Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cacti VS SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer

Compare Cacti VS SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer and see what are their differences

Cacti logo Cacti

Cacti is a complete network graphing solution. It provides a fast poller, advanced graph templating, multiple data acquisition methods, and user management features.

SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer logo SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer

Identify how bandwidth is being used with NetFlow Traffic Analyzer for SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor. Download free 30-day analyzer software trial!
  • Cacti Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-12
  • SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17

Cacti features and specs

  • Open Source
    Cacti is free to use and its source code is open for modification, providing flexibility and cost savings for users.
  • Scalability
    Cacti can handle large amounts of data and scale to monitor numerous devices, making it suitable for both small and large networks.
  • Customization
    Users can create custom reports and graphs to suit specific needs, allowing a tailored monitoring experience.
  • SNMP Support
    Cacti supports the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), enabling it to collect data from a wide range of network devices.
  • Community and Plug-ins
    Cacti has an active community that contributes plugins and extensions, enhancing its functionality and providing support.

Possible disadvantages of Cacti

  • Complex Setup
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex, requiring a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface may appear outdated and less intuitive compared to other modern monitoring tools.
  • Performance
    As the amount of monitored data increases, the performance of Cacti can degrade, necessitating optimization or more robust hardware.
  • Limited Real-Time Monitoring
    Cacti primarily focuses on historical data and may not be as effective for real-time monitoring needs.
  • Dependence on Third-Party Tools
    Some features and functionalities may rely on third-party plugins, which can affect stability and introduce compatibility issues.

SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer features and specs

  • Comprehensive Network Traffic Analysis
    SolarWinds NetFlow Traffic Analyzer offers detailed insights into bandwidth usage, traffic patterns, and network performance, which helps in identifying network bottlenecks and optimizing traffic flow.
  • Customizable Alerts and Reports
    The tool provides customizable alerts and reporting features, allowing administrators to tailor notifications and reports to specific network conditions and needs.
  • Intuitive User Interface
    The software features an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easier for network administrators to monitor and analyze traffic without a steep learning curve.
  • Integration with Other SolarWinds Tools
    Seamless integration with other SolarWinds products enhances its functionality and provides a comprehensive network monitoring solution.
  • Support for Multiple Flow Technologies
    Supports a wide range of flow technologies, including NetFlow, J-Flow, sFlow, IPFIX, and more, allowing for versatile monitoring capabilities across different network devices.

Possible disadvantages of SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer

  • High Cost
    The solution can be expensive, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, due to licensing fees and additional costs for complementary SolarWinds products.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software requires significant system resources for optimal performance, which might necessitate investment in higher-end infrastructure.
  • Complex Initial Setup
    Setting up and configuring the tool can be complex and time-consuming, potentially requiring skilled personnel for successful deployment.
  • Overwhelming for Smaller Networks
    The comprehensive features can be overwhelming for smaller networks that may not require such depth in traffic analysis, leading to underutilization of the software's capabilities.
  • Customer Support Issues
    Some users report difficulties in getting timely and effective responses from customer support, which can be a concern during critical network issues.

Cacti videos

CALINE Crazy Cacti Overdrive CP-20 Pedal Review - Syuwari Ritchie

More videos:

  • Review - Caline Crazy Cacti Overdrive Pedal
  • Review - DONT HUG CACTI Fursuit Review!
  • Demo - Introduction to Cacti | The primary features of Cacti

SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cacti and SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer)
Monitoring Tools
63 63%
37% 37
Log Management
61 61%
39% 39
Performance Monitoring
67 67%
33% 33
Network Monitoring
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cacti and SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer

Cacti Reviews

The Best Cacti Monitoring Alternatives
Cacti is one of the most popular open-source network monitoring tools. Cacti allows you to monitor various metrics and look at them from its user-friendly, modern dashboard. Although it has a relatively steep learning curve, many businesses have chosen to make Cacti their network monitoring solution of choice.
The Best Open Source Network Monitoring Tools in 2023
Description: Cacti is an open source network monitoring tool based on RRDTool’s data logging and graphing system. The tool uses network polling and data collection functionality to gather information on devices on networks of any size. This includes the ability to design custom scripts for data collection alongside support for SNMP polling. It then displays this information...
10 Best Open Source Monitoring Software for IT Infrastructure
Cacti is another open-source network monitoring tool that can be installed on Linux or Windows OS. It is connected to RRDTool, which allows us to generate graphs related to relevant network data.
Source: geekflare.com
Best Open Source Network Monitoring Tools and Software (Linux/Windows)
For example, there are many other open source monitoring tools that exist such as OpenNMS, Cacti, and Zennos and you have to consider the benefits of each one from the perspective of your requirement.
Best Linux Network Monitoring Tools for 2020
Cacti has been around for nearly 20 years, and it’s one of the most prominent names in open-source network monitoring software. Cacti allows multiple users to monitor network devices and log network data, and it offers privacy settings to determine which users have access to what items. It also visualizes data by using RRDTool, a data logging and graphing software. Cacti’s...

SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer Reviews

Best Linux Network Monitoring Tools for 2020
Though this list accounts for both open-source and closed-source products, it focuses on Linux-based network monitoring tools. A handful of common tools only operate on Windows, Pandora, or other systems, but most network monitoring tools run on Linux systems since Linux—with its higher degree of user input and easily recodeable security bugs—is often the choice for IT...

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cacti and SolarWinds Netflow Traffic Analyzer, you can also consider the following products

Zabbix - Track, record, alert and visualize performance and availability of IT resources

Microsoft System Center - Microsoft System Center provides solutions to simplify the deployment, configuration, management, and monitoring of the infrastructure.

Datadog - See metrics from all of your apps, tools & services in one place with Datadog's cloud monitoring as a service solution. Try it for free.

SolarWinds NPM - Advanced network monitoring for on-premises, hybrid, and cloud. Download a FREE 30-day trial of SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) today!

Paessler PRTG - An advanced network monitoring solution to monitor network up/downtime, traffic and usage.

Wireshark - Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows. It lets you capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.