Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Cisco ACI VS DCImanager

Compare Cisco ACI VS DCImanager and see what are their differences

Cisco ACI logo Cisco ACI

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

DCImanager logo 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.
  • Cisco ACI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21
  • DCImanager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-15

DCImanager is a platform for managing physical equipment, which helps to optimize the use of computing power, improve the efficiency of the IT department, and flexibly transform the infrastructure according to business tasks.

In a single web interface, the system allows you to keep an inventory of equipment and monitor the occupancy of racks. The system also allows for remotely managing servers and power supply, configuring of networks, quickly restoring the infrastructure after failures, and monitoring the load on equipment. DCImanager is compatible with the most popular vendors' equipment.

Cisco ACI features and specs

  • Centralized Management
    Cisco ACI provides a centralized point of management for the entire network infrastructure, making it easier to configure, automate, and manage policies across the network.
  • Scalability
    ACI allows for scalable design, accommodating the growth of network infrastructure with minimal disruption and extensive support for multi-cloud environments.
  • Policy-Based Automation
    ACI leverages policy-driven automation to reduce the complexity and potential for human error in network configurations. Policies can be applied uniformly across the network to ensure compliance and security.
  • Security
    By using micro-segmentation and other security features, ACI enhances network security by isolating segments of the network and ensuring consistent security policies.
  • Multi-Tenancy Support
    ACI supports multi-tenancy, allowing different segments or tenants within an organization to operate within their own isolated environments while sharing the same physical infrastructure.
  • Integration with Third-Party Tools
    The platform supports integration with a wide range of third-party tools and applications, streamlining workflows and improving operational efficiencies.
  • Visibility and Troubleshooting
    ACI provides extensive monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities, allowing for enhanced visibility into network performance and faster resolution of issues.

Possible disadvantages of Cisco ACI

  • High Initial Investment
    The upfront costs associated with deploying Cisco ACI can be significant, including both hardware and software expenses.
  • Complexity
    While ACI simplifies many aspects of network management, its sophisticated features and architecture can add layers of complexity, requiring specialized knowledge and training.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Implementing Cisco ACI often ties the organization to Cisco's ecosystem, which might limit flexibility with multi-vendor environments or introduce higher costs for future upgrades and expansions.
  • Learning Curve
    Network administrators and engineers may face a steep learning curve when transitioning to ACI, necessitating time for training and adjustment.
  • Dependency on APIC
    The Application Policy Infrastructure Controller (APIC) is a critical component of the ACI architecture, and any failure or issue with APIC can impact the entire network's operation.
  • Migration Challenges
    Migrating existing network infrastructure to ACI can be a complex and risky process, requiring careful planning and execution to avoid disruptions.

DCImanager features and specs

  • Centralized Management
    DCImanager provides a centralized platform for managing data center infrastructure, allowing administrators to control and monitor various components from a single interface.
  • Scalability
    The tool is designed to scale with your infrastructure, supporting both small data centers and large enterprises with thousands of servers.
  • Automation
    DCImanager offers automation features for tasks such as server provisioning, monitoring, and maintenance, which can significantly reduce manual effort and errors.
  • Comprehensive Monitoring
    It provides detailed monitoring capabilities for tracking power usage, network performance, and server health, helping to ensure high availability and performance.
  • Multi-platform Support
    Supports a wide range of server hardware and operating systems, making it versatile for different IT environments.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The platform is designed with an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, even for users who may not be highly technical.

Possible disadvantages of DCImanager

  • Cost
    The comprehensive feature set comes at a cost, which may be a consideration for smaller organizations or startups with limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    While the tool is powerful, its broad range of features can make it complex to set up and configure, especially for users without prior experience in data center management tools.
  • Initial Setup Time
    The initial setup and configuration can be time-consuming depending on the size and complexity of the data center.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive functionalities, there is a learning curve associated with mastering all its features, which may require additional training or consulting.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Relying heavily on a specific vendor for your data center management tools can potentially lead to vendor lock-in, making future migrations or changes more challenging.

Analysis of Cisco ACI

Overall verdict

  • Cisco ACI is generally considered a robust and effective solution for many organizations, providing a scalable and efficient network management framework.

Why this product is good

  • Cisco ACI provides centralized management and control of network infrastructure, which can significantly reduce complexity and improve operational efficiency.
  • The platform supports advanced automation capabilities and policy-driven network provisioning, enhancing agility and consistency.
  • Its integration with both Cisco hardware and third-party systems makes it a versatile choice for various IT environments.
  • ACI’s security features, including micro-segmentation and policy enforcement, enhance overall network security.
  • The ecosystem offers extensive support and documentation, backed by Cisco’s reputed customer service.

Recommended for

  • Large enterprises with complex network requirements.
  • Organizations looking to streamline their network management and operations through automation.
  • Companies seeking a scalable solution that can grow with their business needs.
  • Network administrators who need comprehensive visibility and control over their network environment.
  • Businesses utilizing hybrid or multi-cloud strategies, benefiting from ACI’s integration capabilities.

Analysis of DCImanager

Overall verdict

  • DCImanager is generally considered a good option for organizations looking for an affordable and efficient data center management solution. It is particularly praised for its functionality and ease of use, although like any product, it may have limitations depending on specific use cases and requirements.

Why this product is good

  • DCImanager is a data center management solution developed by ISPsystem. It's known for providing a unified platform to manage physical and virtual infrastructure, offering features such as server provisioning, network management, and monitoring. It's appreciated for its automation capabilities, user-friendly interface, and cost-effectiveness compared to other solutions in the market.

Recommended for

    This software is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, data centers, and hosting providers who need a manageable and scalable solution to oversee their IT infrastructure without incurring high costs. It's particularly suitable for those who value automation and simplified management processes.

Cisco ACI videos

Cisco ACI vs. VMware NSX: Which Software-Defined Solution is Right for You?

DCImanager videos

DCImanager: platform for server and data center equipment management. [Features overview]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Cisco ACI and DCImanager)
Monitoring Tools
40 40%
60% 60
Log Management
40 40%
60% 60
DCIM Software
45 45%
55% 55
Product Deployment
26 26%
74% 74

User comments

Share your experience with using Cisco ACI and DCImanager. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Cisco ACI and DCImanager

Cisco ACI Reviews

We have no reviews of Cisco ACI yet.
Be the first one to post

DCImanager Reviews

11 NetBox Alternatives
DCImanager is a software that helps its users to control and manage servers, staus of global systems, network equipment, and many other useful features on a single platform. This platform is all-in-one in its qualities and provides the users with virtual and physical networks. The interface of this software is easy to use with all the tools mentioned above including a search...
12 Open Source/Commercial Software for Data Center Infrastructure Management
DCImanager is a platform for managing physical equipment: servers, switches, PDU, routers; and monitoring server and data center resources. It helps to optimize the use of computing power, enhance the efficiency of the IT department, and flexibly transform the infrastructure according to business tasks.
Source: www.tecmint.com

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Cisco ACI and DCImanager, you can also consider the following products

ManageEngine OpManager - Monitors routers, switches, firewalls, load-balancers, wireless LAN controllers, servers, VMs, printers, storage devices, and everything that has an IP and is connected to the network.

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

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.

Opendcim - a free, web based Data Center Infrastructure Management application.

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.

Atlassian Data Center - Deploy Atlassian's software in your own data center with clustered failover and more to support large and mission critical deployments.

OSZAR »