What is our primary use case?
We integrate VMware for our customers. Our customer requested Log Insight, and we tested it. Log Insight is for logging the system to provide more information aside from alerts and anything related to the testing environment. It makes the environment more manageable through a single pane of glass.
How has it helped my organization?
Improved manageability is the main benefit.
What is most valuable?
It gives the customer a quick overview, so they don't have to dig. There's a clear dashboard with many sensors in a single space. He gets a helicopter view of his environment, but he can investigate further if there are serious issues. It's pretty user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see more tutorials or at least an introduction video from the supplier, so you can become proficient and get the most out of the solution. You might not get the full benefit from a logging or reporting solution because you might not have a particular tool enabled. You could leave something out of your analysis because you aren't aware of it or you don't know how to set it up.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've worked with Log Insight for a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
LogInsight is stable, but sometimes it's somewhat sluggish because it has to gather the information. It should be no problem if you deploy it on the right platform and have all the requirements in place.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
LogInsight is scalable. You can update it, and it's straightforward.
How are customer service and support?
VMware technical support is excellent.
How was the initial setup?
LogInsight is user-friendly and straightforward. I rate it 8.5 out of 10 for ease of setup. After deployment, maintenance isn't a challenge so long as you keep it updated. You may need to update the software to stay in line with the upgrade roadmap, but the rest is fine.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
LogInsight's licensing model is a bit complex. Runecast's licensing is more straightforward. On the other hand, licenses for just about anything is expensive, but ultimately it comes down to a return on investment. LogInsight's price is worth it in the long run. A proactive approach in the world saves you a lot of money by preventing catastrophes.
Still, the license cost is a pain point for the customers. From a sales perspective, our challenge is to persuade the customer to see it as a long-term investment.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We also tried Runecast because we wanted more features to present to our customers. Log Insight is more about reports, while Runecast gave us additional reporting capabilities.
This was for testing purposes only. We offer VMware, so we're always looking for the latest tools, and we test them for about four months. I have no preference for LogInsight over Runecast. It depends on what you want from the intelligence you're gathering from your system. The more intelligence you have, the easier it is to be proactive about your decision-making.
Each solution has what the other one lacks. Runecast is better for some situations, but LogInsight might suit you better in others. It depends on what you need, but both are good. They are not interchangeable. LogInsight is a bit more costly.
What other advice do I have?
I rate LogInsight seven out of 10. I give it a seven because it isn't easy to scale, and the cost is too high, but it's a good product overall.
Customers should have a test environment to keep abreast with the latest software available in the industry. They can evaluate it and check themselves as well. Partners like us can help them make the right decision, but it's useful for customers to have their own test environment.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner