Unveiling the Top 30 Network Device Monitoring Tools

In the digital age, where connectivity reigns supreme, networks have become the backbone of our modern society. Whether it's a sprawling enterprise infrastructure or a home network powering our everyday lives, the performance and reliability of network devices are of utmost importance. Enter network device monitoring tools – the invaluable allies that empower network administrators and IT professionals to gain real-time insights, optimize network performance, and ensure seamless connectivity.

In this comprehensive guide, we embark on a journey to explore the top 30 network device monitoring tools that are revolutionizing the way we monitor and manage our networks. From enterprise-grade solutions to open-source gems, we delve into a vast array of tools designed to address the evolving challenges faced by network administrators in today's complex and interconnected world.

Mastering the Art of Network Device Monitoring

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We will navigate through the intricacies of network monitoring, shedding light on the critical aspects that these tools bring to the table. Whether it's monitoring network performance, detecting anomalies, managing security threats, or optimizing bandwidth allocation, these tools offer an impressive array of functionalities to keep networks running at their peak.

Our aim is to equip you, the reader, with the knowledge and insights necessary to make informed decisions about selecting the right network device monitoring tool that aligns with your specific requirements. Whether you're an IT professional seeking to optimize your organization's network infrastructure or an enthusiast passionate about gaining a deeper understanding of network monitoring, this guide has you covered.

So, fasten your seatbelts and prepare to embark on a discovery of the top 30 network device monitoring tools, uncovering the innovative solutions that redefine the way we monitor, analyze, and optimize our networks. Through this exploration, we will unlock the potential to transform network management and unleash a new era of connectivity that is efficient, secure, and resilient.

Let's embark on this enlightening journey together and unravel the extraordinary world of network device monitoring tools.

A network device monitoring tool is a software application or solution designed to monitor, analyze, and manage network devices within an IT infrastructure. These tools provide network administrators and IT professionals with real-time visibility into the performance, health, and status of network devices such as routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and other connected devices.

The primary purpose of network device monitoring tools is to ensure the smooth operation and optimal performance of the network infrastructure. By continuously monitoring various parameters and metrics of network devices, these tools enable administrators to detect and resolve issues proactively, preventing potential disruptions and downtime.

Network device monitoring tools offer a range of features and functionalities to monitor network devices comprehensively. They collect and analyze data such as device availability, bandwidth usage, latency, packet loss, CPU and memory utilization, and other performance metrics. This information helps identify bottlenecks, network congestion, security vulnerabilities, and potential hardware or software failures.

Furthermore, network device monitoring tools often provide alerting mechanisms to notify administrators when predefined thresholds or anomalies are detected. Alerts can be sent via email, SMS, or integrated with incident management systems, allowing prompt action to be taken to resolve issues before they impact network performance or user experience.

In addition to monitoring, these tools often offer reporting and visualization capabilities, presenting network performance data in easy-to-understand graphs, charts, and dashboards. This facilitates trend analysis, capacity planning, and decision-making processes, empowering administrators to optimize network resources and make informed decisions regarding network upgrades, expansions, or security enhancements.

Overall, network device monitoring tools play a vital role in maintaining a stable, secure, and efficient network infrastructure. By providing insights into device health, performance, and security, these tools enable administrators to proactively manage and optimize network operations, ensuring seamless connectivity and a positive user experience.

Network device monitoring tools serve several key functions that are essential for managing and maintaining a network infrastructure effectively. Here are the primary functions of network device monitoring tools:

