a long time, it used to be done on laptops, and now, we can do this simply on a handheld with one technician. The data automatically gets uploaded to the cloud so that our more experienced technicians can review the data and pull it into AirMagnet. This feature has saved tons of time. It's not easy to approximate the time saved, but for each survey, I'm taking a junior technician and getting him to do a role that a senior technician used to do. So, there is a cost-saving of at least 50%."

"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."

"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."

"One of the standout features is its ability to serve as an advanced handheld packet analyzer. It excels in discovering both wired and wireless networks and automatically documenting them, which is really valuable. The tool provides insights from the physical layer up to layer seven, including HTTP, which helps diagnose network issues effectively. This automated documentation feature sets NetAlly apart from competitors, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in network management and recommendations. When the EtherScope nXG identifies a problem, it alerts us, allowing us to use more advanced tools for deeper analysis. Regarding PoE testing capabilities, I haven't explored them extensively, but I'm aware of their importance, especially for detecting issues like overloading switches with too many PoE devices. Integrators are becoming more cautious about these issues, but specialized tools like those from other vendors may offer features like microburst dashboards, which EtherScope nXG currently doesn't provide."

"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."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG pros

Cons

"Currently, Broadcom Network Flow Analysis does not support high-availability solutions, making it an area that needs improvement."

"I would like to see more security features, like a lost protection package."

"When it works, I love the AirMapper Site Survey app. Currently, my device has a hardware bug that the manufacturer and I are working on actively, to get it fixed or replaced. The 5 gigahertz radio on my device is flaky at best... It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the product itself, as much as it is some kind of unique hardware problem."

"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."

"On a hardware spec, it'd be nice to have something above 10-Gigs."

"The only improvement I can come up with is the battery life. If they could improve the battery life, that would be great."

"The one thing that it doesn't do well, when it's doing airtime utilization measurements, is that it will classify things as non-802.11, and that isn't correct. What it could do better is make sure that it classifies all traffic that's in the air correctly."

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

"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."

"I would love to see port profiles. This is something I've expressed to them. The ability for a technician to plug it into a switch port, and say, "Okay, this port will be an access point or this port will be a phone and desktop PC," thus choosing a profile. It will then push a configuration to the device it's connected to and verify that the switch port is correctly configured, so I can hand this to a phone tech who doesn't have any access to a network switch to be able to make changes. They can go out and plug this into a port, then they are able to push a profile to the switch port through the device. That would be pretty fantastic as a next step for this device."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"If you make a DX NetOps-based purchase and the complete suite of products that fall under DX NetOps from Broadcom, then you get Network Flow Analysis along with DX NetOps Performance Management and DX Spectrum."

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

"The cost is not cheap but it totally pays for itself because it can do so much."

"The pricing is very expensive, but this tool is the best."

"For the average network shop, the cost is a bit high. In a lot of organizations, people don't share test devices between teams. Generally, you need a device for the network team and a device for the system team, the security team, etc. While the cost is a little on the high side, that is offset by the regular updates and continued improvements that NetAlly adds to the device. Those improvements continue to increase the perceived value of the device."

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

"It's very expensive. I wish I could buy a few more and give them to all the people who could use it, or perhaps send it to a client, given that some of its features are easy to use. But sending something worth $8,000 or $9,000 is nerve-racking. It would be nice that if it were a lot less expensive."

"If you're in the networking world, this product makes great sense very quickly, if you're going to use it more than a few times a week... If you are just looking at a handheld device unit for specific, wireless or wired testing and not much else, the cost may be a little more prohibitive than what you have in your budget."

"NetAlly EtherScope nXG is priced too much and needs to come down by about 15 percent of its current price."

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Healthcare Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

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 do you like most about Broadcom Network Flow Analysis?

It is an overall stable solution.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Broadcom Network Flow Analysis?

Currently, Broadcom Network Flow Analysis does not support high-availability solutions, making it an area that needs improvement.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Broadcom Network Flow Analysis?

I use Broadcom Network Flow Analysis in my company as it helps us deal with the classification of protocol, which will monitor the flow, and once we enable the flow in the network devices, we can s...

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

AirCheck G3 vs Broadcom Network Flow Analysis

Compared 35% of the time

DX Spectrum vs Broadcom Network Flow Analysis

Compared 28% of the time

Wireshark vs Broadcom Network Flow Analysis

Compared 21% of the time

Cisco Secure Network Analytics vs Broadcom Network Flow Analysis

Compared 16% of the time

More Broadcom Network Flow Analysis Competitors

LinkRunner vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 41% of the time

AirCheck G3 vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 23% of the time

AirMagnet Survey PRO vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 20% of the time

Wireshark vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 8% of the time

IxNetwork vs NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Compared 8% of the time

More NetAlly EtherScope nXG Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Management Applications

October 2025

Download Broadcom Network Flow Analysis product report

Buyer's Guide

NetAlly EtherScope nXG

September 2025

Download NetAlly EtherScope nXG product report

Also Known As

CA NetQoS Reporter Analyzer, CA NFA, CA Network Flow Analysis

EtherScope nXG, EtherScope, netAlly EtherScope, OptiView XG

Overview

CA Network Flow Analysis provides 100% visibility into the composition of network traffic across the enterprise, helping Network Administrators deliver optimal application performance and validating the impact of network infrastructure changes, resulting in returns on investment (ROI) of up to 150%.

Broadcom

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.

NetAlly

Sample Customers

Empowered, BCBST

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG

September 2025

Free Report: Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG

Find out what your peers are saying about Broadcom Network Flow Analysis vs. NetAlly EtherScope nXG and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

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