Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

NetBox VS Opendcim

Compare NetBox VS Opendcim and see what are their differences

NetBox logo NetBox

NetBox is an open source web application designed to help manage and document computer networks. NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers.

Opendcim logo Opendcim

a free, web based Data Center Infrastructure Management application.
  • NetBox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-15

It encompasses the following aspects of network management:

IP address management (IPAM) - IP networks and addresses, VRFs, and VLANs Equipment racks - Organized by group and site Devices - Types of devices and where they are installed Connections - Network, console, and power connections among devices Virtualization - Virtual machines and clusters Data circuits - Long-haul communications circuits and providers Secrets - Encrypted storage of sensitive credentials

  • Opendcim Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-02-10

NetBox features and specs

  • Open Source
    NetBox is open-source software, which means you can use and modify it freely without having to pay for a license. This can significantly reduce costs and allows for customization according to specific needs.
  • Comprehensive IPAM and DCIM
    NetBox includes both IP Address Management (IPAM) and Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) functionalities, offering a single platform to manage diverse aspects of network infrastructure.
  • Extensible via API
    NetBox provides a robust API that allows integration with other tools and systems, enabling automation and enhanced functionality through scripting and third-party applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The web-based user interface is intuitive and easy to use, even for those who may not have extensive experience with network management tools.
  • Active Community and Support
    NetBox has an active community of users and contributors, which helps in quickly addressing issues, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the continuous improvement of the software.

Possible disadvantages of NetBox

  • Initial Setup Complexity
    The initial installation and configuration of NetBox can be complex and time-consuming, potentially requiring a good understanding of Python, PostgreSQL, and other dependencies.
  • Resource Intensive
    As a web-based application, NetBox can be resource-intensive, requiring a capable server environment to run efficiently, which might not be suitable for very small-scale deployments.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Despite its intuitive interface, the broad set of features and functionalities might overwhelm new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Limited Built-in Reporting
    NetBox has limited built-in reporting capabilities, which might necessitate additional tools or custom reports to meet specific reporting needs.
  • No Built-in Alerting
    NetBox does not have built-in alerting mechanisms for tracking changes or unusual activities, so additional monitoring and alerting systems may be required.

Opendcim features and specs

  • Open Source
    Being open-source, OpenDCIM is free to use, modify, and distribute, reducing overall software costs and providing greater flexibility.
  • Community Support
    A strong community of users and developers contributes to its development, offering forums, documentation, and shared experiences.
  • Customizable
    Users have the ability to tailor the software to their specific needs, enabling them to add or modify features as required.
  • Scalability
    Designed to manage multiple data centers, OpenDCIM can scale according to the user's requirements, making it suitable for small to large deployments.
  • Hardware Agnostic
    OpenDCIM supports a wide range of hardware, allowing for integration with various devices without being locked into a specific vendor.

Possible disadvantages of Opendcim

  • Complexity
    Installation and initial setup can be complex, requiring a good understanding of IT and data center infrastructure.
  • Limited Official Support
    As a community-driven project, there is no formal customer support, which may be a drawback for organizations requiring guaranteed assistance.
  • Feature Gaps
    Some advanced features available in commercial DCIM solutions may be lacking, potentially requiring additional development and customization.
  • User Interface
    The user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as some commercial alternatives, potentially impacting user experience and adoption.
  • Documentation Variability
    While there is community documentation, its quality and comprehensiveness can vary, potentially making troubleshooting and learning more difficult.

Analysis of NetBox

Overall verdict

  • Yes, NetBox is considered a good tool for managing complex networks and data centers. Its strong community support and continuous development contribute to its robustness and reliability in production environments.

Why this product is good

  • NetBox is a popular open-source tool for network automation and management, favored for its comprehensive features such as IP address management (IPAM), data center infrastructure management (DCIM), and its extensibility through plugins and a REST API. It provides a user-friendly web interface and is highly customizable, making it suitable for various network configurations and workflows.

Recommended for

    NetBox is recommended for network engineers, system administrators, data center managers, and IT professionals who need an effective solution for managing IP addresses, network devices, and cabling infrastructure in medium to large-scale operations. It is particularly advantageous for those looking for an open-source option with a strong community backing.

Analysis of Opendcim

Overall verdict

  • Opendcim is generally considered a good option for organizations looking for a cost-effective and customizable DCIM solution. It offers robust features suitable for small to medium-sized data centers and is supported by a community of developers and users.

Why this product is good

  • Opendcim is an open-source data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solution that is beneficial due to its cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and community support. Being open-source, it allows users to customize the software according to their specific needs and integrates well with existing systems. It also provides essential features such as asset management, space and power monitoring, and connectivity tracking, which help efficiently manage data center resources. Additionally, its transparent nature and continuous updates from the community contribute to its reliability and evolution.

