Cisco DNA Center vs DX Performance Management vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager comparison

The compared Cisco and Broadcom solutions aren't in the same category. Cisco is ranked #1 in NMA , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 24.0% mindshare in the category. Broadcom is ranked #2 in DXNO , with an average rating of 8.5, and holds a 37.0% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Broadcom users who would recommend it.

Cisco DNA Center

Read 42 Cisco DNA Center reviews

9,196 Views
5,150 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

DX Performance Management

Read 32 DX Performance Management reviews

716 Views
57 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

SolarWinds Network Configur...

Read 27 SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager reviews

2,302 Views
483 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Cisco DNA Center

DX Performance Management

SolarWinds Network Configur...

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Cisco DNA Center, DX Performance Management, and SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

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Network Management Applications

June 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:

Mindshare comparison

Network Management Applications

DX NetOps

Configuration Management

Featured Reviews

Ahmed Helmy

Sr. Director, Business Development & Sales Operations at connect professional services

Experience unified visibility and monitoring for enterprise campus and significant time savings and enhanced troubleshooting with reliable support

We have been working with Cisco DNA Center for ten years. Our clients use Cisco DNA Center for unified visibility/monitoring across Enterprise Campus both LAN & WLAN along with Access and fast technical issues troubleshooting The solution provides fast troubleshooting capabilities and fast…

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Sandip Kheni

Lead Developer at STL - Sterlite Technologies Limited

The vertical database loads faster than any other product available

We experience disconnections between the solutions own components. In the last five years, there have been many intermittent connection issues with the four components and we still don't know the reasons. The solution has issues when loading groups that have been created in the application interfaces. It would be nice to have a mobile application. In the current industry and technical word, the mobile phone is the only thing that is always in your hands. Other Broadcom products have mobile applications but the solution doesn't offer one. It would be great to view device parameters and view or download graphs from a mobile device.

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RajeshB

Server and Network Monitoring Manager at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees

Offers additional functionality, including warranty management

Setting up a solution involves configuring a server and a web console, which is straightforward. Network team coordination is necessary when applying it to devices. This involves creating device connection profiles and ensuring SNMP is enabled. Initially, there were challenges involved in this process, but once the setup was complete, operations proceeded smoothly. All network devices are automatically added to NPM during auto-discovery in SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, including Network Configuration Manager features. Once configuration profile credentials are established in NCM, they are automatically deployed to all network devices. The solution is easy to use and deploy, although initial setup may require coordination and overcoming challenges.

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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

"What I found valuable in Cisco DNA Center is the Software-Defined Access Network, so the entire LAN network can be centralized and managed from a single dashboard. Cisco DNA Center is suitable for centralized management and lets you deploy switches in a centralized fashion. You can also do multiple switch port configurations simultaneously and segregate your traffic into multiple fabrics. Another valuable feature of Cisco DNA Center is enhanced security through Scalable Group Tags. Cisco DNA Center can be integrated with your Cisco ISE to enhance the port securities, and this paves the way for Software-Defined Networking in the LAN segment, which is the main advantage of Cisco DNA Center. I also like that you can use Cisco DNA Center for data assurance or correlation. The solution shows your network and client health parameters, which I find convenient for troubleshooting."

"The best feature of Cisco DNA Center is the visibility page, where you can see everything on the dashboard, and you don't have to be a technical person to view the issues."

"The most valuable features of the solution are all of its security features...It is a highly scalable solution."

"It does a lot of things automatically, and that's the big thing with it. They're making the software so that you don't need to be as knowledgeable as me on the switching and routing side to get your work done. If you want, you can have DNA troubleshoot your problem for you and give you solutions or fix it itself, if it was something that's just a configuration issue."

"The monitoring is very valuable to me."

"The product's most valuable feature is the visual representation of the switch's front panel."

"What's most valuable in Cisco DNA Center is the ability to manage any Cisco infrastructure and device through it. Setup was straightforward."

"The most valuable features of Cisco DNA Center are wireless assurance and visibility."

More Cisco DNA Center pros

"The out-of-the-box dashboards are valuable, in terms of being able to visualize performance data in ways that we haven't in the past."

"When devices are having performance issues, it proactively build dashboards which allow us to go and do health checks, and resolve problems before they become an issue."

"One feature I like about CA Performance Management is the certification of the devices."

"You can create intelligent alerts so you have enough time to replace the router or interface before it's full. The same is applicable for CBQoS channels."

"One of the most valuable features is the ease of use."

"It can be easily integrated with other systems and is powerful enough to collect data from a large number of devices."

"It saves time having it all on one place, so you do not have to jump around from different tools and try to merge the data. It is already done for you."

