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Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance vs OptiView XG [EOL] comparison

Cisco and NETSCOUT are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Additionally, 100% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 89% of NETSCOUT users who would recommend it.
Cisco Provider Connectivity...
Read 24 Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance reviews
  • 5,193 Views
  • 3,012 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
OptiView XG [EOL]
Read 38 OptiView XG [EOL] reviews
    89% willing to recommend
     

    Comparison Buyer's Guide

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    Executive Summary
    We performed a comparison between Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance and OptiView XG [EOL] based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

    Find out what your peers are saying about Zabbix, SolarWinds, Datadog and others in Network Monitoring Software.

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    Buyer's Guide
    Network Monitoring Software
    June 2026
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    Helped 906,829 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 Provider Connectivity...
    Average Rating
    8.8
    Reviews Sentiment
    6.9
    Number of Reviews
    24
    Ranking in other categories
    Application Performance Monitoring (APM) and Observability (40th), Network Monitoring Software (47th)
    OptiView XG [EOL]
    Average Rating
    8.6
    Number of Reviews
    38
    Ranking in other categories
    No ranking in other categories
     

    Featured Reviews

    Pifu Lin - PeerSpot reviewer
    Pifu Lin
    Senior System Engineer at DYNASAFE TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
    Addresses connectivity issues with real-time monitoring while offering good local support
    I had prepared for COC and the client. I work as a vendor for a client using Flow Mount for network performance monitoring. I focus on resolving client-side issues related to Packy Performance and quality use. This involves addressing network device issues, specifically Cisco network devices One…
    Read full review
    MW
    Mark_Walker
    President at Bitwise Micro
    A valuable, impressive, and portable product that saves time and has great scalability and stability
    It just saves time. We have run into situations where contractors come in, and they plug in a WiFi device that is handing out DHCP addresses, which affects the rest of the network. To be able to quickly identify from where the problem is originating, you need a network tool that can identify the device that is doing this. It just brings into clear focus the exact issue when there is a problem or outage. When there is a crisis and you've several people wanting to know an estimate of when things are going to be back up and running again, you need to have answers. I have been at places that didn't have a tool like that. I know one place that had an outage for almost a week, and it was craziness. It turned out to be just a bad cable. That's all it was. They were having trouble with their email server, which was an on-premise email server, but emails were taking six hours to appear. The whole problem was because of a bad network cable. When I plugged in the Fluke analyzer, it analyzed and told me immediately that there were transmission errors on this one port from one switch. It told me this within 10 minutes. It is an incredible product.
    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

    "I think the analytics features are okay. My customer also likes the interface, the GUI, because it's easy to operate."
    "It is not that expensive of a solution and produces tremendous value."
    "I like this product because it is easy to use and it allows us to have a realistic vision of what is going on at the heart of our network."
    "Customer Service: Very good. Technical Support: Excellent and responsive."
    "It has clearly saved us money."
    "It is very stable, has reduced downtime and migration time, and with Skylight we never forget anything."
    "We have found this to be a very valuable toolset, and has paid for itself several times over."
    "Skylight is not used on a daily basis, but when it's used it usually helps to fix a problem pretty fast."
    More Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance pros
    "The 10 GigE connectivity and ClearSight are the most valuable features for us."
    "The most valuable feature of this product is the sniffer, where we can troubleshoot user connections by identifying the source and destination, to try to get to the root cause."
    "With this product there is no longer a need to spend hours and hours solving problems related to networks."
    "It is a very valuable tool. It goes out and does a discovery, which is a great process of it. You could have something like a rogue DHCP server, and it will identify it, and then you can see to which switch port it is connected. It is quite an impressive tool. I really liked it because you didn't have to install an agent on anything. It would just go out and do its discovery. For me, that's great."
    "The pre-site survey and the AirMagnet site survey help my company in pre-sales and post-sales."
    "It has streamlined and simplified troubleshooting complex networking problems that would be nearly impossible to uncover with other products."
    "It's the one product that we go to when we have a problem or need to get information, because it can do so much."
    "We are using this product to improve our view of what is happening with the packets."
    More OptiView XG [EOL] pros
     

