N-able N-central vs SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary
 

Categories and Ranking

N-able N-central
Average Rating
9.0
Number of Reviews
5
Ranking in other categories
Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) (7th)
SolarWinds Network Configur...
Average Rating
8.2
Number of Reviews
23
Ranking in other categories
Configuration Management (10th), Network Automation (3rd)
 

Featured Reviews

Dimitri V G - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 9, 2023
User-friendly graphical user interface and offers versatile functionality
We use it for many purposes. Because it also has some backup solutions and some antivirus solutions. The monitoring is well; for managed services providers, we use it. We also use it for our asset management and for our service desk tickets. But our primary use case is for monitoring.  N-able…
SP
Jan 29, 2024
Provides comprehensive network monitoring and management capabilities, offering features such as real-time fault detection, detailed device mapping, and seamless integration with DHCP servers
Improvements are needed in the automatic network mapping function. Currently, the default setting generates care maps by end, which is not ideal. Additionally, navigating between maps can be cumbersome. You have to right-click, then click on the three dots, and finally select the desired map. A shortcut should be implemented where double-clicking on a map instantly takes you to it, eliminating the need for the right-click step. One aspect I find lacking in SolarWinds compared to the previous tool is the ability to view the history of an object, including its static up and down status, simply by clicking on it. In SolarWinds, accessing this information entails browsing the database within a specified timeframe, which is less user-friendly, particularly for reporting purposes. The concept is to have the device icon represent its current status. Upon double-clicking on the icon, I immediately see how long it has been in its current state. For instance, if it's showing an error, it would indicate the duration, such as "Error for twenty-five minutes." This instant visibility would be beneficial when troubleshooting or assessing device statuses.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The solution's service is good."
"It's a very robust product. They're continuing to invest and put new enhancements into the product. They're very open about what their roadmap is, which is very good for us because then as a business, we can plan."
"I like the remote connectivity, reporting suite, and patch management module."
"The most valuable feature of N-able N-central is the many options it has."
"The support is at a good level. So normally, we can always get to a solution when we are stuck with some monitoring problems that we encounter."
"The features we find most valuable is the configuration backup automation, the configuration compliance, the security vulnerability detection and upgrading devices."
"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 feature that I really enjoy is the ability to script changes across all of your devices."
"The scanning features have proven to be highly valuable, particularly due to the comprehensive information they provide."
"Its main functionality is highly beneficial as it centralizes the management of configuration items across the network."
"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."
"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 allows us to manage backups in big companies. It is also useful in managing the configuration changes."
 

Cons

"N-able N-central could improve the remote access, my technicians have complained about it. They have used other free tools instead to compensate, such as TeamViewer. Additionally, when using remote access on the web, it is lacking reports."
"The support from our direct team is very good, but the support from their day-to-day ongoing help desk isn't that good. They have still got some work to do on that, but they have been focusing on that a lot over the last number of years. So, it has gotten a lot better than it was."
"The solution's overall integration should be improved."
"There is room for improvement in the development of custom monitoring services."
"The integration with other applications could be better."
"The Network Configuration Manager needs to improve the access control list compliance."
"The third-party plugins available in the solution could improve. I have received some issues with the templates."
"There are certain limitations of node-related monitoring"
"Its customer service response could be faster."
"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 logs could be improved. When the error logs come across with those false positive alarms in the error logs."
"When we run the SolarWinds NCM jobs at the cellular line, it runs in the morning. They're just not finishing. We're getting false processing."
"The solution could have better integration."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"N-able N-central is not an expensive solution."
"There is a license needed to use SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager."
"I have a yearly subscription."
"We have to pay additionally for its support and maintenance."
"You have a base license for 50 devices, and then you can add more licenses as you go."
"The price of the solution is high compared to other solutions."
"Additional costs beyond the standard licensing fee are inevitable."
"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."
"Pricing is reasonable and competitive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
24%
Construction Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Comms Service Provider
5%
Government
12%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with N-able N-central?
The solution's overall integration should be improved.
What is your primary use case for N-able N-central?
We are an MSP, and N-able N-central is the main tool we use.
What do you like most about SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
The configuration compliance aspect of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager allows for easy comparison of configuration settings across branches, ensuring adherence to security guidelines and b...
What needs improvement with SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager?
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...
 

Also Known As

SolarWinds N-central, SolarWinds MSP N-central
SolarWinds NCM
 

Learn More

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Premier Technology Solutions
United Lincolnshire Hospitals, Air Rarotonga, NetSuite, Thai AirAsia, REA Group, 335th Signal Command, Agilisys, Marine Expeditionary Force
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