Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager VS PingPlotter

Compare SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager VS PingPlotter and see what are their differences

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager logo SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

SolarWinds is a leading provider of powerful and affordable IT infrastructure management software. Make IT look easy.

PingPlotter logo PingPlotter

PingPlotter is a troubleshooting tool that helps IT professionals and neophytes identify, diagnose, and resolve network issues.
  • SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-23
  • PingPlotter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-13

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager features and specs

  • Automated Configuration Backup
    SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) automatically backs up device configurations, reducing the risk of data loss and ensuring easy recovery in case of misconfigurations or device failures.
  • Compliance Management
    NCM includes compliance management tools that help organizations adhere to industry standards and internal policies by monitoring and reporting on configuration compliance across the network infrastructure.
  • Change Management
    The software provides a robust change management system that logs all changes made to network device configurations. It helps in auditing and verifying that changes are authorized and properly implemented.
  • Multi-Vendor Support
    NCM supports a wide range of network device vendors, making it versatile and useful in heterogeneous network environments.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The intuitive user interface makes it easy for network administrators to manage configurations, set up compliance rules, and monitor network health.

Possible disadvantages of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

  • High Cost
    SolarWinds NCM can be expensive, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. The licensing and maintenance costs can add up over time.
  • Complex Initial Setup
    The initial setup and configuration of NCM can be complex and time-consuming, requiring a good understanding of the network environment and the software itself.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running SolarWinds NCM can be resource-intensive, requiring substantial server resources, which may necessitate hardware upgrades for optimal performance.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, there is still a learning curve for users who are not familiar with network configuration management systems. Training may be required to fully utilize all features.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users report occasional performance issues, such as slow load times and glitches, particularly in large, complex network environments.

PingPlotter features and specs

  • Detailed Network Diagnostics
    PingPlotter provides advanced network diagnostics by visualizing latency and packet loss over time, helping identify problematic areas in the network.
  • Historical Data
    The tool allows users to save and review historical data, which is invaluable for troubleshooting intermittent network issues that are not easily reproducible.
  • Ease of Use
    PingPlotter offers an easy-to-use interface that makes it accessible even for users who aren't network experts, allowing them to quickly start diagnosing issues.
  • Customizable Alerts
    Users can set up customizable alerts to notify them when latency or packet loss exceeds certain thresholds, providing timely insights into network performance issues.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    PingPlotter is available on Windows, Mac, and iOS, which offers flexibility for different types of users and environments.

Possible disadvantages of PingPlotter

  • Cost
    PingPlotter is not free, and the cost can be prohibitive for individuals or small businesses, especially for the Pro version which offers more advanced features.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running PingPlotter for extended periods can consume significant system resources, which might be a concern for users with lower-end hardware.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of PingPlotter has limited functionality, which may not be sufficient for diagnosing more complex network issues.
  • Learning Curve
    While the basic functions are user-friendly, some of the more advanced features and data interpretation can have a learning curve, requiring users to invest time to fully utilize the tool.
  • No Linux Support
    PingPlotter does not support Linux, which can be a drawback for network administrators working in a Linux-dominated environment.

Analysis of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

Overall verdict

  • SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager is generally considered a good tool for network configuration management.

Why this product is good

  • The tool offers comprehensive network automation and management capabilities, including configuration backups, compliance management, vulnerability assessments, and automatic updates. It helps in reducing downtime by allowing quick restoration of configurations and supports various network devices, making it suitable for diverse IT environments. Users appreciate its easy integration with other SolarWinds products and its user-friendly interface.

Recommended for

  • Network administrators looking to automate configuration tasks.
  • Organizations needing compliance and vulnerability checks for network configurations.
  • IT departments that require a reliable solution for configuration backups and disaster recovery.
  • Enterprises already utilizing other SolarWinds tools, seeking seamless integration.

Analysis of PingPlotter

Overall verdict

  • PingPlotter is generally regarded as a good choice for network monitoring and troubleshooting, especially for users who need detailed visibility into the performance and health of their network connections.

Why this product is good

  • PingPlotter is considered a reliable network monitoring tool because it provides detailed insights into network performance and helps identify the location and nature of connectivity issues. It offers a user-friendly interface with comprehensive graphical representations of network data, making it easier to diagnose problems. Additionally, it supports both live monitoring and historical data analysis, which is beneficial for ongoing network management.

Recommended for

    PingPlotter is recommended for IT professionals, network administrators, and any users who need to maintain network reliability and optimal performance. It is also suitable for remote workers experiencing connectivity issues and gamers who require low-latency connections.

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager videos

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager Overview

More videos:

  • Review - What is SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager

PingPlotter videos

Analyzing PingPlotter Data

More videos:

  • Review - Use PingPlotter to identify poor QoS or intermittent connectivity issues.
  • Tutorial - How to Use PingPlotter to Dignose Server Network Issues

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager and PingPlotter)
Monitoring Tools
47 47%
53% 53
Security
100 100%
0% 0
SSH
0 0%
100% 100
Log Management
53 53%
47% 47

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PingPlotter seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 times since March 2021. 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.

SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager yet. Tracking of SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager recommendations started around Mar 2021.

PingPlotter mentions (2)

  • Understanding missed attestations, understanding low effectiveness and improving your setup
    Once you have those in place, there is little more you can do to help. There might be some marginal benefits in connecting with more peers at the cost of higher resources usage, especially bandwidth. Under normal circumstances, the default peers count from your clients should be good. Monitoring Internet quality with tools like those from pingman can help pinpoint the cause of some of these missed attestations if... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Packet Loss with PingPlotter
    I'm attempting to use PingPlotter to find the problem but I'm fairly new with it - The Packet Loss is occurring on IP 192.168.1.1 while testing 8.8.8.8, pingman.com, google.com, akamai.com however it does not show any PL for www.google.com. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager and PingPlotter, you can also consider the following products

Cisco DNA Center - Find and resolve network issues with Cisco DNA Center. Provides software-based network automation and assurance. Control and manage intent-based networks.

FileZilla - FileZilla is an FTP, or file transfer protocol, client. It lets individuals transfer single files or batches to a web server. For many years, FTP was the standard for website design. Read more about FileZilla.

Palo Alto Networks Panorama - Greater visibility, tighter control, less effort. Panorama™ network security management simplifies management tasks while delivering comprehensive controls and deep visibility into network-wide traffic and security threats.

PuTTY - Popular free terminal application. Mostly used as an SSH client.

F5 Advanced Firewall Manager - Stop even the most massive and complex DDoS attacks with BIG-IP Advanced Firewall Manager: advanced data center protection against layer 3–4 threats.

SmokePing - Smokeping is a tool for measuring latency.