1. Device Discovery and Inventory: Network device monitoring tools help discover and identify all devices connected to the network, including routers, switches, servers, printers, and more. They create an inventory of these devices, capturing relevant information such as IP addresses, MAC addresses, hardware details, and software versions.
2. Real-Time Monitoring: These tools continuously monitor network devices and capture crucial performance metrics such as bandwidth utilization, latency, packet loss, CPU and memory usage, and response times. Real-time monitoring provides administrators with up-to-date insights into network health and performance.
3. Fault Detection and Alerts: network device monitoring tools actively monitor network devices for faults, failures, and anomalies. They generate alerts and notifications when predefined thresholds are exceeded or when unusual behavior is detected. Alerts can be sent via email, SMS, or integrated with incident management systems, enabling prompt action to address issues.
4. Performance Analysis and Optimization: These tools collect and analyze performance data over time, allowing administrators to identify patterns, trends, and areas for improvement. Performance analysis helps optimize network resources, troubleshoot bottlenecks, and make informed decisions about capacity planning and network upgrades.
5. Bandwidth Monitoring and Traffic Analysis: network device monitoring tools track bandwidth usage across devices and provide insights into which applications, users, or devices are consuming the most bandwidth. This information helps administrators allocate resources effectively, identify bandwidth-intensive applications, and implement traffic shaping or Quality of Service (QoS) policies.
6. Security Monitoring: Many network device monitoring tools include security features to detect and mitigate security threats. They monitor network traffic, identify suspicious behavior, and alert administrators about potential security breaches, unauthorized access attempts, or malware activity. Some tools may also integrate with intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) for enhanced security monitoring.
7. Reporting and Visualization: network device monitoring tools generate comprehensive reports and visualizations to present network performance data in an understandable format. Reports may include historical data, trend analysis, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Dashboards and graphical representations help administrators gain insights at a glance and facilitate effective communication with stakeholders.
8. Configuration Management: Some advanced network device monitoring tools offer configuration management capabilities. They help track changes made to network device configurations, compare configurations against predefined baselines, and ensure compliance with industry standards or internal policies. Configuration management helps maintain consistency, control, and security across network devices.

By performing these critical functions, network device monitoring tools enable administrators to proactively manage network performance, troubleshoot issues, optimize resources, enhance security, and ensure the overall health and reliability of the network infrastructure.

When selecting a network device monitoring tool, several key criteria should be considered to ensure it meets your specific requirements and aligns with your network infrastructure. Here are some of the best criteria to evaluate:

1. Device Compatibility: Ensure that the tool supports monitoring of a wide range of network devices, including routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and other critical components in your infrastructure. It should be compatible with different vendors and device types.
2. Monitoring Features: Evaluate the monitoring capabilities of the tool. Look for features such as real-time monitoring, performance metrics tracking, fault detection, bandwidth monitoring, security monitoring, and customizable alerts.
3. Ease of Use: Consider the tool's user interface, ease of configuration, and overall user experience. It should have a user-friendly interface, intuitive workflows, and straightforward setup processes.
4. Alerting and Notifications: Check if the tool offers flexible alerting mechanisms, allowing you to customize and prioritize alerts. It should support various notification methods like email, SMS, and integration with incident management systems.
5. Reporting and Visualization: Assess the reporting and visualization capabilities of the tool. Look for customizable reports, real-time dashboards, and graphical representations that provide meaningful insights into network performance.
6. Integration and APIs: Consider the tool's ability to integrate with other systems and tools in your environment. Look for APIs, SNMP support, and compatibility with common management protocols to ensure seamless integration with existing infrastructure.
7. Security Features: Evaluate the tool's security monitoring capabilities. It should have features to detect and respond to security threats, monitor network traffic, and provide insights into potential vulnerabilities or unauthorized access attempts.
8. Scalability: Determine if the tool can handle the scale of your network environment. Consider the number of devices it can monitor simultaneously and its ability to scale as your network grows.
9. Support and Vendor Reputation: Research the reputation of the tool's vendor in terms of customer support, product updates, and responsiveness to issues or feature requests. Look for user reviews and testimonials to gauge customer satisfaction.
10. Cost: Consider the tool's pricing structure and licensing model. Evaluate whether it provides value for your organization based on its features, scalability, and the level of support offered.

By considering these criteria, you can narrow down your options and select a network device monitoring tool that best suits your organization's needs, ensuring effective monitoring, management, and optimization of your network infrastructure.

In the ever-evolving world of network device monitoring, understanding the diverse categories of monitoring tools and their unique capabilities is crucial for organizations seeking to optimize their network performance, ensure security, and maintain seamless connectivity. This article takes a comprehensive dive into the network monitoring landscape, exploring different tool categories and their specific functionalities. From cloud-focused performance monitoring tools to all-in-one IT software suites and packet capture-based solutions, we unravel the distinct features that empower IT teams to effectively monitor, analyze, and manage their network devices.