    Cons

    "Combination with Avaya switches pose some problems."
    "For the PVX, they are in the process of getting the results to export to cloud and SaaS for analytics. They told me that this will happen later this year. Right now, for the most part, I create that data myself."
    "Embed a warning system to a mailbox when it exceeds the threshold for use of bandwidth over a given period of time."
    "Human resource costs can be high when dealing with connection issues."
    "So scalability, at the moment, is pretty bad for us now, because our modus operandi have totally shifted."
    "It's a bit slow. When I execute a query, something general with a short timeframe that covers one month, for instance, and I do not specify the IP source or IP destination, it can take ages because it has to query the whole database."
    "Increase the drive’s capacity to store more data, and maybe switch to a database system similar to 3Big-Data."
    "The licensing of the virtual pollers is problematic because they are attached to the physical ESX on which they are installed."
    More Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance cons
    "Its price can be improved. Their support can also be improved a little bit. In terms of features, it did everything I wanted it to do. With more features, I would have to start installing network agents or something else, and I don't want to have to install anything. This was the value for me about this device."
    "I would like a built-in tap feature which doesn't interfere with the network, and it allows you to see what is happening there."
    "Maybe the licensing could come down; the price could come down a little bit, that would be kind of nice. I think it's a little bit expensive, but as far as functionality goes, I'm not too sure about any room for improvement; I'm not the one that uses it every day."
    "That would probably be something I'd want to add on."
    "Ease of updating, automated updating. Basically, based on the unit right now, maybe get it to be a little bit smaller, lighter."
    "The biggest is that the storage space is very limited. I'd like the ability to capture more data."
    "I think everything is OK, except that they integrated AirMagnet already. It's also very heavy, like a brick."
    "I think that the discovery of a network can be improved if the OptiView would recognize more kinds of devices independent of the manufacturer."
    More OptiView XG [EOL] cons
     

    Pricing and Cost Advice

    "The pricing is cheaper than other competing products, which is better for our budgets."
    "The solution was previously well-regarded, but after being acquired by Accedian, the prices have significantly increased. This has made it challenging to sell the product due to its high cost. It is an expensive solution."
    "If you look into Riverbed, it's a licensing nightmare. You need to pay for every type of analysis... If you don't look into licensing, Riverbed and SolarWinds are pretty comparable. But if you look into licensing it would not be smart to go for either of them. On the pure, bare-metal basis, it's the same. But when you get the bare metal and a few basic licenses, then you need all those other licenses just to be sure that there's no issue... One of the great things about Skylight is you have them all, and you actually need them all."
    "Pricing is a little bit expensive."
    "It provides value and the cost is not huge."
    "The price is competitive overall, depending on the type of customer."
    "It's not for free, clearly. But on the other hand, it offers very interesting functionality. We pay around €100,000."
    "We understand there's a significant cost difference, but have yet to investigate fully."
    More Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance pricing and cost advice
    "Its price was a bit excessive. The device that I had died. It is under warranty, and they want $20,000 for another one. I just don't want to spend that kind of money, so I'm trying to find an alternate solution. They have annual maintenance on it, which probably was 10% a year, so it all starts to add up."
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    Top Industries

    By visitors reading reviews
    Construction Company
    11%
    Financial Services Firm
    10%
    Outsourcing Company
    10%
    Manufacturing Company
    9%
    Construction Company
    15%
    Outsourcing Company
    9%
    Government
    9%
    Non Profit
    9%
     

    Company Size

    By reviewers
    Large Enterprise
    Midsize Enterprise
    Small Business
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business14
    Midsize Enterprise6
    Large Enterprise9
    By reviewers
    Company SizeCount
    Small Business7
    Midsize Enterprise8
    Large Enterprise26
     