Recommended for

    Opendcim is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses or organizations that operate data centers and need an affordable yet comprehensive solution to manage their infrastructure. It is ideal for those who prefer open-source solutions and have the capability or willingness to manage and possibly customize the platform to fit their specific operational requirements.

NetBox videos

Accessing NAPALM via the NetBox API

More videos:

  • Review - Network to Code NetBox with Jeremy Stretch and John Anderson
  • Tutorial - Netbox Global Review- How To Earn Money Browsing The Internet

Opendcim videos

openDCIM - Adding Pictures to Devices

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to NetBox and Opendcim)
Monitoring Tools
65 65%
35% 35
Log Management
63 63%
37% 37
DCIM Software
42 42%
58% 58
Network & Admin
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 NetBox and Opendcim

NetBox Reviews

11 NetBox Alternatives
NetBox is a resource modeling application that is specially designed to automate networks and empower network engineering as well. It manages all the needs of networks and works under the license of Apache 2.
The 10 Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
NetBox is certainly one of the best open-source IPAM solutions reviewed by our editors. It comes with a simple but elegant user interface that packs a serious punch in terms of functionalities. NetBox was initially developed by the network engineering team at DigitalOCean and has since evolved into a full-fledged IP management application. It is very popular among...
12 Open Source/Commercial Software for Data Center Infrastructure Management
NetBox is an open-source IP address management and data center infrastructure management platform, which was created by the network team at DigitalOcean to store the information about your networks, virtual machines, inventories, and many more.
Source: www.tecmint.com
Best IP Address Management Tools for Linux
NetBox is an open-source web based IP address management and data center infrastructure management application. It was developed more particulary to address the requirements of network and infrastructure engineers.
Source: www.tecmint.com

Opendcim Reviews

12 Open Source/Commercial Software for Data Center Infrastructure Management
Thanks to its open-source code, Opendcims should work fine for the companies having their own developers.
Source: www.tecmint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, NetBox seems to be a lot more popular than Opendcim. While we know about 21 links to NetBox, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Opendcim. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

NetBox mentions (21)

  • Share your greatest free tools
    Netbox. https://netbox.readthedocs.io/en/stable/ Your “Source of Truth” for your network. NetBox is an infrastructure resource modeling (IRM) application designed to empower network automation. Initially conceived by the network engineering team at DigitalOcean, NetBox was developed specifically to address the needs of network and infrastructure engineers. NetBox is made available as open source under the Apache... Source: about 3 years ago
  • What do you use to track disks and other hardware?
    Currently we are using [SnipeIT](https://snipeitapp.com/) to track our disks, hardware and machines, and [Netbox](https://netbox.readthedocs.io/en/stable/) to track physical layout and locations. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What does a longer career related to computing infrastructure look like?
    You might find it educational/interesting to have a look at Netbox. It's a fairly well respected piece of software that manages network hardware and configuration. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How does proper documentation look like?
    You could take a look at netbox . It’s a little hard to set up at first but worth it in the end IMO. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Web Application That Shows Switch Ports Mapping
    However I'd suggest that Netbox is the more modern and functional solution to this problem. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Opendcim mentions (2)

  • What DCIM Software to use
    OpenDCIM is antiquated but its data model is quite sane. Its PDU monitoring is very basic but serviceable - the managers loved it. It is barely maintained and its old fashioned PHP does it no favor, so I advise to steer clear of it... But it does work. Source: over 2 years ago
  • IT Pro Tuesday #152 - Secure Backup, Python Course, Remote Device Management & More
    OpenDCIM is designed for simple, complete data-center asset tracking. Offers support for multiple rooms; management of space, power and cooling; basic contact management and integration into existing business directory via UserID; fault tolerance; computation of center of gravity for each cabinet; template management for devices (with ability to override per device); optional tracking of cable connections within... Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing NetBox and Opendcim, you can also consider the following products

phpIPAM - phpipam is an open-source web IP address management application (IPAM).

DCImanager - DCImanager is a platform for managing physical equipment. Connect any physical equipment to a single platform. Use the platform to manage your servers, switches, PDU as well as physical and virtual networks.

RackTables - Racktables is a nifty and robust solution for datacenter and server room asset management.

Device42 - Automatically maintain an up-to-date inventory of your physical, virtual, and cloud servers and containers, network components, software/services/applications, and their inter-relationships and inter-dependencies.

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

Cisco ACI - Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) simplifies, optimizes, and accelerates the application deployment lifecycle in next-generation data centers and clouds.