1. Pure Cloud Network Performance Monitoring Tools: Focus on collecting and analyzing network performance metrics in cloud-based environments. Provide real-time insights into network performance, helping optimize network connectivity.
2. Traditional Cloud network device monitoring tools: Monitor network traffic and collect data from network devices like routers, switches, and firewalls. Identify security threats, anomalies, and network abnormalities to ensure reliable and secure network devices.
3. Open-Source Cloud network device monitoring tools: Free and open-source software solutions for network monitoring and analysis in cloud environments. Offer customization options and cost-effectiveness for tailored monitoring of network devices.
4. All-in-One IT Software Suites: Comprehensive suites with network monitoring, application monitoring, server monitoring, log monitoring, and security monitoring capabilities. Provide centralized visibility and streamlined workflows for managing network devices within the broader IT infrastructure.
5. Packet Capture-Based network device monitoring tools: Capture and analyze network traffic at the packet level. Offer granular visibility into network behavior, facilitating troubleshooting, performance optimization, and security threat detection. Ideal for complex network issue resolution.

As organizations increasingly rely on robust network infrastructures, selecting the right network device monitoring tool becomes paramount.

By delving into the categories of pure cloud network performance device monitoring, traditional device network monitoring, open-source cloud network monitoring, all-in-one IT software suites, and packet capture-based solutions, we have shed light on the diverse capabilities available.

Whether it's optimizing cloud-based environments, troubleshooting complex network issues, or ensuring comprehensive visibility across the IT infrastructure, the right monitoring tool is within reach.

Armed with this knowledge, organizations can confidently navigate the network monitoring landscape and select the tools that align with their specific needs, enhancing network performance, security, and overall operational efficiency.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore these categories and unveil the remarkable tools within each one.

From network device performance monitoring tools to traditional network device monitoring solutions, open-source or free alternatives, application performance monitoring tools with network device monitoring functions, and packet capture-based high-security tools, we will delve into each category to provide you with a diverse range of options to suit your specific requirements.

Whether you seek real-time insights into network performance, comprehensive monitoring capabilities for network devices, customizable and cost-effective solutions, holistic approaches that integrate application and network monitoring, or advanced packet-level analysis with robust security features, our curated list of categorized network device monitoring tools has got you covered.

In the realm of network device performance monitoring, a range of powerful tools exists to ensure optimal network performance and address potential bottlenecks. This section explores six top-notch tools that specialize in monitoring network device performance metrics such as bandwidth utilization, latency, packet loss, and network topology. By providing real-time insights into network health, these tools empower IT teams to identify and resolve issues, enabling seamless and efficient network operations.

Obkio offers a cloud-based network performance monitoring tool that provides real-time monitoring and performance analytics for cloud networks. This platform offers a range of features, including network latency and loss monitoring, as well as bandwidth monitoring, to help identify network bottlenecks and optimize network performance. Obkio's key features include continuous network testing, automatic alerting, device tracking, and usage reports.

One of the advantages of Obkio's network monitoring tool is its user-friendly interface. The platform's intuitive interface provides real-time insights into network performance, enabling users to detect and troubleshoot network issues quickly. Users can access the network monitoring and testing features via an easy-to-use interface that offers a range of options to identify and address network issues.

Obkio offers a range of dashboards and visualizations that provide real-time data on network performance. The platform offers a home page, agent details page, network session page, data center dynamic dashboard, branch dynamic dashboard, branch dashboard, visual traceroutes, thresholds, and notifications to help users monitor and optimize network performance.

Obkio’s Pricing:

• Free : 2 Agents | 1 Device | 1 User (Limited Functionality)
• $399 / month : 10 Agents | 5 Devices | 2 Users
• $699 / month : 10 Agents | 10 Devices | 5 Users
• Additional Fees for Additional Agent, Device and User

Obkio’s User Reviews:

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.9 (52 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.7 (7 Reviews)
• G2 4.9 (10 Reviews)
• SourceForge 5 (6 Reviews)

Obkio Network Monitoring App Tour

Be guided through how to identify and troubleshoot network problems with Obkio’s Network Monitoring app tour and features through screenshots.

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If you're interested in seeing Obkio's network monitoring platform in action, a demo is available on their website.

Kentik is a network traffic intelligence platform that provides real-time network performance monitoring and analytics.

Its features include DDoS protection, network security monitoring, network performance optimization, and API integration. Kentik offers two pricing options - Essentials and Pro, which vary in included FPS, API queries/hour, dashboards, and scheduled reports.

The pricing for Kentik's Network Observability Cloud is based on the number of flow logs per second processed and ranges from $48,000 to $516,000 per 12 months. Users can quickly identify and troubleshoot network issues with Kentik's user-friendly interface.

