ObserverLIVE vs SolarWinds NPM comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Viavi Solutions and SolarWinds are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Viavi Solutions is ranked #104, while SolarWinds is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.3. Viavi Solutions holds a 0.3% mindshare in NMS, compared to SolarWinds’s 3.6% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of SolarWinds users are willing to recommend the solution.

ObserverLIVE

Read 1 ObserverLIVE review

1,168 Views
1,156 Comparison Views

0% willing to recommend

SolarWinds NPM

Read 161 SolarWinds NPM reviews

24,818 Views
19,358 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

ObserverLIVE

SolarWinds NPM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between ObserverLIVE and SolarWinds NPM based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

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

To learn more, read our detailed Network Monitoring Software Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Network Monitoring Software

September 2026

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Helped 913,806 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

ObserverLIVE

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

104th

Average Rating

0.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SolarWinds NPM

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

161

Ranking in other categories

IT Infrastructure Monitoring (5th), Cloud Monitoring Software (7th)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of ObserverLIVE is 0.3%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds NPM is 3.6%, down from 4.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
SolarWinds NPM	3.6%
ObserverLIVE	0.3%
Other	96.1%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

MOHAMEDABDELAZIM

IT manager at Mannai

Seamless packet analysis, deep visibility, and end-to-end network monitoring

We have experience with the VIAVI solutions, specifically the ObserverLIVE platform, which we use for network performance monitoring VIAVI helps by providing deep visibility on packet analysis end-to-end, which assists in identifying issues quickly and efficiently. VIAVI is very strong when it…

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Vivek Jaiswal

Manager IT at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Central monitoring has improved outage alerts and now needs smarter detection and modern dashboards

Regarding the automated network topology and mapping feature in SolarWinds NPM, I am not satisfied with it. For static monitoring, it is acceptable. However, if it is possible, I would need a feature in SolarWinds in the future for some kind of malfunctioning detection, such as malware attacks or that type of environment. We did not have any facility to detect that in SolarWinds. I think it would be better to incorporate those types of features. Regarding customization options in SolarWinds, the ability to customize the dashboard has room for improvement. The dashboard is quite old, and we need some improvement in it. Nowadays, we have multiple tools with AI-based monitoring and web-based dashboards. SolarWinds also has a web-based dashboard, but I think there is scope for improvement in the UI. There may be other areas I would like to improve in SolarWinds NPM.

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

"VIAVI is very strong when it comes to packet analysis, especially with SDN, ACI, and Cx."

"The solution provides comprehensive monitoring that includes proactive items such as advance notifications and engineer tickets for code breaks, allowing engineers to quickly resolve issues before major outages occur."

"We found that it was easy to operate, and it was simple if anyone has entry-level working experience or even if someone is not experienced."

"Everything has been complete and stable for our needs over the past four years."

"Solarwind NPM gives you a quick overview of the OT environment, which greatly improves response times on down equipment."

"If you’re looking to get a lot more insight and visibility into your network devices, servers, applications, and other devices, along with real-time alert notifications, SolarWinds NPM should be towards the top of your list."

"SolarWinds NPM is used to monitor network components and solutions, and we used it to monitor downtime and latency between applications as well as the latency between services."

"The "Performance Analyzer" feature is the solution's most valuable aspect; it's able to do the bounded graphs of all the interface stats, from errors to broadcasts and to current traffic, and with a click of a button you're able to, in one interface, look at historical data for those items."

"The nice thing about SolarWinds is that it's kind of all-in-one. I can manage the status of my networking devices, whether they are up or down, I can see how much traffic is going across an interface, and I can run a report that tells me exactly what that traffic is."

More SolarWinds NPM pros

Cons

"VIAVI needs to include a Simple Network Monitoring Protocol (SNMP) for end-to-end monitoring solutions."

"In terms of scalability, there is room for improvement. When you start monitoring, if you have so many interfaces and you're trying to monitor them at a faster interval, or a shorter interval, you get to a point where you need to request another node."

"Technical support is average. Sometimes it took days to get responses and the responses were via email."

"The solution could be enhanced. It currently lacks integration with SMS services which is something we need."

"It would be nice if SolarWinds could have a polling engine on the site that would collect the reporting and then manage everything itself."

"Perhaps they could hire more tech support for this awesome product."

"Network discovery missed many devices."

"The price of the solution can be improved."

"The initial setup of SolarWinds NPM is complex, and I find it challenging."

More SolarWinds NPM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The standard licensing fees are what we're paying. It's about $20,000 a year for all our licensing."

"The licensing is based on the number of nodes, interfaces, and volumes."

"There are a lot of sub-products and it just continued to increase the price."

"SolarWinds is expensive. That's why it's primarily banks using the solution. Small businesses can't afford it. Due to its pricing, most smaller enterprises like manufacturing companies are not interested. For example, we have a client who is also interested in traffic monitoring, but they are not purchasing SolarWinds because of the cost."

"We pay approximately $700 per year for renewal of the license."

"I think that the cost has risen, but the functionality and versatility is way above other products."

"The price points are more than competitive when compared to other vendors."

"I believe the original setup cost was around $3500 with an annual cost of around $1200-$1500 to renew the support license. This would bring the average day-to-day cost of around $5-$6 over three years."

More SolarWinds NPM pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user174738

IT Developer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

May 31, 2015

Nagios vs. Zabbix vs. PRTG vs. Spiceworks vs. Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor

I have researched a quite a few network monitoring tools which can be used for various monitoring purposes of not only the servers, but the intermediate routers as well. There are majorly three types of these softwares. Ones which are completely open-source, you can do almost anything you want…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Outsourcing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	60
Midsize Enterprise	33
Large Enterprise	87

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ObserverLIVE?

