DX Spectrum vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Broadcom and SolarWinds are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Broadcom is ranked #16 with an average rating of 8.5, while SolarWinds is ranked #39 with an average rating of 8.0. Broadcom holds a 1.6% mindshare in NMS, compared to SolarWinds’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of SolarWinds users who would recommend it.

DX Spectrum

Read 118 DX Spectrum reviews

13,661 Views
8,333 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

SolarWinds Network Device M...

Read 23 SolarWinds Network Device Monitor reviews

3,789 Views
3,713 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

DX Spectrum

SolarWinds Network Device M...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

DX Spectrum and SolarWinds Network Device Monitor compete in the network monitoring tools category. DX Spectrum seems to have the upper hand in feature breadth, while SolarWinds Network Device Monitor offers better ease of use and cost-effectiveness.

Features: DX Spectrum offers advanced fault analysis, scalability, and extensive topology views. It supports a wide range of device compatibility and detailed configuration management. It also integrates well with CA products. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is known for ease of setup, clear reporting, and effective alerting, making it efficient for straightforward monitoring.

Room for Improvement: DX Spectrum users highlight complex configuration, reliance on legacy interfaces like Java, and desire a more intuitive web-based UI. They also call for better cross-landscape correlation and third-party tool integration. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor could benefit from enhanced user-friendliness, deeper analytics, and updates to the alert system. Users also wish for improved infrastructure tool integration.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: DX Spectrum is typically on-premises, suitable for large setups but has mixed support feedback, with some noting slow responses. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor allows for cloud deployment, providing flexibility and is often praised for prompt and efficient customer service.

Pricing and ROI: DX Spectrum's high cost is justified for larger companies by its feature set and integration capabilities, offering ROI through automation. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor's more affordable model appeals to smaller businesses, delivering ROI by reducing manual efforts despite lacking some advanced features.

To learn more, read our detailed DX Spectrum vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

DX Spectrum vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

September 2026

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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

DX Spectrum

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

16th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

118

Ranking in other categories

Network Management Applications (8th), IT Infrastructure Monitoring (18th), Network Troubleshooting (7th), DX NetOps (1st)

SolarWinds Network Device M...

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

39th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of DX Spectrum is 1.6%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is 0.8%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
DX Spectrum	1.6%
SolarWinds Network Device Monitor	0.8%
Other	97.6%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

PinchasAlbalya

Network Engineer at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees

Monitoring has become centralized and management now sees real‑time health of key network assets

The time investment required is significant, not because of difficulty but because of the need for free time to invest in it. We need to get the knowledge. We know there are many options, but we took an external vendor to install and make the customization. If we want to make others changes without paying for customization, we need to learn it deeply by ourselves. The tutorials are very complicated. They could work on that area. The tutorial part could be more simplified. I know there are many explanations, and you can get help or documents in one click on the current page in the product, but it is not very clear. If you want to do something new that you did not see from the vendor in the installation, it is not very simple. The documents are good for people that know how to operate the product well, but for new users, it is not simple.

Read full review

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

"They are very good; I open up a case and hear back from them the same day, they are very knowledgeable and helpful, and if I do not have time to research something and need it fixed, I just tell them and they take care of it, even connecting remotely to do it themselves sometimes."

"The product’s stability and robustness are valuable."

"Scalability and performance are great."

"Generally, I would recommend DX Spectrum because, despite its pricing issue, it is a valuable solution."

"Some of the most valuable features are it's highly scalable, the carrier is great, and if something has SNMP, it can monitor it. It's a great network fault management solution."

"CA Spectrum is very useful for event handling and offers a robust manager of managers console."

"I must say, CA is an excellent company and their client always comes first."

"Implemented with Enterprise Customers across region, it is a very strong fault management tool with extraordinary correlation and alarming."

More DX Spectrum pros

"The most valuable feature of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is monitoring."

"The most valuable feature of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is it can alert you when a device is not working."

"SolarWinds is flexible and works with multiple vendor devices."

"In real-time, we know when there's an issue on our network and it helps us to be proactive to solve the situation."

"SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is a straightforward product with valuable functionality."

"The deployment process is quick."

"Overall, I rate SolarWinds Network Device Monitor ten out of ten."

"There are vital features of auto-plugin core ports"

More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor pros

Cons

"Technical support for this product is not so good. It's also not as good as it used to be."

"Make it easier to certify devices."

"It doesn’t give you performance metrics: You need CA eHealth for this."

"The platform is complicated to use."

"I would recommend AI capability built-in so it becomes more predictable and we jump ahead of the curve. This is the one really important feature I would really like to see in any product that provides alarms."

"The price is high enough to expect an ideal solution."

"There should be better integration with other Broadcom products, like network performance manager. Currently, for every part of a product, you need a separate server environment. You have something for Spectrum, you have something for network performance, and you have something for NetFlow. There are a lot of islands and server farms with different technologies. They should be redeveloped to get one platform for all."

"Integration with some other tools, and integration with some Network Packet Broker, need some improvement."

More DX Spectrum cons

"The data is in the system but we are unable to pull it because reporting is not integrated and versatile."

"The security needs improvement, which is why we are moving away from Solar Winds. We have security concerns."

"The solution lacks in performance monitoring."

"The solution is not user-friendly."

"Although I haven't explored all of the features available, I wouldn't mind if the software were made to be a bit more customizable."

"The security could always be improved."

"The solution should have AI-powered issue-resolving capabilities"

"The initial setup of the SolarWinds Network Device Monitor could be easier. It took us approximately one month to complete the implementation."

More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Currently, a perpetual license but some services are moving to a subscription"

"The price is very high."

