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Colasoft Capsa vs. LinkRunner AT Network AutoTester

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Colasoft Capsa

    Score9 out of 10
    N/AColasoft Capsa is a network performance monitoring and protocol analyzing tool. Capsa provides core monitoring features, as well as automated diagnostics and packet decoding. Colasoft offers a limited free version of the software.N/A

    LinkRunner AT Network AutoTester

    Score10 out of 10
    N/AThe LinkRunner AT Network AutoTester offers user-configured AutoTests for a wide range of tasks. This network tester’s cable test and switch identification facilitate problem isolation. The device is supported by netAlly after NETSCOUT divested its handheld troubleshooting devices in 2018. The LinkRunner device replaces the former and now obsolete OneTouch AT network troubleshooting technology acquired from Seattle-based Fluke Networks by NETSCOUT in 2015.N/A
    Pricing
    Colasoft CapsaLinkRunner AT Network AutoTester
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
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    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Colasoft CapsaLinkRunner AT Network AutoTester
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Best Alternatives
    Colasoft CapsaLinkRunner AT Network AutoTester
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Medium-sized Companies
    Cisco Catalyst Assurance
    Score8.1 out of 10
    Cisco Catalyst Assurance
    Score8.1 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Cisco Catalyst Assurance
    Score8.1 out of 10
    Cisco Catalyst Assurance
    Score8.1 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    Colasoft CapsaLinkRunner AT Network AutoTester
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Colasoft CapsaLinkRunner AT Network AutoTester
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Colasoft
    Capsa is highly recommended to be used in small dense areas of a network where it makes sense to be able to run analytics off of a mirror port to gain insight into traffic trends. It is a costly product to install in branch locations, and requires a decent spec hardware to run appropriately
    Incentivized
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    NetAlly
    The tool was recently used to help identify a hardware issue. We were having connectivity problems which was identified with the LinkRunner that has the SFP to test fiber connections. We were able to show the vendor on sight that the link was good and that it was the vendor equipment that had the issue This resulted in them replacing the physical equipment to bring services back online.
    Read full review
    Pros
    Colasoft
    • Robust Application. Able to handle traffic that most businesses will throw at it.
    • Easy to use. Easy to setup captures and filter down to specific traffic types.
    • Relatively cheap for what it's able to accomplish.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    NetAlly
    • Identify the exact switchport a given line is plugged in to.
    • View the length and viability of any category or fiber optic cable.
    • It acts as a premade packet capture device, simple enough to walk someone through deploying while I'm offsite.
    • In the event LLDP based identification of a port fails, it has the ability to blink a switchport allowing for manual identification.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Colasoft
    • Needs options to scale to 10Gb/s networks. The cutoff for performance looks to be around 3Gb/sl
    • Needs API access to trigger capturesl
    • Needs Agents for remote capturesl
    Incentivized
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    NetAlly
    • It could be updated for Mgig or 10Gb.
    • Some devices should have SFP+ modules capabilities
    • Could be combined with other tools
    Read full review
    Usability
    Colasoft
    No answers on this topic
    NetAlly
    The network tester is one of the easest devices I have ever used. It does have capabilities that other testers simply don't have. Being able to identify the switch port it is plugged into, the address of the switch, the switch name, along with the VLAN has helped on so many occasions
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    Alternatives Considered
    Colasoft
    Colasoft performs more like the traditional wireshark as opposed to other solutions that tend to focus on graphs instead of giving you the raw data. I personally prefer the raw data, and then the ability to build graphs upon this (which Capsa can do). This allows for quicker analysis and makes it easier to relate to.
    Incentivized
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    NetAlly
    There is little to no competition in this field. If you need to do any type of advanced network monitoring/identification (or use 10G) then you're going to own a Fluke. While Ideal does have a couple of devices that appear to be the closest competitor, the differences are still extremely evident.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Colasoft
    • While the product doesn't detect malware, it has helped track down malware infected machines by using data from other applications to run filters to look for known traffic destinations for that malware. For me this is a huge ROI since malware can be the great unknown.
    • Relatively cheap compared to the feature set.
    Incentivized
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    NetAlly
    • Drastic decrease in diagnosis time.
    • The certainty coming from the diagnostic process with the Fluke leads to less guessing and quicker fixes.
    • With multiple departments involved in the process of connecting devices to the network, the Fluke helps us to quickly certify a switch closet worth of cable and create error free documentation.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots