Cisco Catalyst Center vs IBM Tivoli NetCool comparison

Cisco and IBM are both solutions in the Network Management Applications category. Cisco is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.5, while IBM is ranked #13 with an average rating of 7.7. Cisco holds a 9.0% mindshare in NMA, compared to IBM’s 2.4% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Cisco Catalyst Center

Read 16 Cisco Catalyst Center reviews

662 Views
662 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM Tivoli NetCool

Read 13 IBM Tivoli NetCool reviews

973 Views
662 Comparison Views

83% willing to recommend

Cisco Catalyst Center

IBM Tivoli NetCool

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 2, 2025

IBM Tivoli NetCool and Cisco Catalyst Center are competing in network management and monitoring. While IBM Tivoli NetCool is favored for its service and pricing, Cisco Catalyst Center stands out with comprehensive features.

Features: IBM Tivoli NetCool offers robust event correlation, automation capabilities, and effective network issue resolution. Cisco Catalyst Center provides extensive integration with Cisco hardware, advanced network analytics, and detailed reporting.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Catalyst Center is known for straightforward deployment, especially when paired with Cisco hardware. IBM Tivoli NetCool, while strong in monitoring, presents complex deployment but excels in customer service and support.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Tivoli NetCool tends to offer more competitive pricing, leading to better initial ROI. Cisco Catalyst Center, despite a higher investment, is valued for its feature-rich offerings and long-term benefits.

To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Catalyst Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool

July 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 865,384 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 Catalyst Center

Ranking in Network Management Applications

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM Tivoli NetCool

Ranking in Network Management Applications

13th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Network Management Applications category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Center is 9.0%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Tivoli NetCool is 2.4%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Management Applications

Featured Reviews

Ahmad Attal

Cyber Security Architect at Spie Ics

Delivers strong analytics and integration capabilities but requires regular updates and training

My customers often complain about numerous software bugs requiring frequent software patches and updates to resolve these issues. Furthermore, the complexity of the solution can be challenging for some customers as they often require extensive training to fully understand and utilize the product. They have concerns about the high number of software bugs and the need for regular updates to address these bugs.

Read full review

Petar Ganev

Senior Enterprise Monitoring Engineer at Commerzbank

Reliable for enterprise monitoring but no longer actively developed

There are problems with the latest security requirements because many things have changed in recent years, and now the security audits are very strict. And we need to switch to something else. We need to patch it constantly. Moreover, it is a very old tool and a little bit difficult to support. Otherwise, they work okay.

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

"Cisco Catalyst Center allows me to manage all the fabric SD Access from one location."

"The most valuable feature of Cisco Catalyst Center is automation."

"The customer service is very good. They are excellent and efficient."

"The best feature of Cisco is its industry-standard nature."

"The best feature is its availability, easy deployment, and the good support for the solution."

"Cisco performs well in the network space, especially in areas like switching, DNA Center, and wireless, where it is known for its stability."

"Cisco Catalyst Center was flexible in terms of scalability, offering advanced security features and reliable performance."

"Cisco's technical support is excellent."

More Cisco Catalyst Center pros

"The tool is much easier to manage than running scripts and figuring out how many endpoints have been exceeded."

"It's very easy to use."

"Tivoli NetCool allows us to grasp a lot of data that can be applied toward predictive analytics and auto-remediation."

"The tool had many built-in automation capabilities."

"It's very easy to use."

"The scalability of monitoring, the breadth of supported network components, the scale of the number of monitoring events, and the flexibility in customization make this a well-rounded product."

"The solution has very good integration capabilities."

"Support is one of the best aspects of this solution. NetCool is a good product that has good flexibility. There are a lot of documents available online which is one of the best features of IBM Tivoli Suite. Whenever an issue happens, rather than going to technical support, if you find the exact issue in Google, you can get tech notes for that particular issue."

More IBM Tivoli NetCool pros

Cons

"My customers often complain about numerous software bugs requiring frequent software patches and updates to resolve these issues."

"There is room for improvement in introducing auto-heal AI capabilities. In the current setup, incidents are always reactionary, and it would be beneficial if Cisco Catalyst Center could proactively handle issues such as bandwidth crunches and packet drops."

"The initial setup of Cisco Catalyst Center is complex."

"The retention period of data could be improved from seven days to 30 days."

"The main drawback of Cisco Catalyst Center is that it can only manage and monitor Cisco devices with a DNA license, specifically the Catalyst 9000 series."

"For someone new, the documentation is not very clear."

"There should be tighter cohesion between the web-based GUI and the command line configuration."

