CA Unified Communications Monitor vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) comparison

Broadcom and Cisco are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Broadcom is ranked #103, while Cisco is ranked #16 with an average rating of 8.2. Broadcom holds a 0.2% mindshare in NMS, compared to Cisco’s 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 50% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

CA Unified Communications M...

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230 Comparison Views

50% willing to recommend

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabri...

Read 25 Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) reviews

839 Views
822 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

CA Unified Communications M...

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabri...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller and CA Unified Communications Monitor compete in network management and monitoring. Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller shows strength in support and scalability, whereas CA Unified Communications Monitor is noteworthy for its feature richness, offsetting potentially higher setup costs.

Features: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller offers advanced automation, centralized fabric management, and robust network visibility. It is known for seamless network integration. CA Unified Communications Monitor provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities, focusing on unified communications performance and in-depth analytics, delivering detailed insights into network traffic and performance.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller could improve in user interface design, interoperability with non-Cisco devices, and reducing deployment complexity. CA Unified Communications Monitor might enhance scalability options, reduce setup costs, and add more integration with third-party tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: CA Unified Communications Monitor has a straightforward deployment model and strong support, making it user-friendly for various organizations. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller offers extensive resources and support but may require more expertise during deployment due to complex infrastructure requirements. Both platforms are commended for customer service, with CA Unified Communications Monitor perceived as more accessible initially.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller is recognized for competitive pricing and positive ROI through efficient network management capabilities. CA Unified Communications Monitor, although involving higher initial costs, is valued for extensive features that justify investment, leading to substantial long-term ROI. The choice depends on specific requirements and budget constraints.

To learn more, read our detailed CA Unified Communications Monitor vs. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CA Unified Communications Monitor vs. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)

July 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

CA Unified Communications M...

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

103rd

Average Rating

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Unified Communications Monitoring (6th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (68th)

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabri...

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

16th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of CA Unified Communications Monitor is 0.2%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) is 0.5%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

itarchit489981

IT Architect at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees

Good end-to-end voice quality monitoring and offers valuable features

The solution should have automatic baseline detection. On the per hour, per base, per week. That's usually the best. And on a per individual CI level. I know that they're working on it and when that's available then we will definitely implement it because it will reduce the effort we need to maintain all the products. Right now we have to set thresholds for every location, and it needs to be actually dynamic so if we have better thresholding, we'll have faster alarms across all our locations. We won't have to expend effort on it by resetting or checking them on a regular basis.

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Upul Abhayasena

Manager - Technology at a engineering company with 10,001+ employees

Robust management tool with an easy setup and room for more features

DCNM is used by one of the airline customers in Qatar to manage many data centers and rack switches running on normal Nexus or NX-OS mode. They required a controller platform to manage these Nexus switches, and thus, they utilized DCNM as a Fabric controller. Given that ACI deployment is very low…

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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

"We use the solution to meet the needs of the customer."

"Good end-to-end monitoring"

"It uses push technology, which pushes the changes to all relevant devices to ensure they are updated accordingly."

"I like running the scripts. With the help of a Python script, we deployed within the configuration and built up the code."

"The product has excellent stability."

"The most valuable features of Cisco Data Center Network Manager are consistency and the core server. The teams have had a good experience."

"You can integrate all the networks into the software."

"Fabric suite automation is a great feature."

"The interface of this solution is easy to use overall."

"It has a very nice dashboard so you can see what's currently happening in the network and the performance of the back story."

More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) pros

Cons

"The solution should have automatic baseline detection."

"All the features and functions of the solution can be improved."

"The configuration is too complicated and you have to create templates and use a lot of menus."

"The automation feature could be improved."

"API lacks robustness."

"If the customer thinks about using additional solutions, Cisco should make sure they are not left out."

"Sometimes the product gives us problems that require support."

"It's very costly."

"The delivery Cisco Data Center Network Manager could improve if it was easier. Additionally, some feature improvement is needed."

"Data Center Network Manager is a little complex because it includes a lot of hardware to be installed."

More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The tool is always expensive, but their service, product quality, and support are good. We're happy with it, but it's still an expensive solution. There are cheaper alternatives but no similar platform across all domains."

"When we purchase a Nexus box, the MDS CM license comes with it."

"The price of Cisco Data Center Network Manager is expensive compared to other vendors on the market."

"The product is licensed with contracts that work on a yearly basis rather than a monthly model."

"We usually opt for a yearly plan, commonly for three or five years upfront. Some customers may not utilize all the features included in the product, and this can lead to them paying for functionalities they don't need."

"On average, Data Center Network Manager's pricing isn't too costly unless you choose a premier license."

"The solution is very expensive."

"I would say that the pricing offers great value for the money."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

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Computer Software Company

15%

Government

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Real Estate/Law Firm

Company Size

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Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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Questions from the Community

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What do you like most about Cisco Data Center Network Manager?

It uses push technology, which pushes the changes to all relevant devices to ensure they are updated accordingly.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Data Center Network Manager?

The tool is always expensive, but their service, product quality, and support are good. We're happy with it, but it's still an expensive solution. There are cheaper alternatives but no similar plat...

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What needs improvement with Cisco Data Center Network Manager?

In a mixed architecture where Nexus switches are used as border devices and are connected to a Palo Alto firewall (e.g., version 9.1 or 10.1), you might encounter issues with BGP peering. For insta...

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Comparisons

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Compared 10% of the time

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Product Reports

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Network Monitoring Software

July 2025

CA Unified Communications Monitor report

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Buyer's Guide

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)

July 2025

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) report

Download Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) product report

Also Known As

CA UC Monitor

Cisco Data Center Network Manager

Overview

CA Unified Communications Monitor is a unified communications monitoring solution that evaluates and reports on the network’s support of real-time applications in multi-vendor environments, so that Network Administrators can optimize the network’s quality of service and end user experience.

Broadcom

The Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) offers a comprehensive solution for managing Cisco NX-OS switches in hybrid-cloud environments, providing automation, visibility, and consistent operations. Designed to simplify and enhance data center management, NDFC integrates with Cisco Nexus Dashboard to streamline network connectivity, reduce deployment times, and ensure seamless transitions with minimal disruptions. Its modular architecture, new user interface, and support for non-Nexus OS platforms make it a robust tool for LAN, SAN, and IP Fabric for Media management. Additionally, NDFC enhances fabric reliability, automates workflows, and supports cloud connectivity with AWS and Microsoft Azure, making it ideal for businesses adapting to increasingly complex digital environments.

Cisco

Sample Customers

BBVA Compass

Banco de Guayaquil, Cox Communications, Kuwait Petroleum Italia, Roper St. Francis, University of British Columbia

Buyer's Guide

CA Unified Communications Monitor vs. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)

July 2025

Free Report: CA Unified Communications Monitor vs. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)

Find out what your peers are saying about CA Unified Communications Monitor vs. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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