Software Alternatives & Startups

Cisco Data Center Network Manager VS CloudLinux

Compare Cisco Data Center Network Manager VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Cisco Data Center Network Manager

Cisco Data Center Network Manager offers network management system (NMS) support for traditional or multiple-tenant LAN and SAN fabrics.

Rating
0 reviews
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

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0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Cisco Data Center Network Manager
CloudLinux
Website cisco.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Cisco Data Center Network Manager 6 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Comprehensive Management
    Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) provides a single-pane-of-glass for managing, monitoring, and troubleshooting a diverse range of data center infrastructure components, simplifying the management process.
  • Scalability
    DCNM is designed to scale with large enterprises, providing management capabilities for extensive networks with thousands of devices.
  • Automation Capabilities
    Includes extensive automation features, such as automated provisioning, configuration compliance, and policy enforcement, which reduce manual effort and the potential for human error.
  • Security Management
    Offers robust security features including role-based access control, detailed audit logs, and compliance monitoring to help ensure the network infrastructure meets organizational security standards.
  • Integration With Cisco Ecosystem
    Seamlessly integrates with other Cisco solutions, providing a cohesive and unified approach to data center network management.
  • Support for multiple environments
    Supports traditional, virtualized, and cloud environments, offering flexibility to manage a variety of data center setups.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    The extensive feature set and comprehensive capabilities make DCNM complex to deploy and manage, requiring substantial expertise and potentially extensive training.
  • Cost
    Cisco solutions are generally priced at a premium, and DCNM is no exception. The cost may be prohibitive for small to medium-sized organizations.
  • Resource Intensive
    The platform can be resource-intensive, requiring robust hardware and infrastructure to run effectively, which can add to the overall cost.
  • Support Overhead
    Managing Cisco DCNM can require dedicated support personnel who are highly skilled, thus increasing the overhead in terms of operational support and maintenance.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Organizations using Cisco DCNM may find themselves locked into Cisco's ecosystem, making it more challenging and costly to integrate with third-party solutions or switch vendors.
  • Learning Curve
    The complexity and breadth of features mean there is a steep learning curve, which can slow down the adoption and efficient use of the platform.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Cisco Data Center Network Manager
CloudLinux

No analysis of Cisco Data Center Network Manager yet.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Cisco Data Center Network Manager 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Cisco Data Center Network Manager Overview

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Cisco Data Center Network Manager
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Alternatives to Cisco Data Center Network Manager and CloudLinux

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