Cisco Nexus Dashboard vs. Cisco Optical Networking

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Score 8.2 out of 10
N/A
Cisco Nexus Dashboard simplifies data-center networks with automation and analytics. The data-center network helps organizations to meet business demands, and provision reliable data-center networking services as fast as possible, when and where organizations need it. As network infrastructure management is becoming more complex, diverse, and distributed, with multiple configuration points, monitoring tools, and vast amounts of data being generated every second. Cisco Nexus Dashboard is…N/A
Cisco Optical Networking
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
Cisco Optical Networking is a suite of products supporting data center networking, including the NCS 1000, 2000, 4000, 4200, and the Cisco Evolved Programmable Network Manager (Cisco EPN Manager), as well as Cisco ONS 15000 series platforms and devices.N/A
Pricing
Cisco Nexus DashboardCisco Optical Networking
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco Nexus DashboardCisco Optical Networking
Free Trial
YesNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeOptionalNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco Nexus DashboardCisco Optical Networking
Considered Both Products
Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Microsoft's System Center is easy to deploy when you are using Microsoft products and in a Microsoft environment. However if you are not in a MSFT environment then doesn't give you specialized networking capabilities like Cisco Nexus Dashboard. Aruba networks has good …
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
As Cisco Nexus Dashboard offers multiple features within a single node, there is no other product we have seen in the market that comes close to Cisco Nexus Dashboard feature wise.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
I have tried using SolarWinds specifically the previous Network configuration manager the log analyzer. When I compare them with Cisco Nexus Dashboard snapshots, delta analysis, and connectivity analysis, we can say that Cisco Nexus Dashboard raises the bar way higher. It gives …
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Cisco Catalyst 9300 Series Switches
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Better ecosystem and support model.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Currently, I'm not aware of another solution comparable to Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
We have not used any other products. Before Cisco Nexus Dashboard we relied on the Cisco ACI APIC UI to see any faults.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
With NI we now have capability to go deep into Fabric and understand the flow. It offers us one single plane of glass for everything we have within our ACI Fabrics in the DatCenter
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
the ticket to entry (knowledge) of ansible is just too high and it requires a lot of man power to maintain it, nexus dashboard doesnt
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Nexus Dashboard is far more comprehensive than NetBrain. NetBrain's advantage, in my opinion, is in traditional and single - particle setups, whereas the [Cisco] Nexus Dashboard excels in a clean Cisco ACI context.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
I selected Cisco Nexus Dashboard to operate and establish my network infrastructure.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
The Cisco Nexus Series switches perform admirably in our blended distributed system. We have been dealing with any of these sorts of switches for over 5 years and have been exceptionally happy with their functionality. Several of our other computer networks in our data rooms …
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
I'm getting used to new datacenter environments.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
It's an upgrade from DCNM and worth looking into. We're trying to solve the issue of Creating and maintaining VLAN fabrics. Speed and ease of use are much better than other options. The app is great; the functionality is solid. Though It can have an improved UI, and user …
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
I have used Cisco Catalyst 1000 series switches which allow many devices to be run on HTTP. One limitation is that this software can only be used in small companies and environments as compared to Cisco Nexus Dashboard [Insights], which can be used in broader areas and companies.
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
We use NetBrain in our legacy network, but as [Cisco] Nexus Dashboard is specially designed for Cisco networks, the level of information gathered from [Cisco] Nexus Dashboard is much deeper than NetBrain. The strength of NetBrain, from my point of view, is in legacy and …
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
SAP Data Intelligence is an excellent solution to carry out better management of the data at the enterprise level. It allows the organization and its integration, as well as a data orchestration that makes it possible that the collected data is actionable. However, Cisco …
Chose Cisco Nexus Dashboard
Comparing with the ONAP, Cisco Network Service Orchestrator (NSO) is easier to do the development work on and has better support for multiple vendors. Plus, the Cisco Network Service Orchestrator (NSO) system itself is more stable than ONAP.
Cisco Optical Networking
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
Different concept
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
Good equipment and ability of Cisco team to help us
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
Extreme Networks Wired Access - Switches
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
Cisco 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers (ASR 9000) and Cisco 500 Series Network Convergence System (NCS 500)
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
Cisco Nexus Series Switches
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
Haven't used any other yet as my company was already using it when I joined, so don't really have any feedback here on this topic.
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
It [has] advanced features and [a] plethora of documentation.
Chose Cisco Optical Networking
We selected Cisco Optical Networking after evaluating alternatives such as Ciena, Nokia, and Infinera. Cisco stood out for its seamless integration with our existing network infrastructure, which already relied heavily on Cisco solutions. This made deployment and management …
Best Alternatives
Cisco Nexus DashboardCisco Optical Networking
Small Businesses