"The only limitation is when integrating with other products due to Cisco's proprietary protocols."

More Cisco Catalyst Center cons

"Customization and integration that you need to do to make the product fit your needs is very complex. It is not a product that somebody could easily pick up without any prior training or experience."

"The installation could be simplified, and technical support could be faster."

"The solution is not user-friendly."

"The solution is too expensive."

"The installation could be simplified, and technical support could be faster."

"Tivoli NetCool's has medium scalability - there are some problems with its replications not being mature."

"The solution does not have any AI capabilities."

"Tivoli NetCool is based on a Linux platform, it would be beneficial if they moved it to Windows because not everyone is acquainted with Linux."

More IBM Tivoli NetCool cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."

"The price of the product is too expensive."

"It costs around 100k for every ten servers, which is lower than similar products from other vendors."

"Customers are required to pay a licensing fee."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Management Applications solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

14%

Government

10%

Energy/Utilities Company

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

32%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Catalyst Center?

The cost is relative and depends on the market and one's budget provision. While Cisco provides a good return on investment, they are also facing competitive pricing challenges from Huawei.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco Catalyst Center?

The area for improvement in Cisco Catalyst Center is the spectrum analyzer, as I find it difficult to identify which type of device is causing a problem. Additionally, the accuracy of reports can b...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cisco Catalyst Center?

We are primarily using Cisco Catalyst Center for two purposes: LAN automation, which we deployed for two sites, and wireless assurance for all 17 sites.

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

I have worked from 1973 with all kind of systems in large enterprises across the world. And have experience with all kind of software in monitoring from infra to end to end, it depends on the funct...

See all answers

What do you like most about IBM Tivoli NetCool?

The tool had many built-in automation capabilities.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IBM Tivoli NetCool?

The main challenge is its licensing model, which is very complicated.

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 66% of the time

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 18% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 8% of the time

Aruba Airwave vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 5% of the time

SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 3% of the time

More Cisco Catalyst Center Competitors

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs IBM Tivoli NetCool

Compared 37% of the time

OpenText Network Node Manager vs IBM Tivoli NetCool

Compared 35% of the time

HPE Intelligent Management Center vs IBM Tivoli NetCool

Compared 28% of the time

More IBM Tivoli NetCool Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Center

August 2025

Download Cisco Catalyst Center product report

Buyer's Guide

IBM Tivoli NetCool

August 2025

Download IBM Tivoli NetCool product report

Also Known As

No data available

Tivoli NetCool

Overview

Cisco Catalyst Center offers a comprehensive platform for network management, providing scalable solutions and advanced analytics for enterprise-level operations.

Focusing on efficient network management, Cisco Catalyst Center effectively addresses dynamic enterprise environments, ensuring operational scalability and actionable insights through its robust feature set. It emphasizes seamless management with an intuitive interface tailored for professional use, facilitating enhanced network visibility and control among IT professionals and service providers.

What are the standout features of Cisco Catalyst Center?

Automated Provisioning: Simplifies and speeds up network configuration processes by automating repetitive tasks.
Advanced Analytics: Provides real-time insights and trends for network optimization and security enhancements.
Policy-Based Configuration: Ensures consistent network settings adherence with centralized policy management.
Comprehensive Monitoring: Offers in-depth visibility into network performance, facilitating quick identification of issues.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Improved Efficiency: Streamlined operations lead to reduced manual input and increased productivity.
Cost Savings: Automation and analytics reduce operational expenses and enhance ROI.
Enhanced Security: Policy enforcement and monitoring provide robust defense against vulnerabilities.
Scalability: Supports growing network infrastructures and evolving enterprise demands.

Cisco Catalyst Center is widely implemented across industries like finance, healthcare, and education due to its ability to handle complex network requirements. It addresses specific needs by offering tailored solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency and security, catering to professionals managing large-scale IT ecosystems.

Cisco

IBM Tivoli Netcool delivers near real-time, consolidated event management across business infrastructure, data centers, complex networks and IT domains. The software provides full management and automation to help you deliver continuous uptime of business services and applications.

IBM

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Claranet, Consolidated Communications, Telus, €sterreichische Bundesbahnen (€BB), Telekom Srbija, Bendigo Community Telco, Capgemini, Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB)

Buyer's Guide

Cisco Catalyst Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool

July 2025

Free Report: Cisco Catalyst Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Catalyst Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

865,384 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Cisco Catalyst Center vs. IBM Tivoli NetCool report.

See our list of best Network Management Applications vendors.

We monitor all Network Management Applications reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.