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SolarWinds NPM

SolarWinds NPM

Overview

What is SolarWinds NPM?

SolarWinds NPM is a monitoring and performance management platform. It provides performance troubleshooting support, auto network discovery, customizable thresholds, and can be rapidly deployed.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Users have found this product to be extremely versatile and useful in a variety of situations. One key use case is for professional …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Popular Features

View all 10 features
  • Alerts (228)
    8.8
    88%
  • Hardware health monitoring (215)
    8.7
    87%
  • Network monitoring (231)
    8.7
    87%
  • Customizable reports (212)
    7.9
    79%

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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NPM

$1,638

On Premise
per year

Entry-level set up fee?

  • Setup fee optional
For the latest information on pricing, visithttp://www.solarwinds.com/products/pric…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Demos

Why I Recommend SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM)

YouTube
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Features

Network Performance Monitoring

A network performance monitoring system monitors the entire network for performance problems and collects performance data such as network traffic analysis performance bottlenecks, etc.

7.9
Avg 8.2
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Product Details

What is SolarWinds NPM?

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) delivers comprehensive network fault monitoring and performance management that scales and expands with a company's network monitoring needs. Users can collect and view availability, real-time and historical statistics from routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and any other SNMP-, ICMP-, or WMI-enabled devices directly from a web browser.

The vendor states that SolarWinds users can get a full NPM installation up and running the same day they download, and that implementation does not require a team of consultants. NPM provides visibility into the health of network devices and servers on the network, ensuring that users have needed real-time information to keep their network running at peak performance.

Network Performance Monitor helps IT Pros:

  • Detect, diagnose, and resolve network performance issues and avoid downtime
  • Respond to multiple condition checks, correlated events, and device dependencies
  • Automatically calculate capacity exhaustion dates using customizable thresholds based on peak and average usage
  • Streamline network troubleshooting with a Web interface
  • View paths to critical business services hop-by-hop, even into the cloud, with the NetPath™ feature
  • Get deeper visibility into complex network devices with Network Insight™ features for Cisco ASA firewalls, Cisco Nexus switches, and F5 BIG-IP load balancers

SolarWinds NPM Features

Network Performance Monitoring Features

  • Supported: Automated network device discovery
  • Supported: Network monitoring
  • Supported: Baseline threshold calculation
  • Supported: Alerts
  • Supported: Network capacity planning
  • Supported: Packet capture analysis
  • Supported: Network mapping
  • Supported: Customizable reports
  • Supported: Wireless infrastructure monitoring
  • Supported: Hardware health monitoring

Additional Features

  • Supported: Seamless conversion upgrade to AIOps-powered Hybrid Cloud Observability
  • Supported: Multi-vendor device support for any router, switch, firewall, VPN concentrator, wireless access point and other devices that support standard protocols
  • Supported: Intelligent alerts for correlated events, sustained conditions, and complex combinations of device states
  • Supported: Insight on hardware health by monitoring, alerting, and reporting on the state of key device sensors
  • Supported: NetPath for hop-by-hop monitoring of critical business services, on-premises or into the cloud
  • Supported: Network Insight for Cisco Nexus switches, F5 BIG-IP load balancers, Cisco ASA firewalls

SolarWinds NPM Screenshots

Screenshot of Network monitoring software used to reduce network outages and detect, diagnose, and resolve multi-vendor network performance issues.Screenshot of See relationships for routers, switches, interfaces, volumes, and groups, updated automatically without user intervention to maintain the network, not network maps.Screenshot of Reduce visibility gaps into critical network switches, firewalls, and load balancers with Network Insight for Cisco Nexus, Cisco ASA, and F5 BIG-IP.Screenshot of Reduce the flood of unnecessary network alerts. Create alerts based on simple or complex nested trigger conditions, defined parent/child dependencies, and network topology.Screenshot of Identify dead zones and improve wireless coverage. With its network monitoring tool, users can access out-of-the-box wireless reports, including wireless availability and rogue access points.Screenshot of Configure alerts by calculating dynamic baseline threshold data with network performance monitoring software.

SolarWinds NPM Video

Network Performance Monitor overview

SolarWinds NPM Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows, Windows® Server 2016; SQL Server 2016 SQL Server 2016 SP1 SQL Server 2017 (including installations on Linux)
Mobile ApplicationNo

SolarWinds NPM Downloadables

Frequently Asked Questions

SolarWinds NPM is a monitoring and performance management platform. It provides performance troubleshooting support, auto network discovery, customizable thresholds, and can be rapidly deployed.