No answers on this topic

No answers on this topic

Medium-sized Companies
Dell PowerConnect Switches (discontinued)
Dell PowerConnect Switches (discontinued)
Score 8.0 out of 10
Dell PowerConnect Switches (discontinued)
Dell PowerConnect Switches (discontinued)
Score 8.0 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Nexus Series Switches
Cisco Nexus Series Switches
Score 9.2 out of 10
Cisco Nexus Series Switches
Cisco Nexus Series Switches
Score 9.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco Nexus DashboardCisco Optical Networking
Likelihood to Recommend
7.7
(0 ratings)
8.2
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(0 ratings)
7.9
(0 ratings)
Performance
8.8
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
8.8
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco Nexus DashboardCisco Optical Networking
Likelihood to Recommend
Nexus Dashboard is a vital tool for Cisco data center Nexus deployments, in my opinion. By utilizing multiple applications in the suite, a business can utilize orchestration, monitor services and traffic, test deployment scenarios, verify upgrade processes and readiness, etc. The capabilities of the system can allow for SAN MDS controls, traditional Nexus NXOS integration, and/or essential ACI tools
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Based on my experience, I think it's a goldmine for the experienced professional and a hectic job for newbies. I recommend newbies to have some experience and then jump to Cisco Optical Networking so that they can easily understand what they paid for and take the best out of it. It's best for network scalability so I highly recommend it to those who intend to scale their network in the near future however, if you know that your network will remain the same and you don't require it, there are cheaper options within Cisco.
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Pros
  • It provides monitoring for our overall ACI Fabric which includes the Controller, Spine, and Leaf Switches.
  • It gives you a single pane of visibility of all of your ACI fabric using Nexus Dashboard, no need to login to each of the multiple ACI fabric controllers.
  • Provides an assurance analysis to to your ACI fabric before implementing any change in configuration, they have the Pre-change analysis prior to the firmware upgrade.
  • Gives you the overall health of your Fabric and provides anomaly severity.
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  • Makes use of limited fiber effectively.
  • Allows for the deployment of smart P2P MPLS links that automatically re-route around outages.
  • Simplifies the overhead of managing multiple technologies by converging the technologies.
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Cons
  • Flow Telemetry - Need to overcome the restrictions of 20000 flow/sec. No DataCenter is small enough to pump only 20K flows per second. And we want to use this product for proactive monitoring so we cannot decide on a small segment to monitor flow for beforehand.
  • Creating tags and label for clubbing certain entities so that we can create customized dashboards to monitor and provide access to Operations team
  • Scheduled Reports and Reporting capability is lacking
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  • A simplified management platform that provides services without having to invest In multiple products, each with an additional cost. The product should just come with the services and features.
  • Simplifying the BOM selection process. There are to many hidden part numbers you need to know.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
We will renew our use of Cisco Optical Networking due to its reliability in maintaining high-performance, low-latency connections, its scalability in supporting growing bandwidth demands, and its integration with existing Cisco infrastructure, which simplifies management and reduces operational complexity. Additionally, its robust security features and automation capabilities have enhanced network resilience, making it a valuable long-term solution for our expanding needs.
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Usability
For the end user, it is relatively easy to use. However, some training and practice is a must because the NSO is not as straightforward as the traditional router CLI. For the administrator, Cisco Network Service Orchestrator (NSO) is just like another program running on the Linux system--there is no big difference.
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It just works depending on what your requirement is. Cisco also provides a well formed cheat sheet on which gear to use for which scenario. Very convenient. It makes my job as a Sales Engineer easier when I have a short timeline to get a solution designed. It is also build well enough to be used in austere environments.