"The capability where not only the traditional SNMP information is captured but also the netflow data; who is consuming the data on the WAN, and voice-related information, is helpful. The voice quality makes it very easy for first- and second-line operators to see where the issue is, and who is impacted."

More DX Performance Management pros

"What's nice with NCM is you can set up policies that you can then check against the configs to ensure that your device configs adhere to a baseline or standard that you've set in place."

"The network performance monitoring of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is a vital feature"

"It is a stable solution."

"Configuration refers to the specific settings and options that determine how a device or system behaves. It can include things, such as network settings, security settings, and other options that are specific to the device or system in question. One of the most valuable features of the solution was its ability to track and monitor changes to the configuration of devices on a network. This can be useful for troubleshooting and identifying potential issues. By keeping track of who made changes to the configuration and when it can be easier to determine the cause of any problems that may arise."

"The most valuable features the solution offers are compliance, reliability, and information about reliability."

"Compared to other vendors, like NetBrain, managing the solution is easy. They made it very user-friendly."

"SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager improves the mean time to repair significantly, bringing measurable benefits to customers."

"The configuration compliance aspect of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager allows for easy comparison of configuration settings across branches, ensuring adherence to security guidelines and best practices. Automation capabilities have greatly impacted workflows, enabling tasks such as configuration backups, template deployment, and firmware upgrades to be automated, thereby streamlining processes and saving time. Compliance reporting features provide valuable insights into network compliance, offering pre-built security audit reports and customizable options to meet specific requirements."

More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager pros

Cons

"There should be an option for automation of template deployment by using the stored data. It is not easy to save configuration information for lots of devices without using other tools. There should be a tighter, better repository of information that can be merged with the templates."

"What could be improved is the licensing cost of Cisco DNA Center. It's a little bit expensive."

"When it comes to deploying wireless fields, integrating defaults into the DNS interface can be challenging."

"The solution's setup process needs enhancement."

"One area that needs improvement is the upgrade process."

"There is a limitation with the number of VRFs that you can have in your network, and this has caused us problems with some customers."

"In terms of the clustering part, there are some concerns."

"The tool's deployment is complex. It also needs to improve its GUI."

More Cisco DNA Center cons

"Since we are out of registered IP space, we are moving to ipv6 and we expect our vendors to move with us, and they have not delivered yet."

"This may be available by now but for server space, when it comes to the disk file system, I'd like to see that graphically represented, or the trend, rather than what I'm seeing now."

"CA PM can be complex to build and configure. Creating the folders / groups / sites required establishing many rule sets."

"The solution could improve the database model. It is also not very good because they have a lot of interconnections with other data sources, such as NFA and VNA."

"There are some areas in the technology right now, like with VMs, where we are lacking with our abilities to get inside the VM to monitor traffic within the machine."

"It seems like we escalate more than I would like to. If anything, they should look at how the tier support goes in place."

"I think it would be helpful having a more comprehensive set of certifications so that I could natively deploy devices to my environment and the tool would immediately recognize and immediately be able to provide relevant performance information without a lot of tuning on my part."

"For CA PM, there should be a way of easily migrating the reports coming from eHealth going to CA Performance Center, since CA PC is replacing eHealth."

More DX Performance Management cons

"Further improvements in automation are needed. Currently, there are limitations in performing tasks without logging into routers directly, and we expect more comprehensive device control."

"Improvements are needed in the automatic network mapping function."

"There are certain limitations of node-related monitoring"

"We want to be able to store it in a data warehouse format and integrate it with Google single sign-on."

"I'd like to see additional features like support for devices that don't use CLI for configuration backups, expanded inventory support for other vendors beyond Cisco, and compatibility with newer SD WAN devices. These enhancements would further improve the product's versatility and utility for users. we hope for future enhancements, especially in supporting security devices that lack CLI backup options."

"For each device, when you open the network performance monitor, it will give you all of the information about the device, but many of the natural configuration management features are not on that page."

"Our experience has shown that most of the problems we've had with SolarWinds NCM are related to software issues."

"The third-party plugins available in the solution could improve. I have received some issues with the templates."

More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The partnership price is notably high, but it ultimately depends on the chosen business model."

"The solution is expensive."

"The price could be better. It's a very expensive tool."

"The tool's licensing may not come across as something that may be friendly for users."

"The solution is a little bit expensive but depends a lot on the customer's usage. If you use it in the right place, you can easily pay for it."

"I rate the product's pricing an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is very cheap, and ten is very expensive."

"It is an expensive solution."

"The product is very costly."

More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice

"We were looking at other vendors in the marketplace for NetFlow, and CA just beat everybody else in price, cost, and the size to implement. "

"The tool's pricing is based on the number of network devices."

