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Cisco DNA Center vs OpenText Network Automation comparison

Cisco and OpenText are both solutions in the Network Automation category. Cisco is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.0, while OpenText is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.0. Cisco holds a 15.0% mindshare in NA, compared to OpenText’s 2.2% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of Cisco users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 80% of OpenText users who would recommend it.
Cisco DNA Center
Read 41 Cisco DNA Center reviews
  • 2,831 Views
  • 1,706 Comparison Views
89% willing to recommend
OpenText Network Automation
Read 5 OpenText Network Automation reviews
  • 334 Views
  • 228 Comparison Views
80% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 6, 2025

OpenText Network Automation and Cisco DNA Center are competing products in network management. Cisco DNA Center seems to have an upper hand due to its comprehensive features that appeal to complex network environments, whereas OpenText offers more competitive pricing.

Features: OpenText Network Automation provides efficient network management with robust automation capabilities, excelling in compliance management and integration with IT management solutions. Cisco DNA Center offers advanced features like AI-driven analytics, policy-based automation, and enhanced security controls, catering to complex network environments.

Room for Improvement: OpenText Network Automation could enhance its AI analytics and broaden its security control offerings. Expanding its integration capabilities with diverse hardware might increase its appeal. Cisco DNA Center might work on reducing setup complexity and improving non-Cisco hardware compatibility. Simplifying its pricing structure could also be beneficial for broader market penetration.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: OpenText Network Automation offers a straightforward deployment process with both on-premises and cloud-based options, backed by responsive support. Cisco DNA Center integrates efficiently into Cisco network infrastructures, offering streamlined installation with extensive support documentation and proactive services, especially in Cisco-centric environments.

Pricing and ROI: OpenText Network Automation is often commended for its cost-effectiveness, providing a good ROI with a lower setup cost. Cisco DNA Center, despite its higher initial cost, offers an extensive feature set justifying its price in complex deployments. The decision often depends on whether an organization values enhanced functionality enough to justify a higher expenditure.

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Buyer's Guide
Cisco DNA Center vs. OpenText Network Automation
January 2025
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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

Cisco DNA Center
Ranking in Network Automation
2nd
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.3
Number of Reviews
41
Ranking in other categories
Network Management Applications (1st), Network Monitoring Software (15th)
OpenText Network Automation
Ranking in Network Automation
7th
Average Rating
7.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
5
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Network Automation category, the mindshare of Cisco DNA Center is 15.0%, down from 19.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of OpenText Network Automation is 2.2%, down from 2.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Network Automation
 

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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reviewer1480065 - PeerSpot reviewer
Allows to upload necessary firmware to your device and perform the upgrade
With OpenText Network Automation, firmware can be uploaded for specific devices. If you need to upgrade a device, you can use this tool, though it may not apply to all devices. The software allows you to upload the necessary firmware to your device and perform the upgrade. Additionally, it enables you to check multiple devices for specific configurations and automates the search process and the configuration of multiple devices.
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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable features of the solution are all of its security features...It is a highly scalable solution."
"What I found valuable in Cisco DNA Center is the Software-Defined Access Network, so the entire LAN network can be centralized and managed from a single dashboard. Cisco DNA Center is suitable for centralized management and lets you deploy switches in a centralized fashion. You can also do multiple switch port configurations simultaneously and segregate your traffic into multiple fabrics. Another valuable feature of Cisco DNA Center is enhanced security through Scalable Group Tags. Cisco DNA Center can be integrated with your Cisco ISE to enhance the port securities, and this paves the way for Software-Defined Networking in the LAN segment, which is the main advantage of Cisco DNA Center. I also like that you can use Cisco DNA Center for data assurance or correlation. The solution shows your network and client health parameters, which I find convenient for troubleshooting."
"The most valuable features of Cisco DNA Center are wireless assurance and visibility."
"The solution has the capability to scale."
"The monitoring is very valuable to me."
"Cisco is a leading network company."
"I think that their LAN automation is a very good feature."
"It does a lot of things automatically, and that's the big thing with it. They're making the software so that you don't need to be as knowledgeable as me on the switching and routing side to get your work done. If you want, you can have DNA troubleshoot your problem for you and give you solutions or fix it itself, if it was something that's just a configuration issue."
More Cisco DNA Center pros
"With OpenText Network Automation, firmware can be uploaded for specific devices. If you need to upgrade a device, you can use this tool, though it may not apply to all devices."
"When compared with SolarWinds, it is more user-friendly, and tasks can be completed more quickly."
"Pushing the network configuration to bulk devices. This saves a considerable amount of time that the engineer spends in pushing the network configuration."
 