    Questions from the Community

    What needs improvement with Accedian Skylight?
    Human resource costs can be high when dealing with connection issues. I require more tools to file and resolve these issues efficiently.
    See all answers
    What is your primary use case for Accedian Skylight?
    I had prepared for COC and the client. I work as a vendor for a client using Flow Mount for network performance monitoring. I focus on resolving client-side issues related to Packy Performance and ...
    See all answers
    What advice do you have for others considering Accedian Skylight?
    I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.
    See all answers
    Ask a question
    Earn 20 points
     

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    Product Reports

    Buyer's Guide
    Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance
    July 2026
    Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance reportDownload Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance product report
    Buyer's Guide
    OptiView XG [EOL]
    July 2026
    OptiView XG [EOL] reportDownload OptiView XG [EOL] product report
     

    Also Known As

    Accedian Skylight, Accedian SkyLIGHT PVX, SkyLIGHT PVX, SecurActive, Performance Vision
    No data available
     

    Overview

    Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance is known for its user-friendly approach to network analysis and performance monitoring. It excels in real-time diagnostics, helping organizations quickly resolve network issues and optimize performance effortlessly.

    Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance focuses on comprehensive network troubleshooting and performance monitoring, assisting in identifying bottlenecks and analyzing applications. Real-time data collection and evaluation ensure IT infrastructure efficiency. With active monitoring of latency, jitter, and throughput, users maintain smooth operations across multiple sites and applications. While highly effective, improvements in data handling, protocol support, and dashboard aesthetics are suggested to enhance user experience.

    What are the key features of Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance?
    • Flow Matrices: Advanced analysis of network paths and traffic distribution.
    • SQL and DNS Analysis: In-depth insights into database and domain queries for troubleshooting.
    • Bandwidth Assessment: Evaluation of network capacity and utilization for performance optimization.
    • Real-time TWAMP Monitoring: Tracks network performance using Two-Way Active Measurement Protocol.
    • Application Performance Modules: Monitors the performance of various applications and services.
    • Customizable Dashboards: Personalized views for tracking critical network metrics and trends.
    • PCAP Capturing: Detailed packet analysis using tools like Wireshark for deeper insights.
    What benefits and ROI should users look for in reviews?
    • Ease of Use: Intuitive design allowing users to swiftly diagnose network issues.
    • Comprehensive Monitoring: Enhanced visibility of network activity for better control.
    • Performance Efficiency: Optimization of throughput, reducing downtimes and improving service delivery.
    • Cost-Effectiveness: Balances features and functionality with competitive pricing for better ROI.

    In industries such as telecommunications and finance, where network reliability is crucial, Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance offers critical network performance insights. It supports high-demand environments by providing data-driven decisions, ensuring infrastructures handle increased loads efficiently.

    Cisco

    OptiView XG is the first network analysis tablet designed specifically for the network engineer. It combines critical functions necessary to automate root-cause analysis of both wired and wireless network performance issues – whether network or application related to reduce time for problem identification. OptiView XG supports repeatable, effective troubleshooting – whether pre- or post-deployment.

    NETSCOUT
     

    Sample Customers

    T-Systems, Thomson Reuters, Bordeaux Metropole, CGI, Citadelle Regional Hospital Center, Lorraine Institute of Oncology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Groupe BPCE, Group S, Splitpoint, Horus-Net, Audatex, Indexis, Province de Liège, EASI, Spie Batignolles, Faymonville
    XG is used in all industries. Example customers include: Republic National Distributing Company, Titelive, CitiGroup, Los Angeles Unified School District, Saudi German Hospital, DeKalb County Schools, Valdosta State University, The Everett Clinic, Bio-Reference, Miami-Dade Library, Mitel, Borsa Istanbul, Cimarex, Air National Guard Lowndes County, High Point City, Carrollton City Schools, Kern County, Pruitt Communications and Bosch Group.
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Monitoring Software
    June 2026
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