Reviewers rate Alerts highest, with a score of 8.8.

The most common users of SolarWinds NPM are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(600)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users have found this product to be extremely versatile and useful in a variety of situations. One key use case is for professional presentations. Users have praised the product for its ability to create visually appealing and engaging slides that captivate audiences. The ease of use and intuitive interface allows users to quickly create polished presentations without the need for extensive design skills. Additionally, the product's extensive library of pre-designed templates and customizable options provide users with a wide range of choices to cater to their specific needs.

Another important use case for this product is for educational purposes. Teachers and students alike have found value in using this product to enhance their learning experience. With its interactive features such as animations, videos, and quizzes, it enables educators to create engaging lessons that capture students' attention and facilitate better understanding of complex concepts. Users appreciate the product's collaborative capabilities, allowing for seamless group projects and real-time feedback.

Furthermore, this product has proven to be a valuable tool for businesses in creating impactful marketing materials. Users have reported that the product's drag-and-drop functionality makes it easy to design eye-catching brochures, flyers, and social media graphics. The ability to seamlessly integrate images, text, and various graphic elements ensures that businesses can create visually appealing marketing materials that effectively communicate their brand identity.

Lastly, users have praised the product's ability to simplify personal projects such as photo albums or event invitations. The variety of customization options allows users to personalize their creations and add their own touch. Whether it's creating personalized greeting cards or designing stunning wedding invitations, this product has been a reliable choice for users seeking high-quality results without the need for extensive design knowledge.

Overall, this product has proven to be versatile and adaptable in various contexts, making it an indispensable tool for professionals, educators, businesses, and individuals alike. Its user-friendly interface combined with its extensive features and customization options allow users to unleash their creativity and achieve impressive results in a wide range of use cases.

Users recommend considering the whole stack of Network Modules on the SolarWinds platform instead of NPM as a standalone product. They believe the other modules are valuable additions for monitoring, managing, and analyzing the network. SolarWinds NPM is considered the best network performance monitoring solution on the market. Users suggest using it for network monitoring and exploring other modules for specific infrastructure monitoring. While NPM is a good tool for network monitoring, users advise looking into alternative options for advanced monitoring needs. Some users suggest improving the navigation to make it more fluid and user-friendly. Overall, users recommend SolarWinds NPM for managing and monitoring network infrastructures due to its reliability and cost-effectiveness. They also recommend trying the live action feature and Meraki for enhanced network analytics. Users suggest considering other products with better UI and capabilities. SolarWinds NPM is worth the price if affordable, especially with sponsorship. Working with third-party services or SolarWinds to properly set up the tool is recommended. Using multiple tools in conjunction with NPM provides more visibility. Users recommend signing up for Thwack and utilizing their resources for assistance with SolarWinds products. Trying the demo first before purchasing is advisable. NPM is considered a core module in every company that chooses SolarWinds as their monitoring tool. It is important to ensure that the server can handle the software. Experienced staff maximizes the benefits of the platform. Users suggest downloading a trial copy of NPM to test it out. NPM outperforms other tools according to user opinions. More theme options and additional ways to export data are requested. Other modules from SolarWinds that work well with NPM, such as Server & Application Manager, should be explored. Support team and Thwack community are highly praised by users. Users should not be overwhelmed by features and take advantage of free trial resources. SolarWinds is recommended for enterprise-level monitoring, but Loop1 consulting is advised for complex environments. Initial setup can be time-consuming. The 30-day evaluation of the full product is excellent. Becoming a Thwack member provides access to extensive resources and support. SolarWinds may have a higher cost but is considered worth it. Proper provisioning of hardware, software, and infrastructure is crucial before deploying SolarWinds. Users recommend setting up the trial version first and getting familiar with the product. SolarWinds NPM receives high recommendations from users and is praised for its great dashboards.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(26-50 of 197)
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Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
What's Up Gold--I liked that it could monitor TCP ports in their base product but it was years behind on other features.
Nagios--It was on older version we looked at but required too much scripting.
ZABBIX--Our HPC group uses this to monitor their servers. It scales way beyond what SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) can do but requires too much fiddling.
PTRG--This is pretty basic, but with an OID you can graph anything.
BMC--$$$
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Zenoss is a Cloud based solution which is not very easy to use, and we don't have access to its backend. If we go for the Zenoss core then also we have to install it on a Linux based system and manage it which is very difficult some times if we compare it with SolarWinds.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
SolarWinds is an all in one solution. We don't need to install different servers for different packages. It provides easy installation, easy maintenance, easy monitoring by NOC and end-users of NOC. SolarWinds tools have more features than other tools. We have done POC for many and we are satisfied with SolarWinds performance.
Dwain Erhart | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We tried Dell OMNM manager suite but it was difficult to clear alerts, to setup, etc. It did more -- allowed us to back up and recover switch configurations etc. -- but it didn't present a very user friendly interface and it was impossible to manage correctly. We spent a lot on the solution because we got it with our new switching equipment and were told it was the best way to manage an monitor our switches. It turned out that we continued to rely on SolarWinds NPM after repeated attempts to configure and make OMNM usable.
November 11, 2020