Cons

"We encountered issues with their response times, which had a big impact on our workflow."
"What could be improved is the licensing cost of Cisco DNA Center. It's a little bit expensive."
"The features of Cisco DNA Center and Cisco Prime could have more parity."
"DNA Center has been on the market for a few years and they need to update it."
"An area for improvement in Cisco DNA Center is the latency in data correlation. For example, sometimes, when an issue happens, and I check the logs, I can't find the corresponding log. There's a delay in log replication, so this is what needs improvement in Cisco DNA Center. Reporting in Cisco DNA Center could also be improved because it only has a few templates, and you can't customize it based on your requirements. There aren't many options available in Cisco DNA Center regarding reporting, versus Cisco Prime, which has excellent features for different levels of detailed reports. I'd like to see real-time data replication in the next release of Cisco DNA Center, similar to what's done in Meraki. Data in Meraki is real-time with no delay, so data is immediately replicated in the cloud. Currently, there's a lag in Cisco DNA Center, and addressing that lag is the enhancement I'd like to see in Cisco DNA Center. The solution also needs to be more user-friendly."
"When it comes to deploying wireless fields, integrating defaults into the DNS interface can be challenging."
"The solution's integration feature can be better."
"The cost is very high."
More Cisco DNA Center cons
"The tool performs slowly."
"Level one administration task can be defined in Micro Focus Network Automation but it could be more simplified."
"Compatibility of the devices needs to be enhanced, as it seems to be limited."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the solution is expensive. The hardware is licensed on the device, but the hardware on the server is expensive."
"The solution is expensive."
"Our licensing agreement is for three years."
"Licensing for Cisco DNA Center is a little bit expensive, just like any Cisco solution. Its cost could still be improved."
"Cisco DNA Center is expensive."
"I would rate the pricing a six out of ten, with ten being expensive."
"Cisco DNA Center is too expensive."
"The tool's licensing may not come across as something that may be friendly for users."
More Cisco DNA Center pricing and cost advice
"Pricing is reasonable, but if you compare it with other network Operation Management tools that are available on the market, it's expensive."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
19%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
6%
Computer Software Company
16%
Government
16%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Healthcare Company
9%
 

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.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco DNA Center?
The cost is very high.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Cisco DNA Center?
The system is working fine for me currently.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Micro Focus Network Automation?
The tool performs slowly.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Micro Focus Network Automation?
There is a team responsible for network automation to check devices for compliance. I connect to the device, make the necessary configurations, and inform the team that certain rules must be remove...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering Micro Focus Network Automation?
When managing a large number of devices, network automation simplifies the process of locating specific configurations. For example, if you need to find a particular configuration, network automati...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Juniper Mist Wired Assurance vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 8% of the time
Meraki Dashboard vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Meraki Dashboard vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 7% of the time
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 7% of the time
Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Cisco Catalyst Center vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 7% of the time
Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center Logo
Fortinet FortiManager vs Cisco DNA Center
Compared 6% of the time
More Cisco DNA Center Competitors
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs OpenText Network Automation Logo
SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager vs OpenText Network Automation
Compared 59% of the time
More OpenText Network Automation Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Cisco DNA Center
February 2025
Cisco DNA Center reportDownload Cisco DNA Center product report
Buyer's Guide
Network Automation
February 2025
OpenText Network Automation reportDownload OpenText Network Automation product report
 

Also Known As

DNA Center
Micro Focus Network Automation, HPE Network Automation
 

Overview

Cisco DNA Center offers a comprehensive platform for network automation and management, providing detailed analytics, enhanced security, and streamlined operations for both wired and wireless networks.

Cisco DNA Center integrates with Cisco infrastructure to deliver efficient network automation and management, helping organizations improve network visibility, security, and control. It supports AI-driven analytics and automated workflows to enhance operational efficiency and reduce errors. Challenges include compatibility with third-party systems, steep learning curve, and complex deployment. Its interface facilitates centralized control, vital for troubleshooting, policy management, and configuration management, with support for zero-touch provisioning and SD-Access.

What are the key features of Cisco DNA Center?
  • Robust Analytics: Provides detailed insights into network health with AI-driven analytics.
  • Centralized Security: Integrates with ISE for comprehensive security management.
  • Automated Device Management: Simplifies device provisioning and configuration transfers.
  • Wi-Fi Analytics: Offers deep insights into wireless network performance.
  • Zero-Touch Provisioning: Streamlines new device deployments with minimal human intervention.
  • Scalable Segmentation: Efficiently segments network traffic ensuring security and performance.
What benefits should users consider?
  • Operational Efficiency: Automation reduces potential errors and streamlines workflow.
  • Enhanced Security: Integration with Cisco ISE bolsters security capabilities.
  • Network Visibility: Comprehensive dashboards and analysis tools enhance monitoring.
  • Troubleshooting: Real-time monitoring aids in identifying and resolving issues swiftly.

In sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, Cisco DNA Center is utilized for its ability to enhance security and compliance, manage large-scale networks, and provide detailed analytics for better operational decision-making. Its support for location tracking and policy automation ensures efficient network management across diverse environments.

Cisco

OpenText Network Automation helps IT organizations drive efficiencies by automating time-consuming manual compliance and network configuration tasks for the complete operational lifecycle of network devices from provisioning to policy-based network configuration management, compliance policy enforcement and reporting, and security administration. OpenText Network Automation also helps increase network stability and uptime by preventing inconsistencies and misconfigurations often created by manual processes.  When combined with OpenText Network Node Manager i, it delivers a unique integrated solution that delivers network fault, availability, and performance integrated with change, network configuration, compliance, and automated diagnostics that operates from a shared network topology database.

OpenText
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Tech Mahindra, Avea, China Merchants Bank, NNIT, Distinctive Software Solutions, Virgin Media, NEC Australia, Osiatis, Hostworks, Retegal, Allianz Shared Infrastructure Services SE (ASIC), State of Kansas Division of Information Services and Communications (DISC)
Buyer's Guide
Cisco DNA Center vs. OpenText Network Automation
January 2025
Free Report: Cisco DNA Center vs. OpenText Network Automation
Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco DNA Center vs. OpenText Network Automation and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
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