"They should provide more scalable licensing for the product."

"We purchase a license to use the solution every three years and we have multiple contracts. They have been increasing the price annually. We have a baseline for three years and then we need to pay the difference from the baseline, and we are in the process of negotiating a new price for all the licenses we need. The price overall is affordable."

"Do your homework and know how many devices you will be managing out of the gate. Be sure to project what your growth will be each year."

"I like the licensing model because it's device-based."

"Pricing is reasonable and competitive."

"Available at a moderate price"

"With a minimal bundle, we pay about $3000 a year in licensing costs. If you have multiple devices in your network, you must buy the bundle, which is 100% identical for your infrastructure. If you have 15 devices, you need 15 licenses, for example. That's one bundle. You don't pay for anything over and above that."

"In Africa, the cost is a major factor in decision-making for many companies. As a result, some companies may choose cheaper solutions, even if they are open-source, over more expensive ones, such as SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager. However, as an engineer, I believe that the functionalities and services offered by SolarWinds justify the cost. Nonetheless, many companies in Africa may still view the prices as unaffordable."

"You have a base license for 50 devices, and then you can add more licenses as you go."

"I have a yearly subscription."

"There is a license needed to use SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager."

"Additional costs beyond the standard licensing fee are inevitable."

More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

10%

Financial Services Firm

15%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Computer Software Company

12%

Educational Organization

Government

13%

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especial...

See all answers

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

After evaluating other solutions, we will provide feedback.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?

We have utilized the software-defined access (SDA) feature of Cisco DNA Center. The AI-driven needs enhancements and ...

See all answers

What do you like most about DX Performance Management?

The tool helps us understand network performance.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for DX Performance Management?

The tool's pricing is based on the number of network devices.

See all answers

What needs improvement with DX Performance Management?

Spectrum's topology view sometimes does not rebuild automatically when a device is shut down and reconnected. It requ...

See all answers

What do you like most about SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?

The configuration compliance aspect of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager allows for easy comparison of configu...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?

The licensing costs of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager are expensive, but considering its reliability, featu...

See all answers

What needs improvement with SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?

Further improvements in automation are needed. Currently, there are limitations in performing tasks without logging i...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 13% of the time

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 6% of the time

HPE Intelligent Management Center vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 5% of the time

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) vs Cisco DNA Center

Compared 5% of the time

More Cisco DNA Center Competitors

IBM SevOne Network Performance Management (NPM) vs DX Performance Management

Compared 31% of the time

SolarWinds AppOptics vs DX Performance Management

Compared 25% of the time

DX Spectrum vs DX Performance Management

Compared 24% of the time

OmniPeek vs DX Performance Management

Compared 20% of the time

More DX Performance Management Competitors

Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

Compared 7% of the time

ManageEngine Network Configuration Management vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

Compared 7% of the time

OpenText Network Node Manager vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

Compared 5% of the time

NetBrain vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

Compared 5% of the time

IBM Tivoli NetCool vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

Compared 5% of the time

More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cisco DNA Center

July 2025

Download Cisco DNA Center product report

Buyer's Guide

DX Performance Management

July 2025

Download DX Performance Management product report

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

June 2025

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager report

Download SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager product report

Also Known As

DNA Center

CA Performance Management

SolarWinds NCM

Overview

Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?

Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.

What benefits should users consider?

Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

Cisco

CA Performance Management is a comprehensive and highly scalable network performance monitoring and analytics platform. It was built to meet the unique demands of big data and modern networks architectures, including highly dynamic and complex hybrid cloud and software-defined networks (SDN).

The platform is design to reduce complexity inherent in modern networks built across numerous technology stacks through advanced network performance monitoring and relationship mapping for improved operational assurance.

Combined with CA Virtual Network Assurance, the platform extends operator visibility through advanced discovery and network performance monitoring of highly sensitive cloud and multi-layered SDN networks and service chains.

Broadcom

Before you monitor your network, configure it! A reliable and secure network starts with carefully planned, executed, and monitored network configuration and change management. SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) saves time and improves network reliability and security by managing configurations, changes, and compliance for routers, switches, and other network devices from Cisco, Juniper, HP, Dell, Brocade, Aruba, Rukus, and more.

SolarWinds

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Jack Henry & Assoc, Target, CenturyLink, Bell Canada, BrightHouse Networks, Telus, Unisys, Verizon, Southern California Edison, GEICO, Fidelity Investments, Wells Fargo, American Family Insurance Group, Deutsche Telekom AG

United Lincolnshire Hospitals, Air Rarotonga, NetSuite, Thai AirAsia, REA Group, 335th Signal Command, Agilisys, Marine Expeditionary Force

Buyer's Guide

Network Management Applications

June 2025

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