Kentik Reviews:

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice : 4.6 (16 Reviews)
• G2: 5 (3 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.8(94 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 9.9 (2 Votes)

Thousand Eyes is a cloud-based network performance monitoring tool that offers real-time monitoring and analytics for network performance, application performance, and user experience. Its key features include real-time alerts, device tracking, network topology mapping, and application performance monitoring.

The yearly pricing for Thousand Eyes includes 5,275 Units for $50,000 and 100 endpoint agents for $17,520. Thousand Eyes' easy-to-use interface helps users quickly identify and troubleshoot network issues.

Thousand Eyes User Reviews:

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.6 (5 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (57 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (57 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.5 (4 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 9 (65 Votes)

Catchpoint is a cloud-based network and digital experience monitoring platform that provides real-time monitoring and analytics for network performance, web performance, and user experience. Its key features include real-time alerting, device tracking, network topology mapping, and API integration.

Catchpoint's pricing options include a subscription to Catchpoint Digital Observability, which ranges from $25,000 for 12 months to $75,000 for 36 months. Users can quickly identify and troubleshoot network issues with Catchpoint's user-friendly interface.

Catchpoint User Reviews

• G2 4.5 (90 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (57 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.1 (7 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 9.3 (63 Votes)

Experience the power of the Catchpoint platform in action! This demo provides an overview of Catchpoint's real-time visibility into global monitoring networks and its various platform dashboards. You'll discover how monitoring teams can leverage Catchpoint to perform synthetic tests, analyze real-time user data, and monitor full network performance to optimize the user experience.

AppNeta is a cloud-based network performance monitoring tool that offers real-time monitoring and analytics for network performance and application performance. Its key features include real-time alerting, device tracking, network topology mapping, and API integration. AppNeta offers five pricing options, including Small Office, Large Office, Data Center, and two Global Monitoring options.

The pricing ranges from $1,299 per year to $26,499 per year. Users can quickly identify and troubleshoot network issues with AppNeta's user-friendly interface.

AppNeta User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.5 (2 Reviews)
• G2 4.3 (12 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.4 (29 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.7 (5 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 9 (9 Votes)

LiveAction is a cloud-based network performance monitoring and diagnostics tool that provides real-time monitoring and analytics for network performance.

Its key features include real-time alerts, network topology mapping, application performance monitoring, and API integration. LiveAction offers various pricing options, including LiveNX WAN Perpetual License and LiveNX SMB Perpetual License.

The pricing ranges from $14,000 to $994,500. Users can quickly identify and troubleshoot network issues with LiveAction's user-friendly interface.

LiveAction User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4 (1 Reviews)
• G2 4.6 (41 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.9 (5 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 3.5 (3 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 9 (9 Votes)

Traditional network device monitoring tools have long been a staple in the arsenal of IT professionals. This section unveils seven industry-leading tools that excel in monitoring network traffic and collecting data from devices like routers, switches, and firewalls. With the ability to detect anomalies, security threats, and network abnormalities, these tools play a vital role in maintaining reliable and secure network devices. Their insights into network behavior and traffic patterns enable effective troubleshooting, configuration optimization, and overall network health management.

A comprehensive IT management software solution that offers network bandwidth monitoring capabilities. It provides real-time traffic analysis, bandwidth usage reports, device tracking, and more. It can monitor a variety of network devices and applications and offers customizable alerts and notifications to keep users informed of network performance issues. PRTG offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and offers flexible deployment options.

PRTG Network Monitor offers a range of pricing options depending on the number of devices and aspects (a feature or capability within PRTG) to be monitored. For on-premise use, PRTG offers perpetual licenses for a one-time cost based on the number of aspects and devices, ranging from $1,899 for 50 devices up to $16,899 for 1000 devices. Additionally, maintenance licenses are available for ongoing support and updates. For cloud-based use, PRTG offers a hosted solution with annual pricing based on the number of aspects and devices, ranging from $1,699 for 50 devices up to $16,999 for 1000 devices.

PRTG User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.6 (171 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (84 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.6 (236 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.5 (4 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.6 (212 Votes)
• TrustPilot 4.4 (1055 Reviews)

A popular IT management software solution that offers network bandwidth monitoring capabilities. It provides real-time traffic analysis, bandwidth usage reports, device tracking, and more. It can monitor a range of network devices and applications and offers customizable alerts and notifications to keep users informed of network performance issues. OPManager offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and provides a range of deployment options, including on-premises, hosted, or as a virtual appliance.

