PRTG Network Monitor and Cisco UCS Manager are competitors in the system monitoring and management category. PRTG Network Monitor seems to have the upper hand in affordability and user-centric features, while Cisco UCS Manager stands out in comprehensive management capabilities.
Features: PRTG Network Monitor is recognized for its rapid deployment, scalability, and robust feature set, enabling easy handling of multiple monitoring tasks. Its accuracy, frequent updates, and cost-effectiveness cater well to large infrastructures. Cisco UCS Manager excels in management and deployment capabilities, providing a comprehensive server and network management solution that delivers flexibility and ease of administration.
Room for Improvement: PRTG Network Monitor could enhance its map design, allow more flexibility for user-defined sensors, and improve application monitoring. Improvements needed include detailed reports and mobile app performance alongside licensing costs. Cisco UCS Manager requires better firmware upgrade processes, easier integration with other platforms, and a simplified user experience to address cost and deployment complexity.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: PRTG Network Monitor supports various deployment environments, including hybrid and public clouds, marked by its simple deployment process. Some users find its support lacking in speed. Cisco UCS Manager offers more complex on-premises deployment, but with helpful technical resources. Both offer responsive support, though PRTG relies primarily on email, which can be limiting.
Pricing and ROI: PRTG Network Monitor offers comprehensive licensing at a reasonable price, appreciated for its affordability and free sensor allowance. It provides notable ROI through time savings and reduced downtime. Cisco UCS Manager is more expensive, particularly with memory expansion costs, but its stability and bundled offerings justify the price for those prioritizing reliability.
I can manage all LAN uplinks and fiber channel storage uplinks directly from UCS Manager.
Cisco UCS Manager provides cost savings by reducing the time support staff spend on long deployments.
For a severity one case, a call ensures immediate assistance and resolution of the matter.
With Intersight, service requests are automatically generated, enhancing the user experience and providing timely resolutions.
Regarding Cisco tech, they are pretty good.
Tutorials are available so I can manage any issue with PRTG Network Monitor easily.
The setup process is well-documented, making it easy to deploy.
I can install the hypervisor, such as VMware, and add the servers into the cluster seamlessly.
I would rate the scalability at nine out of ten, probably.
PRTG Network Monitor has the ability to scale and add new devices.
On a scale of one to ten, scalability is rated as 9.5.
For less than one hundred devices, it is stable.
If there's a really complex problem, I would probably give it a ten since it gets escalated quickly.
We would benefit from advancements in AI that offer firmware recommendations automatically, reducing the need for human intervention and vendor communication.
It doesn't work straight out of the UCS, so someone who knows what they're doing is needed immediately, and it can be quite confusing.
While it has been improved from using Java to HTML, simplifying the tabs would enhance user experience.
PRTG Network Monitor can sometimes be too detailed and cluttered at the beginning, making it heavy to use.
PRTG Network Monitor should provide syslog monitoring since it is not available at this time.
They need to improve application performance monitoring, error tracing mechanisms, and log management.
Recently, we acquired an excellent bundle with significant discounts, with offers like buying three servers and getting one free, along with UCSC and fabric included for free.
As long as they can afford it, there is a setup cost involved.
It's not too high, nor too low, but it's reasonable.
The prices are very high for PRTG Network Monitor.
Pricing is by the number of devices, not by sensor.
It supports ease of deployment, allowing for quick mass deployments in the data center, saving time and resources by doing so from a remote location.
Whenever there's a failure of any component, it's very easy to swap because you just disassociate that profile, remove the faulty blade, connect the new blade, and associate that profile, maintaining the same MAC address and worldwide port name.
One of the valuable features is the user interface base, specifically the C user interface.
PRTG Network Monitor already provided me with 100 free sensors, which is enough for my network monitoring.
It is advantageous because it can be deployed on-premises.
PRTG Network Monitor is easy to set up. Within a few minutes, it is operational.
PRTG Network Monitor runs on a Windows machine within your network, collecting various statistics from the machines, software, and devices which you designate. PRTG comes with an easy-to-use web interface with point-and-click configuration. You can easily share data from it with non-technical colleagues and customers, including via live graphs and custom reports. This will let you plan for network expansion, see what applications are using most of your connection, and make sure that no one is hogging the entire network just to torrent videos.
To monitor a large IT environment, it's important to be able to scale PRTG up. Paessler PRTG Enterprise Monitor includes all the proven capabilities of PRTG Network Monitor, which are enhanced by exclusive ITOps Board for a service-oriented, central overview of multiple PRTG servers.
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