OpenText Network Automation vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager comparison

Cancel
You must select at least 2 products to compare!
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between OpenText Network Automation and SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Red Hat, SolarWinds and others in Network Automation.
To learn more, read our detailed Network Automation Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"When compared with SolarWinds, it is more user-friendly, and tasks can be completed more quickly.""Pushing the network configuration to bulk devices. This saves a considerable amount of time that the engineer spends in pushing the network configuration."

More OpenText Network Automation Pros →

"The most valuable features the solution offers are compliance, reliability, and information about reliability.""I use it for monitoring the entire network for the company. We oversee nodes down, we oversee devices heading up to crossing the threshold for CPU usage. We oversee power so power backups on the switches, we oversee if they're down or if they're failing. We oversee any node down or any router from any vendor.""SolarWinds NCM provides updates on the status of your network infrastructure. If any issues arise, such as a link failure or a device going offline, you will receive notifications and alerts. Additionally, if someone unplugs a cable, SolarWinds NCM will detect it. It also features a Topology Mapper that displays the connectivity of your network devices, giving you a visual representation of the network's structure. With SolarWinds NCM, you have a clear understanding of what's happening within your network and can generate comprehensive reports.""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.""It's perfect for network configuration management. It's easy to use.""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 installation is straightforward.""The feature that I really enjoy is the ability to script changes across all of your devices."

More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Pros →

Cons
"Compatibility of the devices needs to be enhanced, as it seems to be limited.""Level one administration task can be defined in Micro Focus Network Automation but it could be more simplified."

More OpenText Network Automation Cons →

"When it comes to the way of managing the network devices, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager should provide the simplest way that devices can relate to the server. For example, when we want to get the devices on board, we go by SSH to make the SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager create the connectivity with the device. After that, we pull the configuration. It would be helpful if they could combine both so that everything will be done in one step.""The network flow is a problem for this solution.""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.""The solution could improve by being more secure.""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.""The Network Configuration Manager needs to improve the access control list compliance.""Improvements are needed in the automatic network mapping function.""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
  • "Pricing is reasonable, but if you compare it with other network Operation Management tools that are available on the market, it's expensive."
  • More OpenText Network Automation Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "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."
  • "You have a base license for 50 devices, and then you can add more licenses as you go."
  • "There is a license for the use of this solution and it is priced well, there is a lot of value for the money."
  • "I have a yearly subscription."
  • "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."
  • "There is a license needed to use SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager."
  • "The price of the solution is high compared to other solutions."
  • "We have to pay additionally for its support and maintenance."
  • More SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Pricing and Cost Advice →

    report
    Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Automation solutions are best for your needs.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.
    Questions from the Community
    Ask a question

    Earn 20 points

    Top Answer:Its main functionality is highly beneficial as it centralizes the management of configuration items across the network.
    Top Answer:SolarWinds may initially appear cheaper than it is. Additional costs beyond the standard licensing fee are inevitable. Naturally, the greater the number of nodes, the higher the expense. I would rate… more »
    Top Answer:Releasing a product compatible with operating systems other than Windows would be advantageous. Currently, using it on Windows necessitates additional costs, including Windows Server licensing and… more »
    Ranking
    12th
    out of 22 in Network Automation
    Views
    494
    Comparisons
    345
    Reviews
    0
    Average Words per Review
    0
    Rating
    N/A
    3rd
    out of 22 in Network Automation
    Views
    2,075
    Comparisons
    1,674
    Reviews
    11
    Average Words per Review
    686
    Rating
    8.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Micro Focus Network Automation, HPE Network Automation
    SolarWinds NCM
    Learn More
    Overview

    OpenText Network Automation helps IT organizations drive efficiencies by automating time-consuming manual compliance and network configuration tasks for the complete operational lifecycle of network devices from provisioning to policy-based network configuration management, compliance policy enforcement and reporting, and security administration. OpenText Network Automation also helps increase network stability and uptime by preventing inconsistencies and misconfigurations often created by manual processes.  When combined with OpenText Network Node Manager i, it delivers a unique integrated solution that delivers network fault, availability, and performance integrated with change, network configuration, compliance, and automated diagnostics that operates from a shared network topology database.

    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.
    Sample Customers
    Tech Mahindra, Avea, China Merchants Bank, NNIT, Distinctive Software Solutions, Virgin Media, NEC Australia, Osiatis, Hostworks, Retegal, Allianz Shared Infrastructure Services SE (ASIC), State of Kansas Division of Information Services and Communications (DISC)
    United Lincolnshire Hospitals, Air Rarotonga, NetSuite, Thai AirAsia, REA Group, 335th Signal Command, Agilisys, Marine Expeditionary Force
    Top Industries
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm20%
    Government12%
    Computer Software Company11%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company25%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Sports Company13%
    Healthcare Company13%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Government13%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Company Size
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business12%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise74%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business48%
    Midsize Enterprise22%
    Large Enterprise30%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise64%
    Buyer's Guide
    Network Automation
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Red Hat, SolarWinds and others in Network Automation. Updated: March 2024.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    OpenText Network Automation is ranked 12th in Network Automation while SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is ranked 3rd in Network Automation with 21 reviews. OpenText Network Automation is rated 7.2, while SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of OpenText Network Automation writes "Helps the configuration backup be validated before and after any change in the network infrastructure". On the other hand, the top reviewer of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager writes "Network configuration is done well; great pricing". OpenText Network Automation is most compared with Cisco DNA Center, BackBox and NetBrain, whereas SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is most compared with Cisco DNA Center, Cisco Prime, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, OpenText Network Node Manager i and ExtremeCloud IQ.

    See our list of best Network Automation vendors.

    We monitor all Network Automation 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.