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Performance
Great and effective automation functionalities and the tools on network security management are the best and easy data reports building. Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller feature for the network monitoring and easy management of various services and even offers the best analytics and also powerful integration tools for easy data migration.
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No answers on this topic
Support Rating
No answers on this topic
I would rate the overall support for Cisco Optical Networking at 9/10. The support team is highly responsive, knowledgeable, and effective in resolving issues quickly. Cisco’s comprehensive online resources, documentation, and community forums also make it easy to find solutions. However, there is always room for improvement in terms of response time during peak periods.
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Alternatives Considered
The Cisco Nexus Series switches perform admirably in our blended distributed system. We have been dealing with any of these sorts of switches for over 5 years and have been exceptionally happy with their functionality. Several of our other computer networks in our data rooms have proved effective with Cisco equipment. Because of the simplicity of maintenance and the high quality of technical support provided by Cisco representatives, there is a high level of trust in these switches.
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We selected Cisco Optical Networking after evaluating alternatives such as Ciena, Nokia, and Infinera. Cisco stood out for its seamless integration with our existing network infrastructure, which already relied heavily on Cisco solutions. This made deployment and management significantly easier. The Cisco NCS 2000 series offered flexible ROADM capabilities, allowing us to scale bandwidth dynamically without extensive infrastructure changes. Additionally, Cisco’s Evolved Programmable Network Manager (EPNM) provided intuitive management and automation, streamlining provisioning and monitoring tasks. While Ciena’s WaveLogic Ai impressed us with its adaptive modulation and Nokia’s 1830 PSS offered strong scalability, both required more complex configurations that didn’t align as well with our existing setup. Infinera’s GX Series excelled in long-haul capacity, but Cisco’s modular design better suited our evolving bandwidth needs. Ultimately, Cisco Optical Networking provided the best combination of scalability, integration ease, and operational efficiency, making it the ideal choice for our organization.
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Scalability
The platform is very well done, and to date, I have had no complaints about the implementation of the platform and no security issues or vulnerabilities. Cisco in all its product releases new versions to resolve security issues or bugs that appear on the platform, this is a big plus.
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No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
  • Because it guarantees us expandable network services and without any interruption, providing a better service to each of our clients has been possible.
  • It has allowed us to keep the services innovated, doing this process in a reduced time, since it does not require a long programming, so implementing new services is done at a rapid pace.
  • Its automation has allowed us to reduce the burden of manual configurations, so having errors has also decreased.
  • Because it is based on an automation and orchestration model, providing faster and larger-scale services is possible.
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  • The best impact it had was to lower my network maintenance cost by the time span of more than a year
  • It might look a bit pricey at the beginning, but along with time, you'll feel that you're actually saving a lot of your time and money in terms of network management
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ScreenShots

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Screenshots

Screenshot of 9324C-SE1U N9300 Smart SwitchScreenshot of 9324C-SE1U N9300 Smart SwitchScreenshot of N9348Y2C6D-SE1U N9300 Smart SwitchScreenshot of N9348Y2C6D-SE1U N9300 Smart SwitchScreenshot of N9348Y2C6D-SE1U N9300 Smart SwitchScreenshot of 9324C-SE1U N9300 Smart Switch

Cisco Optical Networking Screenshots

Screenshot of Cisco Network Convergence System 2006Screenshot of Cisco Network Convergence System 2006Screenshot of Cisco Network Convergence System 2006