SolarWinds NPM Reviews

Name: SolarWinds NPM
Brand: SolarWinds
Rating: 4 (154 reviews)

Vendor: SolarWinds

4.1 out of 5

154 reviews
92% willing to recommend

4,763 followers

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What is SolarWinds NPM?

SolarWinds NPM is a network monitoring solution that enables you to detect, diagnose, and resolve network performance issues and outages quickly and efficiently. The solution is a powerful tool that can help you increase service levels, reduce downtime with multi vendor network monitoring, simplify the management of complex network devices, improve operational efficiency, and much more.

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SolarWinds NPM is the #4 ranked solution in best Network Monitoring Tools, #4 ranked solution in Infrastructure Monitoring tools, and #6 ranked solution in top Cloud Monitoring Software. PeerSpot users give SolarWinds NPM an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Based on the analysis of the 154 most recent SolarWinds NPM reviews, the overall sentiment is positive, with a sentiment score of 6.3. (Among the highest in the category). SolarWinds NPM is most commonly compared to Splunk Enterprise Security: SolarWinds NPM vs Splunk Enterprise Security. SolarWinds NPM is popular among the midsize enterprise segment, accounting for 60% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 55% of all views.

Helped 813,161 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

MohitKumar

Senior Specialist at HCL Technologies

Our company uses the solution to monitor NPM for 100 large accounts that typically have 40,000 interfaces. Basic monitoring includes CPU memory, errors, and interfaces. Advanced monitoring includes F5 load balancers, in-depth tunnels, and AP alarms. We also monitor CM for backup parts and…

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Raja Xabi

Technical Manager at PTCL.Official

The deployment process has evolved significantly compared to previous versions. In the past, It was complex when deploying one or two times. However, the deployment was quite straightforward with the recent version and the support of our local vendor's technical resources. A major challenge was creating a customized map, which was a requirement for us to have a dynamic representation of our sites spread geographically across the country. The technical resources from the local vendor did not initially have sufficient experience with this feature. Consequently, it took some time for him to learn it by consulting the documentation and senior resources. Eventually, he was able to implement it successfully. The deployment and the integrations were completed within two to three days.

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Alan Arnold

Enterprise Operations Manager at University of Alabama at Birmingham

We were looking at using DPA (Database Performance Analyzer) which is another component of the NPM and that looks like it takes care of an area we had not really dove into yet. But in talking to the DBA, they like another product that they want to use for the database monitoring. It is an Oracle product called OEM (Oracle Enterprise Manager). In talking to the DBA's, there was a lot of functionality that they were just used to and they had issues because they did not see some things that they thought were important but missing in the DPA product. That is the only thing I have run into so far with the product that seems to be a shortfall. Everything else is pretty good. I do not really have other suggestions for additional features beyond working on the development of DPA to make it a more complete tool. We are still learning the product. There may be some things that they could improve in the reporting aspect of the product. You can create custom reports and those types of things. But the product seems to be missing some depth in that area and it leaves a little bit to be desired. For example, the filtering system and formatting reports and things like that seem to have room for improvement. You are a little limited on the information available on that front and the utility could be improved. They do have some templates that you can use for report setup. It would be nice if you could maybe make your own. That might make it a little bit more easy to generate other reports that follow the way you like to do things.

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SolarWinds NPM mindshare

Product category:

As of October 2024, the mindshare of SolarWinds NPM in the Network Monitoring Software category stands at 5.3%, down from 6.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Oct 17, 2024

Valuable Features

SolarWinds NPM is valued for ease of use, deployment, and customization. It supports SNMP monitoring, integrates across modules like SAM and NTA, and offers real-time data. Alerts and reports are highly configurable. It features a user-friendly interface with a visual representation through charts and graphs. The powerful alerting system and modular pricing enhance scalability and adaptability, supporting multiple devices and ensuring proactive network management and efficient troubleshooting.

"The abnormal traffic notifications are good. Most of them are remote, and it is very good for notifications and monitoring for the traffic."
"The most valuable feature is the user-friendly interface and the ease of deployment."
"For end-user performance monitoring, we like features such as availability of our all devices."

Room for Improvement

SolarWinds NPM requires improvements in network discovery and mapping accuracy, user interface design, and alert customization. The system places high demands on resources and lacks real-time analytics and seamless integration with other tools. There is limited customization and scalability, and the installation and upgrade processes can be cumbersome. Pricing and modular licensing are also concerns. Support response times are slow, and there is a need for more robust reporting and dashboard customization. Security and false alerts are additional issues.

"The price could be better."
"SolarWinds NPM should be more flexible to accommodate specific customer requirements quickly."
"They don't have a local support team."

ROI

SolarWinds NPM provides excellent ROI by optimizing infrastructure spending and reducing downtime costs. Users experience significant cost savings in support, enjoy proactive monitoring, and appreciate its historical and real-time data features. SolarWinds NPM often pays for itself quickly, enhancing performance, cost efficiency, and user satisfaction while avoiding unnecessary investments. The ROI is highlighted by effective monitoring and accurate alerts, enabling users to maintain network health and optimize resources efficiently.

Pricing

SolarWinds NPM pricing varies greatly depending on organizational size and needs. Enterprises can expect significant costs, with some reporting annual expenses up to $200,000 for extensive setups. The licensing model is based on elements like nodes and interfaces, and extra modules can add costs. While some find it expensive, others see it as competitive or reasonable compared to alternatives. Buyers can negotiate terms and benefit from bundled technical support in the first year.

