Cisco Catalyst Center vs OpenText Network Node Manager comparison

Cisco Catalyst Center vs. OpenText Network Node Manager

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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

Cisco Catalyst Center

Ranking in Network Management Applications

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

OpenText Network Node Manager

Ranking in Network Management Applications

7th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

5.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Network Management Applications category, the mindshare of Cisco Catalyst Center is 4.4%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenText Network Node Manager is 5.3%, up from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Management Applications Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Cisco Catalyst Center	4.4%
OpenText Network Node Manager	5.3%
Other	90.3%

Network Management Applications

Featured Reviews

AndrewRichardson

Network Engineer at Edmonton Catholic School Board

Has improved infrastructure management with customizable reporting and automated deployment

Cisco Catalyst Center's reporting is one of the best features, providing graphs and quick hit analysis in one place instead of having to search elsewhere. Historical data can be stored in Cisco Catalyst Center, and dashboards and widgets can be configured to personal preference. Device deployment can be automated to the point where all someone needs to do is plug it in. Zero Touch Provisioning, while requiring some initial work to set up properly, provides significant benefits. Once configured, it reduces the need for travel by specific network personnel, allowing on-site or other staff to handle device deployment by simply plugging in the cable.

Read full review

Ahmed-Salman

Performanc Monitoring and Application Architect at Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Reliable network monitoring and proactive analytics enhance decision-making with areas for configuration improvement

NNMi is an OpenText product and serves as the OpenText Network Node Manager monitoring tool. OpenText Network Node Manager is used for network monitoring of switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, and all network devices. It can support any SNMP protocol. The advantages of OpenText Network Node Manager stand out because it can build the topology, Layer 2 topology, and Layer 3 automatically once devices are added, connecting them together, such as device one, for interface one, connected with interface one on another device. The integration capability of OpenText Network Node Manager is excellent because it integrates directly, and I can configure the integration to feed the CMDB, from where I can get all information from network monitoring into the CMDB, linking it with the infrastructure and correlating events. I use advanced fault monitoring and management features in OpenText Network Node Manager for topology and fault monitoring, as it can alert or generate an event if the value exceeds or falls below a predefined threshold for SNMP traps. The predictive analytics impact planning and optimization strategies because the product can be linked with another product for analytic analysis, allowing me to see the interface utilization trend and proactively take action if the utilization increases. The automated network discovery features and topology mapping in OpenText Network Node Manager have a positive impact. It supports a bundle with another product for NetFlow to monitor traffic, ports, protocols, and SLAs, and I can build compliance reports to address security vulnerabilities, such as identifying all devices using outdated protocols.

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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

"With Cisco Catalyst Center, it is now controlled in one location and I can easily manage them, ensuring they are all up to date with compliance checks and other requirements."

"Cisco Catalyst Center has been pretty smooth with scaling the growing needs of my organization, and it is scaling; we are about to replace all of our switches, so we are anticipating that it will help a lot with that."

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

"Cisco Catalyst switches are reliable and stable."

"The features I appreciate most about Cisco Catalyst Center are user accessibility."

"The analytics feature is quite good, and the hardware is very performant."

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

"Whenever something goes down, it's easy for us to look into a problem because before teammates reach out to us saying they're not getting to the internet, we already know there's a problem because of Cisco Catalyst Center, so it's very useful and helps us have less downtime."

More Cisco Catalyst Center pros

"It gives us a good overview of what's happening in our networks and the devices in the networks."

"We do not have any issues stability-wise."

"The solution is very stable, and once it's configured properly, stability and maintenance are strong with no issues in performance."

"Overall, the tool helps maintain the health of the network."

"If you install one node on Network Node Manager and want to scale it up, it's pretty easy to create more nodes."

"A good enterprise-level solution."

"The HPE suite is amazingly beautiful, has a fantastic user experience, and provides a high amount of simplification across transactions when adopting cloud technologies significantly."

"It's a good one."

More OpenText Network Node Manager pros

Cons

"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."

"When I first installed Cisco Catalyst Center, it required a lot of hardware resources during the installation process."

"Regarding the cons of Catalyst, it is a little more expensive. With other vendors, you have one license for all features. In the case of Catalyst, there are many licensing options."

"My experience with deploying Cisco Catalyst Center had one challenge where we couldn't find enough documentation because one of our nodes went down. So we had to rebuild our entire Catalyst."

"The deployment process is pretty complex"

"I have not seen ROI at all."

"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."

"Advanced hardware replacement services have seen a degradation in quality, with delays in replacement parts."

More Cisco Catalyst Center cons

"I want to have some of those nicer features for when networks go flapping. I want to receive alerts before problems occur rather than when it actually goes down."

"As the technologies evolve, also these solutions or the monitoring tools should evolve to cover the progress in technology, including capabilities related to monitoring of virtualized devices today, as the DNS is on the table in this way."

"Configuration was a bit cumbersome for SNMP traps on the routers and configuration of the SPIs was a little complicated."

"That is a little bit difficult for me because I haven't been personally dealing with the software directly, so the subcontractor has been the face in informing us what the product is capable of."

"The deployment architecture and installation part needs improvement."

"Only to improve the GUI."

"They should add AI options in the product's next release."

"It needs better management for the routing protocol, which right now is really not very good."

More OpenText Network Node Manager cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The solution is quite expensive."

"The solution is priced mid-range compared to the competition."

"I wasn't involved in the pricing, but I think it's quite expensive."

"It's an expensive solution."

"It is more inexpensive than other products in the market."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

14%

Government

11%

Financial Services Firm

Outsourcing Company

Construction Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Outsourcing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	18

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	15

Questions from the Community

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

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that licensing is always a pain, as everything involves levels of licensing, so when there are specific features I am looking for, they are ...

What needs improvement with Cisco Catalyst Center?

I would say Cisco Catalyst Center's PNP functionality is not as good as it could be. When the switches come out of the box and we try to configure it, the onboarding is kind of hard where I assign ...

What is your primary use case for Cisco Catalyst Center?

The main use case for us is to centralize managing our switches in one spot. We have a lot of switches to manage, so it's very easy to find that useful.

What needs improvement with Micro Focus Network Node Manager?

The disadvantage of OpenText Network Node Manager is related to configuration, which is straightforward since it is agentless and solely relies on SNMP protocol, and although it requires some effor...

What is your primary use case for Micro Focus Network Node Manager?

I remember working with OpenText Network Node Manager at my previous company. I am now working at a different company focusing on data center migrations and DR preparation. In my current role, I ha...

What advice do you have for others considering Micro Focus Network Node Manager?

I would rate OpenText Network Node Manager an eight out of ten, as it is very good, and I appreciate its ability to link faults with network configuration management, allowing me to identify root c...

Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Comparisons

Compared 24% of the time

Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 20% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 8% of the time

SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 6% of the time

ExtremeCloud IQ vs Cisco Catalyst Center

Compared 6% of the time

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DX Spectrum vs OpenText Network Node Manager

Compared 12% of the time

DataMiner vs OpenText Network Node Manager

Compared 11% of the time

IBM Tivoli NetCool vs OpenText Network Node Manager

Compared 8% of the time

EMCO Remote Shutdown vs OpenText Network Node Manager

Compared 6% of the time

Precisely Network Management vs OpenText Network Node Manager

Compared 6% of the time

More OpenText Network Node Manager Competitors

Product Reports

Cisco Catalyst Center

Download Cisco Catalyst Center product report

OpenText Network Node Manager

Download OpenText Network Node Manager product report

Also Known As

No data available

Micro Focus Network Node Manager, Network Node Manager, HPE Network Node Manager

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

OpenText Network Node Manager centralizes network management, offering comprehensive topology mapping and monitoring across diverse environments. Its focus on enhancing visibility and providing detailed analytics makes it suitable for handling enterprise-level network complexities.

OpenText Network Node Manager is designed for managing networks by offering functionalities such as root cause analysis, fault management, and event handling. It accommodates both physical and virtual devices, and supports integration with enterprise-level hardware. Users benefit from its customizable integration capabilities and its capacity to generate insightful visualizations that facilitate decision making in network operations. Users also appreciate its efficient alerting systems and centralized information management that improve network visibility and generate comprehensive reports and metrics. Despite room for improvement in areas like routing protocol management and interface modernization, it remains vital for IT managers and admins in their network monitoring tasks. However, it should address scalability issues and enhance its technical support and integration with more server types, including NAC.

What Features Make OpenText Network Node Manager Stand Out?

Network Topology Mapping: Provides comprehensive network visualization.
Multi-Vendor Support: Ensures compatibility with multiple devices.
Root Cause Analysis: Identifies and resolves network issues swiftly.
Customizable Integration: Tailors to specific enterprise requirements.
Fault Management: Efficiently detects and manages faults.
Event Handling: Handles network events with precision.

Which Benefits and ROI Should Be Considered?

Centralized Information: Streamlines network data management.
Enhanced Visibility: Offers a clear view of network operations.
Detailed Analytics: Provides actionable insights into network performance.
Scalability: Supports growth with enterprise needs.
Insightful Visualization: Facilitates understanding through graphical representation.

In industries requiring robust network management solutions, OpenText Network Node Manager is implemented to handle expansive device counts and complex configurations. It is particularly effective for network operations teams managing regional infrastructures, supporting comprehensive monitoring and management across diverse network environments.

OpenText

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

IPC, Exelon, VivaCom,

Cisco Catalyst Center vs. OpenText Network Node Manager