Value for Money

Sudharsan Punniyakotti | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I would use Nagios to do basic network monitoring and troubleshooting. But they are open source and support is a problem. We have also checked Datadog network performance monitor, which is great as a whole system. But SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor was quite economic and has a good name in the market. We have also considered Site 24X7 though it does not answer our needs.

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I actually like the simpler dashboard look of WhatsUp but after getting through the learning curve on SolarWinds, I realize that NPM overall makes it easier to navigate to any view that I need and this came after a reasonable amount of time working with SolarWinds. SolarWinds was already here when I came here, but now I prefer it.
September 25, 2020

SolarWinds NPM

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
SolarWinds gives a more holistic view of your environment. The price was on par for value received and the usability was a little easier with SolarWinds than the other tools. The reporting out of SolarWinds was a little easier to grasp for us, as well. Overall, it's a great tool.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
The support is amazing. They are there to help you in any way possible. The OOB is a little tough but it's enough to get you going. SolarWinds comes out with plenty of updates and bug fixes frequently so any bug fix gets addressed. It is very highly customizable not like others that are feature limited.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I've used various tools in my carrier and each comes with its own pros and cons--CA Spectrum and eHealth being my favorites. However, SolarWinds NPM overshadows them as it alone comprises the benefits we get from the other two. Costing and support are other factors in favor of SolarWinds.
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
A long time ago we used WhatsUpGold and Nagios. It has been quite a long time since we evaluated and picked SolarWinds. At the time though, it was a very polished and professional product compared to other offerings. I have not recently evaluated other offerings to see if that still holds true though in comparison. I also know that many vendors like to "package" monitoring in with the rest of their "features" (like Cisco Prime) but they fail to be a single pane of glass for monitoring all our hardware.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
WUG is a very baseline up/down monitoring solution and isn't terribly robust. The functionality built-in to the NCM product far outshines what WhatsUp Gold can do on its very best day. The product is overpriced and underperforms. SolarWinds is pricier, but the functionality gained is well worth it.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We really haven't had the need to shop around for other platforms, since we're completely satisfied with SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor. There is a group within our organization that does use Netcool. The comparison isn't even close. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is the leader in this field.
Keith Gulledge | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
SolarWinds is so easy to set up and to use. The alerting is better. It is a much cheaper product. I used Cisco Prime, and still do for wireless, for years but Cisco's Licensing is awful. We had it for all of our Cisco devices and we decided to drop it.
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have been using a mish-mash of toolsets to be able to do reports, backups, monitoring, alerting, etc. Each individual tool has its strengths, but each has a major downside in that they don't play nice (AKA do not integrate) with other tools.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I have tried PRTG and WhatsUp Gold prior to selecting SolarWinds at a few institutions. I prefer the features available with SolarWinds and the licensing model as opposed to other solutions. Getting all the features we could benefit from with SolarWinds products, in general, is out of price range, but the base NPM solution offers enough to meet our needs.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Given SolarWinds' popularity we actually ended up not trying any other products. Over time we have tried to use other systems, such as Spiceworks, for other small things and found it to not be as powerful. Some of the alerting was the same but there was no way to deep dive into the environment like you could with SolarWinds.
Ted Sadler | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Other products I've used (Spiceworks, Mikrotik's The Dude) are good at their jobs but ultimately don't have the scalability of NPM or the more advanced network visibility features that make NPM so great. Other products (like Spiceworks especially) are also built as several products shoved into one -- an asset management platform, ticketing system, a network monitor, etc. -- and can be slow in performance or limited in their potential as a result.
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