No more typing reviews! Try our Samantha, our new voice AI agent.

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor comparison

Cisco and SolarWinds are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Cisco is ranked #28 with an average rating of 8.3, while SolarWinds is ranked #27 with an average rating of 7.9. Cisco holds a 0.6% mindshare in NMS, compared to SolarWinds’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabri...
Read 26 Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) reviews
  • 1,625 Views
  • 1,560 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
SolarWinds Network Device M...
Read 23 SolarWinds Network Device Monitor reviews
  • 1,914 Views
  • 1,876 Comparison Views
95% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report
Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller and SolarWinds Network Device Monitor compete in the network management category. Cisco seems to have the upper hand in support and pricing, while SolarWinds is preferred for features and functionality.

Features: Cisco Nexus Dashboard is known for its robust stability, comprehensive network visibility, and exceptional monitoring and automation features. It efficiently integrates with various network elements, providing enhanced automation capabilities. SolarWinds offers integral monitoring features with performance accuracy and strong alerting systems. Its ease of use, detailed reports, and alerts enable proactive measures.

Room for Improvement: Cisco Nexus Dashboard could enhance its user interface complexity, report intuitiveness, and integration with other tools. Setup challenges and the need for improved feature integration and scalability are noted. SolarWinds should focus on user-friendliness, reducing security issues, and refining its discovery feature.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cisco Nexus Dashboard and SolarWinds support on-premises and private cloud deployments, with SolarWinds also supporting hybrid cloud environments. Cisco's technical support is praised for being responsive and high-quality, whereas SolarWinds provides competent support requiring fewer user interventions.

Pricing and ROI: Cisco Nexus Dashboard is considered expensive but offers value through its comprehensive features and favorable ROI for long-term users. SolarWinds is slightly more cost-effective, though still viewed as costly by some users. Despite costs, it offers reasonable ROI due to ongoing enhancements and reliable performance.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
To learn more, read our detailed Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Report (Updated: March 2026).
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
March 2026
Download the complete report
Helped 885,376 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 Nexus Dashboard Fabri...
Ranking in Network Monitoring Software
28th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.2
Number of Reviews
26
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SolarWinds Network Device M...
Ranking in Network Monitoring Software
27th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) is 0.6%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is 1.0%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
SolarWinds Network Device Monitor1.0%
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)0.6%
Other98.4%
Network Monitoring Software
 

Featured Reviews

Jagdev Dhaliwal - PeerSpot reviewer
Jagdev Dhaliwal
Network Engineer at a healthcare company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Flow monitoring has improved planning for east-west traffic and real-time capacity decisions
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) helps to understand the flows and data plane capacities, which are the primary use cases. Usually, people struggle with east-west traffic flow when they need to decide on firewalls or products. People typically understand north-south traffic flows but usually miss the east-west traffic flows in data centers. I was focusing more on this so that people can accordingly plan, such as after F5, the number of servers, the number of sessions needed, and whether we need to plan the interface for groups from the line capacity perspective. This kind of information was valuable to us. The real-time telemetry feature was beneficial. When experiencing performance issues, I could determine if there were any issues related to flows or areas where bottlenecks were occurring.
Read full review
SG
Sorin Gogean
IT Infrastructure Senior Network Technician at Autoliv
Offers some features but needs better customization and analysis tools
There are solutions that can perform better, but due to pricing for our corporate implementation, we had to stay with this solution. It accomplishes the necessary tasks, but there is room for improvement. The features are not as customizable as we would prefer, but they are workable. If configured properly, you can perform a drill-down analysis. However, I have not used this feature much for our infrastructure on the network side.
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

"You can integrate all the networks into the software."
"We use the product to manage access points."
"Monitoring system provides a clear indication of what's going on in the network."
"The solution is very stable and it has never crashed on us."
"The tool's most valuable feature is the consolidated dashboard, providing insights into parameters and overall usage of network features. It allows us to easily summarize insights through the dashboards. The solution offers automation capabilities, particularly in the context of connecting LAN sites with websites."
"The monitoring system in this product is valuable, providing a clear indication of what's going on in the network and the server processing, power, etc., and the user interface is also very good and very informative."
"After installation, you almost forget that it is working."
"The product makes the management of our environment simpler."
More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) pros
"Overall, I rate SolarWinds Network Device Monitor ten out of ten."
"I rate the product's initial setup process a nine on a scale of one to ten, where one means it is a difficult phase and ten is an easy process."
"The alerting functionality in SolarWinds Network Device Monitor helps us stay informed during off-hours by sending alerts if our main links or devices are impacted, allowing us to quickly address any issues."
"SolarWinds is flexible and works with multiple vendor devices."
"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is the best solution for closely monitoring how the link is performing when compared to ManageEngine OpManager."
"We are doing more with SolarWinds Network Device Monitor than we were doing in the past with WhatsApp Gold; when we moved to SolarWinds Network Device Monitor, the whole observability part started to grow."
"The solution is very user-friendly and very easy to use."
"The most valuable feature of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is monitoring."
More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor pros
 

Cons

"The visibility of applications is not great, which is why we study upscalability."
"The solution needs to improve reports."
"It is not very easy to monitor or to browse."
"It's a relatively expensive product for some clients so perhaps improvement could be made in that area."
"It's very costly."
"In the next release, I would like to see it merged with Prime and I think that it should be more unified."
"I would like to see improved integration with other tools."
"The technical support is a gap for us as a company."
More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) cons
"Integration with different tools, such as ServiceNow and Excel, can be improved."
"The solution should have AI-powered issue-resolving capabilities"
"The security needs improvement, which is why we are moving away from SolarWinds."
"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor could improve the features. We don't have the complete model for the database, and the monitoring for the database is up and down. We expect that we could monitor the blocking items on the database but we don't have that feature."
"Integration with different tools, such as ServiceNow and Excel, can be improved."
"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor could improve by being more user-friendly. The network has so many features which make it difficult to find how to configure how to use it."
"It would be beneficial if SolarWinds Network Device Monitor could provide a feature to monitor CRC errors specifically on individual interfaces rather than the entire device. This would help in detecting intermittent issues and packet drops on main links more accurately, especially when there are CRC errors. It's important for us to be aware of these issues to avoid any voice quality problems or interruptions on our MTS links."
"There were certain aspects that weren't supported exactly. I was just able to monitor some basic things."
More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"On average, Data Center Network Manager's pricing isn't too costly unless you choose a premier license."
"The product is licensed with contracts that work on a yearly basis rather than a monthly model."
"The solution is very expensive."
"I would say that the pricing offers great value for the money."
"The price of Cisco Data Center Network Manager is expensive compared to other vendors on the market."
"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."
"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."
"When compared with other solutions SolarWinds is more expensive."
"Well, we had a perpetual license and the renewal was $20 to $25,000."
"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is not an expensive solution."
"The enterprise license is good for the SolarWinds Network Device Monitor. However, it is expensive, they should reduce their price."
"The product is expensive."
"I find the cost of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor reasonable for our company. Though, I'm not aware of the exact licensing cost."
"I rate the product's price as three to three and a half or on a scale of one to ten, where one means low price, and ten means high price."
"The price of the SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is good."
More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor pricing and cost advice
report
See which vendors are best for you
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Monitoring Software solutions are best for your needs.
See recommendations
885,376 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
10%
Construction Company
9%
Healthcare Company
9%
Computer Software Company
8%
Manufacturing Company
14%
Computer Software Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business10
Midsize Enterprise6
Large Enterprise16
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business6
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise14
 

Questions from the Community

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.
See all answers
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...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Cisco Data Center Network Manager?
I do not believe it integrated well with different infrastructures for hybrid environments. I am uncertain because we have never attempted that in our environment, so they could perform better in t...
See all answers
What do you like most about SolarWinds Network Device Monitor?
I rate the product's initial setup process a nine on a scale of one to ten, where one means it is a difficult phase and ten is an easy process.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SolarWinds Network Device Monitor?
I am not a positive person regarding SolarWinds Network Device Monitor.
See all answers
What needs improvement with SolarWinds Network Device Monitor?
There are solutions that can perform better, but due to pricing for our corporate implementation, we had to stay with this solution. It accomplishes the necessary tasks, but there is room for impro...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
Cisco DNA Center vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 24% of the time
SolarWinds NPM vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
SolarWinds NPM vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 12% of the time
Zabbix vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
Zabbix vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 11% of the time
Arista Data ANalyZer vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
Arista Data ANalyZer vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 10% of the time
SolarWinds Network Automation Manager vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Logo
SolarWinds Network Automation Manager vs Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
Compared 10% of the time
More Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) Competitors
Domotz Pro vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Logo
Domotz Pro vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
Compared 13% of the time
ScienceLogic vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Logo
ScienceLogic vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
Compared 11% of the time
OpenNMS vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Logo
OpenNMS vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
Compared 8% of the time
FortiMonitor vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Logo
FortiMonitor vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
Compared 7% of the time
Entuity vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Logo
Entuity vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
Compared 7% of the time
More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM)
March 2026
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) reportDownload Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) product report
Buyer's Guide
SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
March 2026
SolarWinds Network Device Monitor reportDownload SolarWinds Network Device Monitor product report
 

Also Known As

Cisco Data Center Network Manager
Network Device Monitor
 

Overview

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
Network Device Monitor is a free tool that makes it easy to monitor the real-time performance and health of a single device on your network with a desktop dashboard that alerts you when your device is in trouble.
SolarWinds
 

Sample Customers

Banco de Guayaquil, Cox Communications, Kuwait Petroleum Italia, Roper St. Francis, University of British Columbia
Air Rarotonga
Buyer's Guide
Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
March 2026
Free Report: Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.
DOWNLOAD NOW
885,376 professionals have used our research since 2012.
See our Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (Formerly DCNM) vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor report.
See our list of best Network Monitoring Software vendors.

We monitor all Network Monitoring Software 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.