The price is reasonable. I would rate it nine out of ten for cost-effectiveness.

See all answers

What needs improvement with ObserverLIVE?

VIAVI needs to include a Simple Network Monitoring Protocol (SNMP) for end-to-end monitoring solutions. Currently, it lacks the ability to measure the health and status of devices such as switches ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ObserverLIVE?

We have experience with the VIAVI solutions, specifically the ObserverLIVE platform, which we use for network performance monitoring.

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

It actually depends on the exact purpose or kind of devices (network devices, servers, something else). Some tools are better for only network devices while others are better for a cloud monitoring...

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

From my point of view, SolarWind is the best tool.

See all answers

What is the best network monitoring software for large enterprises?

We are partners with SolarWinds and we sell a lot of Network management to large enterprises also because of scalability, products like Network Performance Monitor & Netflow Traffic Analyzer ar...

See all answers

Comparisons

NetMon vs ObserverLIVE

Compared 17% of the time

Cisco Provider Connectivity Assurance vs ObserverLIVE

Compared 14% of the time

Zabbix vs ObserverLIVE

Compared 12% of the time

BhaiFi vs ObserverLIVE

Compared 9% of the time

Opsview vs ObserverLIVE

Compared 8% of the time

More ObserverLIVE Competitors

Nagios XI vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

DX Spectrum vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

ManageEngine OpManager vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

Zabbix vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 3% of the time

PRTG Network Monitor vs SolarWinds NPM

Compared 2% of the time

More SolarWinds NPM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Network Monitoring Software

September 2026

Download ObserverLIVE product report

Buyer's Guide

SolarWinds NPM

August 2026

Download SolarWinds NPM product report

Also Known As

No data available

Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor, SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer

Overview

ObserverLIVE is a technology solution designed to enhance performance monitoring. It is tailored for users seeking advanced analytics and real-time insights to optimize their operations effectively.

ObserverLIVE offers comprehensive functionalities to address complex monitoring needs. It provides users with access to in-depth analytics that deliver actionable insights in real-time, helping organizations improve responsiveness and resource allocation. By utilizing cutting-edge monitoring capabilities, ObserverLIVE empowers teams to make informed decisions, leading to better operational performance and efficiency.

What are the key features of ObserverLIVE?

Real-Time Analytics: Provides immediate insights and data analysis for proactive management.
Customizable Dashboards: Allows users to personalize their view to better focus on critical metrics.
Scalability: Easily adapts to different user requirements, accommodating growth and changing needs.
Data Visualization: Offers vivid graphic presentations of data for easier interpretation and decision-making.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Improved Decision-Making: Facilitates informed choices with accurate, up-to-date information.
Operational Efficiency: Enhances overall processes, potentially reducing costs and improving resource use.
Greater Flexibility: Provides adaptable monitoring to meet specific workload demands.
Enhanced Resource Allocation: Streamlines asset management, supporting optimal deployment.

ObserverLIVE is implemented across various industries, providing tailored solutions that cater specifically to their monitoring needs. In manufacturing, it aids in optimizing production processes, while in healthcare, it ensures streamlined patient data monitoring. In financial services, ObserverLIVE offers rigorous data oversight, essential for compliance and risk management. Its versatile application across these fields demonstrates its adaptability and effectiveness in enhancing operational insights and driving efficiency improvements.

Viavi Solutions

SolarWinds NPM is a network performance monitoring tool offering a user-friendly interface with customizable dashboards. It provides real-time tracking of device health, latency, and bandwidth utilization, supporting diverse integration and scalability needs.

SolarWinds NPM's robust features include real-time monitoring of network performance and efficient tracking of device health, latency, and bandwidth utilization. The tool is appreciated for its ease of deployment, scalability, and support for integration with other tools. Features like SNMP monitoring, NetPath, and comprehensive reporting enhance its diagnostic capabilities and network visibility. However, users identify areas for improvement such as real-time analytics, advanced customization options, and enhanced scalability for larger enterprises. Better customer support, improved integrations, and security measures are also desired.

What are the key features of SolarWinds NPM?

User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies navigation and operation.
Customizable Dashboards: Allows personalized data views.
Real-Time Monitoring: Provides instant updates on network performance.
Strong Alerting Capabilities: Offers immediate notifications for issues.
Scalability: Supports growth with ease.
Integration: Works smoothly with other tools for comprehensive monitoring.
SNMP Monitoring: Tracks device stats effectively.
NetPath: Helps visualize network paths and performance.

What benefits and ROI can users expect?

Improved Network Visibility: Enables proactive issue resolution.
Enhanced Diagnostics: Facilitates quicker troubleshooting.
Real-Time Performance Data: Supports informed decision-making.
Ease of Deployment: Reduces setup time and complexity.
Infrastructure Monitoring: Ensures network stability and reliability.
Custom Integration: Adapts to existing IT environments.

In enterprise environments, SolarWinds NPM is deployed to monitor network health and device status, sending alerts for any issues. It provides visibility into network performance, tracking bandwidth utilization and server metrics efficiently. Its applications span from monitoring routers, switches, and firewalls to supporting infrastructure monitoring across industries.

SolarWinds

Sample Customers

Exmark Manufacturing, Foskor, US Deptartment of Veteran Affairs

Microsoft, Federal Express, Hewlett-Packard, and MasterCard

Buyer's Guide

Network Monitoring Software

September 2026

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