"Since the acquisition by Broadcom, we have not had such a good experience with licensing and pricing. Since they were bought by Broadcom, every sales contract is getting complicated. It's very complicated, and it's much more expensive than before. It's not a good pricing strategy from Broadcom."

"The solution's pricing could be better."

"Spectrum is expensive."

"The product, support, and maintenance are all expensive, which is another reason that we are switching to another solution."

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"It’s a great tool, but an expensive one. Learn how to use it properly."

More DX Spectrum pricing and cost advice

"When compared with other solutions SolarWinds is more expensive."

"The price of the SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is good."

"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."

"Well, we had a perpetual license and the renewal was $20 to $25,000."

"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."

"I find the cost of SolarWinds Network Device Monitor reasonable for our company. Though, I'm not aware of the exact licensing cost."

"The product is expensive."

More SolarWinds Network Device Monitor pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Outsourcing Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Construction Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Outsourcing Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	25
Midsize Enterprise	19
Large Enterprise	90

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	14

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for DX Spectrum?

The price is very, very high.

See all answers

What needs improvement with DX Spectrum?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for DX Spectrum?

The university purchased DX Spectrum, called ICE. DX Spectrum NAC is working for us only on Cisco 9200 switches. It is not working on any other switch like C1000 or HG or any 2960X. Even other Cisc...

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?

See all answers

What is your primary use case for SolarWinds Network Device Monitor?

I have experience regarding the AD part, but my focus for the last 15 years has been oriented to the network side. My experience with identity tools comes more from a network perspective. We used N...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 3% of the time

ManageEngine OpManager vs DX Spectrum

Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

Entuity vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

Compared 5% of the time

ThousandEyes vs SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

Compared 3% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

DX Spectrum

September 2026

Download DX Spectrum product report

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

August 2026

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor report

Download SolarWinds Network Device Monitor product report

Also Known As

CA Spectrum

Network Device Monitor

Overview

DX Spectrum is a comprehensive network monitoring tool designed for scalability and accuracy. With features like fault management, topological mapping, and customizability, it addresses network issues effectively while ensuring reliable infrastructure oversight.

Known for its robust capabilities, DX Spectrum excels in fault management and network monitoring, offering features such as Global Collections and Event Correlation for precise issue detection. This scalability allows it to monitor large infrastructures efficiently using SNMP traps. Automated device discovery and seamless integrations with tools like SOI and Zabbix enhance its functionality, providing users with a streamlined experience. The interface allows for deep visibility and is supported by REST API for improved integration and automation.

What are the key features of DX Spectrum?

Fault Management: Identifies and manages network faults efficiently.
Topological Mapping: Offers a graphical representation of network topology.
Customizability: Provides extensive options to tailor the tool to specific needs.
Global Collections: Enhances issue detection across networks.
Event Correlation: Reduces false alerts by correlating network events.
Scalability: Manages large networks with SNMP traps.
Automated Discovery: Automatically identifies and integrates devices into monitoring.
REST API: Facilitates seamless integration and automation.

Why should users consider DX Spectrum in reviews?

Operational Efficiency: Increases efficiency through automation and integration.
Deep Visibility: Provides comprehensive network visibility and control.
Reliability: Ensures stable and reliable network operations.
Integration Capabilities: Works seamlessly with multiple external tools.
Customizability: Allows customization to meet specific monitoring needs.
Proactive Management: Supports proactive issue resolution with accurate notifications.

DX Spectrum finds extensive applications across industries for network infrastructure monitoring. It is vital in sectors where maintaining service uptime and quickly resolving network faults is critical. Organizations leverage its configuration management, alarm/event management, and integration capabilities to maintain smooth network operations, especially in environments with large and complex network infrastructures.

Broadcom

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor offers comprehensive real-time network monitoring capabilities with seamless integration across multiple vendor devices, ensuring efficient network operations.

Offering features like cloud workload monitoring, quick deployment, and a user-friendly interface, SolarWinds Network Device Monitor supports real-time alert thresholds, accurate link readings, historical utilization metrics, and customizable dashboards. Its ability to integrate with multiple vendor devices and perform network discovery enhances operational efficiency. Comprehensive bandwidth and fault management features provide stable network monitoring, benefiting devices such as switches and IP phones. However, there is room for improvement in integration with tools like ServiceNow and Excel, support response times, and enhanced security. Users highlight the need for a mobile version, improved reporting, and better customization options, alongside concerns about setup complexity and licensing costs.

What are the key features?

Cloud Workload Monitoring: Monitors workloads hosted in the cloud.
User-Friendly Interface: Offers an intuitive experience for users.
Quick Deployment: Simplifies installation and setup processes.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides immediate alerts for network statuses.
Customizable Dashboards: Enhances network visibility with tailored displays.

What benefits can users expect?

Proactive Problem Solving: Real-time alerts facilitate quick issue resolution.
Efficiency: Automated network monitoring streamlines operational workflows.
Insightful Analytics: Provides valuable data on memory and CPU usage.
Cost-Effective: Monitors bandwidth and fault management to reduce outages.

SolarWinds Network Device Monitor is implemented prominently in industries needing robust network infrastructure monitoring, like tech and manufacturing. Companies rely on its capabilities for IP address management, cloud workload monitoring, and remote equipment monitoring, gaining insights into system performance and ensuring compliance checks are met effectively.

SolarWinds

Sample Customers

National Informatics Centre India, Banese, Olympus, AlphaServe Technologies, Sicredi

Air Rarotonga

Buyer's Guide

DX Spectrum vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

September 2026

Free Report: DX Spectrum vs. SolarWinds Network Device Monitor

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