"The pricing is in the middle. It's not particularly cost-effective, but it's not overly expensive either."
"The solution's pricing is low compared to a lot of other tools in the market."
"Most of the licenses are perpetual, and the annual maintenance charges are not high."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use SolarWinds NPM for network monitoring, tracking uptime, availability, and performance of switches, routers, and other network devices. They monitor server statuses, application performance, and gather data for analysis, troubleshooting, and alerting on issues. Some integrate SolarWinds NPM with other tools for comprehensive infrastructure oversight, including WAN and LAN connections, database monitoring, and security equipment management. They often utilize it for bandwidth utilization insights and maintaining consistent network health.

Service and Support

SolarWinds NPM receives mixed feedback, with strengths in knowledgeable and friendly technical support but room for improvement in response times. Users praise the active online community, Thwack, for additional support. Some find customer service pushy during the sales process and emphasize the need for enhanced customization support. Despite occasional delays, their technical expertise is often commended, although some prefer faster, more personalized assistance. SolarWinds should consider expanding local support teams to address these concerns.

Deployment

SolarWinds NPM initial setup is generally straightforward, guided by a user-friendly wizard. Installation often requires basic knowledge of Windows and SQL Servers, with ease noted in small to medium environments. Complexity arises primarily in large-scale deployments or when customizing. Though many find setup seamless, especially with support or step-by-step guides, difficulties can manifest without sufficient technical experience. Multiple users highlight the simple nature of initial configuration, emphasizing rapid deployment and ease of use.

Scalability

Multiple users find SolarWinds NPM highly scalable, with flexible deployment options. It accommodates growing infrastructures by adding pollers and expanding existing setups. However, some users note challenges with virtual environments and increased costs for additional resources. While many experience seamless scalability, effective scaling often requires specific technical expertise due to its complex setup. Generally, organizations maintain satisfaction with its scalability capabilities across varied environments.

Stability

Users find SolarWinds NPM generally stable. Some experience issues post-upgrade, but these are often linked to inadequate server resources, not inherent flaws. Support is responsive, and recent versions show significant improvements. Proper planning and adherence to prerequisites minimize concerns, though enterprise clients may notice problems due to scale. Some reports highlight SQL-related stability challenges, but these have lessened over time. Many praise its robustness, especially when used correctly and within specified guidelines.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our SolarWinds NPM Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

55%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

University

Energy/Utilities Company

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Media Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Insurance Company

Non Profit

Transportation Company

Legal Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Outsourcing Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Hospitality Company

Performing Arts

Compare SolarWinds NPM with alternative products

Learn more about SolarWinds NPM

SolarWinds NPM Features

SolarWinds NPM has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

Increased scalability
Fault, performance, and availability monitoring
Dynamic network discovery and mapping
Cross-stack network data correlation
Customizable topology
Dependency-aware intelligent alerts
Intelligent maps
Automated capacity forecasting, alerting, and reporting
Logical and physical network monitoring
Monitor Azure vNet gateway visibility

SolarWinds NPM Benefits

There are several benefits to implementing SolarWinds NPM. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

Comprehensive monitoring for advanced network devices: With SolarWinds NPM, you can gain insight into the health and performance of your load balancers, Cisco ASA and Palo Alto Networks, firewalls, and Cisco Nexus switches.

Hardware health monitoring: SolarWinds NPM makes it easy for you to monitor, alert, and report on key device metrics, including power supply, fan speed, and temperature.

Customizable performance and availability reports: With this feature, you can choose from more than 100 templates to schedule and also generate custom network performance reports.

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by PeerSpot users currently using the SolarWinds NPM solution.

PeerSpot user Andrew N., Senior Network Engineer at Element Critical, says, “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. With a click of a button you're able to, in one interface, look at historical data for those items.” He also adds, “From the troubleshooting point of view, just having that peace of mind is great. And, The solution is extremely stable. We haven't had any issues in that regard. We haven't had issues with bugs, glitches, or crashes."

Daniel S., Systems and Data Warehouse Supervisor at MMSD, mentions, “The alerting and usage tracking is a valuable feature because it alerts us when we're getting near capacity on disk space, network utilization or processor utilization. It helps us manage our capacity and enables us to be proactive.”

A Senior Vice President and CIO at a financial services firm explains, “As we look to add more servers to our virtual environment and to understand the impact, the solution allows us to dig into the historical charts related to capacity planning. It also gives us visibility of spikes and allows us to track down the reasons for their occurrences. So too, it makes room for potential processes that have gotten hung or runaway and to know when it's time to reboot a server or service.”

Dinesh N., Digital Innovation at Bobcat Company, states, “The best part of the solution is the sharing display. It gives a general public ID wherein everyone can link to a public display. That's a good feature.”

Fazal A., Implementation & Support Specialist at 360Factors, comments, “We have configured multiple alerts for our network devices, including routers and switches, so that we are notified if any interface goes down. In the event an interface goes down, we have multiple reports that include availability monitoring, network uptime monitoring, and network downtime monitoring. These reports are on multiple schedules such as the end of the day, end of the last business day of the week, monthly, and quarterly. This gives us the ability to provide reports to our management and let them know the performance of our network.”

SolarWinds NPM was previously known as Solarwinds Network Performance Monitor, SolarWinds Network Bandwidth Analyzer.