NCM Worth a Try
Updated July 15, 2020

NCM Worth a Try

Bill Kaufman | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM)

Primarily as a config backup and change comparison tool. We do not use the automation scripts as much out of fear of automated changed to network equipment.

Pros

  • Change identification
  • Backup
  • Visibility to authorized users

Cons

  • Licensing. Bought a 500 node license to manage a US only deployment. However that 500 node/device license only allows 500 ports/items to be monitored. That seems a bit restricted. I understand you need to make money but if I want to buy 500 nodes, at least allow me to monitor 5x ports, etc.
  • Expensive remote worker servers. I already paid for an unlimited deployment, let me have the remote servers so performance statistics are measured close to the source. We have 80+ global locations but we have to measure everything from our data center server. Not useful to our remote site technicians trying to measure or monitor local performance.
  • No ROI values but we have a safe place to store configs and recover failed devices.
  • Change reports are clear.
  • The security model works well. Thanks for adding SAML!
We are happy with Solarwinds and have not looked at other products.
Other than the licensing issues it does the job well. The interface is intuitive.

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) Premier Support

Comments

  • John O Callaghan | TrustRadius Reviewer
    John O Callaghan
    commented 6 years ago
    Hi Bill, many thanks for purchasing NCM.. NCM node licensing allows you to manage the configuration on 500 devices.. NCM does not work at the port level as the config files are at the node level. For port monitoring you can add Network Performance Monitor. The SLX license allows for up to 12,000 elements on a single Orion install (at standard polling intervals) All the best, John
    • Bill Kaufman | TrustRadius Reviewer
      Bill Kaufman
      commented 6 years ago
      Hi John, To clarify, my license comment is geared towards NPM, not NCM. My oversite. My experience has been when I setup devices for monitoring, I can only select a total of 500 ports, resources etc. across all my monitored devices. If I exceed the 500, I get a license warning and have to deselect ports etc. to get the count below the license limit. I raised a Support Case and discussed this at SWUG and was told this is the way it is. If something has changed please advise.
      • John O Callaghan | TrustRadius Reviewer
        John O Callaghan
        commented 6 years ago
        Hi Bill, Thanks for clarifying that.. Indeed NPM is licensed by the highest number of Nodes, Interfaces or Volumes so an SL500 license will allow up to 500 interfaces (or ports).. To go beyond that you would need to upgrade to an SL2000 or SLX which would give you 2,000 or 12,000 respectively (at standard polling intervals). The enterprise alternative is Network Automation Manager (NAM) which includes NPM, NTA,NCM,IPAM, UDT & VNQM. It also includes High Availability and Additional polling engines. That is licensed by node count only. Maybe worth exploring with the SolarWinds team in the US. All the best, John

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