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Cisco DNA Center vs Dell Networking SmartFabric Director comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
Cisco DNA Center excels in scalability for medium to large enterprises but may struggle with costs and IP version 6 support.
No sentiment score available
 

Valuable Features

Sentiment score
8.1
Cisco DNA Center streamlines network management with centralized control, automation, and analytics, improving security and performance with scalability.
No sentiment score available
 

Room For Improvement

Sentiment score
5.0
Cisco DNA Center needs improved integration, cost efficiency, user control, security, and enhanced interface with third-party compatibility.
No sentiment score available
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
Cisco DNA Center is reliable and robust with occasional errors, requiring updates or rebooting, but overall stable.
No sentiment score available
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
8.5
Cisco's DNA Center support is praised for responsiveness but criticized for delayed resolutions and inconsistent service quality.
No sentiment score available
 

Setup Cost

Sentiment score
2.6
Cisco DNA Center's high costs, influenced by licensing, challenge smaller organizations despite enterprise value, prompting alternatives consideration.
No sentiment score available
 

Categories and Ranking

Cisco DNA Center
Ranking in Network Management Applications
1st
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
40
Ranking in other categories
Network Monitoring Software (19th), Network Automation (2nd)
Dell Networking SmartFabric...
Ranking in Network Management Applications
24th
Average Rating
0.0
Number of Reviews
0
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Network Management Applications category, the mindshare of Cisco DNA Center is 29.8%, up from 27.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Dell Networking SmartFabric Director is 0.4%, down from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Network Management Applications
 

Featured Reviews

AvrahamSonenthal - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficiently manages our wireless network and provides valuable monitoring features
The platform's biggest benefit has been in managing our wireless network. Having a single pane of glass to control all wireless controllers and access points and to monitor activity has been a significant advantage. We're a small federal agency with around 300 network devices, so automation is a minor focus. It's more relevant for larger networks. The main benefits we've seen are in inventory management and the potential for configuration automation. However, I recommend using the DNA Centre only for larger networks with over a thousand devices; otherwise, it may not be cost-effective. Before proceeding, ensure that your devices are compatible with DNA Center, as not all Cisco devices are supported. Also, investing in proper training is different from plug-and-play. I rate it an eight.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Healthcare Company
6%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cisco DNA Center?
The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it gives some kind of ease in operations, especially since our company is moving from CLI to GUI-based configuration.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?
I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with ten being expensive.
What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?
One area that needs improvement is the upgrade process. The time required for downloading and installing packages during upgrades is too long, often taking around ten hours. This is a significant i...
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Also Known As

DNA Center
Dell EMC SmartFabric Director, SmartFabric Director
 

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Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, HPE Aruba Networking, Fortinet and others in Network Management Applications. Updated: October 2024.
816,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.