Manage Engine OPManager offers two editions: Standard and Professional, and both editions are available in different packages based on the number of devices and users. The Standard edition ranges from $95 for a 10 devices pack with 2 users to $4,095 for a 1000 devices pack with 2 users. The Professional edition ranges from $145 for a 10 devices pack with 2 users to $5,995 for a 1000 devices pack with 2 users. All prices include AMS (Annual Maintenance and Support) fees.

Manage Engine OPManager User Reviews:

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.7 (47 Reviews)
• G2 4.3 (39 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (57 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.5 (4 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 7.8 (63 Votes)

A comprehensive network performance monitoring tool that provides real-time visibility into network performance and health. It offers network device monitoring, traffic analysis, and real-time alerts and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot network issues. SolarWinds offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and offers flexible deployment options.

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is licensed based on the number of network elements being monitored, which include nodes, interfaces, and volumes. The pricing ranges from $1,785 to $40,689 per year, depending on the number of elements being monitored. The perpetual pricing options are as follows:

Please note that the prices in parentheses represent the first year cost, which includes the initial purchase and annual maintenance fees.

SolarWinds User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.5 (69 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (210 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.4 (467 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4 (47 Reviews)
• Spiceworks 4.2 (10 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.7 (588 Votes)

An IT infrastructure monitoring and management platform that offers real-time visibility into network performance, health, and security. It provides network device monitoring, traffic analysis, and customizable alerts and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot network issues. ScienceLogic offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and provides a range of deployment options, including public and private cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.

ScienceLogic offers three pricing tiers for its cloud network monitoring services:

1. Hybrid Cloud Monitoring - Starting at $7.50 per node per month. Volume pricing available.
2. Service Centric Operations - Starting at $15 per node per month. Volume pricing available.
3. Intelligent Automated Operations - Starting at $22.50 per node per month. Volume pricing available.

For example, if you were to monitor 500 nodes on the Hybrid Cloud Monitoring tier, the estimated monthly cost would be $3,750. However, actual pricing may vary depending on the number of nodes being monitored and volume pricing options.

ScienceLogic User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.5 (2 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (8 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (29 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.1 (8 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.6 (335 Votes)

A cloud-based IT infrastructure monitoring and management platform that provides real-time visibility into network performance and health. It offers network device monitoring, traffic analysis, and real-time alerts and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot network issues. LogicMonitor offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and provides a range of deployment options, including public and private cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.

LogicMonitor's pricing is based on the number of monitored devices.

The cost per device per month decreases as the number of devices being monitored increases.

Annual pricing is available and can offer a discount compared to monthly pricing.

Some examples of annual pricing scenarios include 100 devices at $9 per device per month, which would cost $10,800 per year; 350 devices at $7 per device per month, which would cost $29,400 per year; and 750 devices at $5 per device per month, which would cost $45,000 per year.

LogicMonitor User Reviews:

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.7 (72 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (458 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.6 (57 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.4 (10 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.3 (292 Votes)

A cloud-based network monitoring and management tool that provides real-time visibility into network performance, health, and security. It offers network device monitoring, traffic analysis, and customizable alerts and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot network issues. Auvik offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and provides a range of deployment options, including public and private cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.

Auvik offers two pricing plans for its network monitoring services: Basic and Performance. Based on web reviews and Reddit, the estimated pricing for 50 devices is approximately $16 per device per month for the Basic plan and $26 per device per month for the Performance plan. This results in a total monthly cost of $800 and $1,300, respectively.

Auvik User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.6 (70 Reviews)
• G2 4.7 (218 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (78 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.4 (108 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.8 (154 Votes)

An IT infrastructure monitoring and management platform that offers network device monitoring, traffic analysis, and customizable alerts and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot network issues. It provides real-time visibility into network performance and health and offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and provides a range of deployment options, including public and private cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.

Progress WhatsUp Gold does not publicly disclose their pricing information on their website. However, third-party vendors such as Newegg list a package called "WhatsUp Gold Premium 25 New Devices with 1 Year Service" with a product code of #NM-69VS-0170, which is priced at $2,740.00.

Progress WhatsUpGoldUser Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.5 ( 221 Reviews)
• G2 4.4 (237 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.4 (79 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 3.6 (7 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 7.7 (61 Votes)

Open-source or free network device monitoring tools offer cost-effective solutions for organizations seeking comprehensive network monitoring capabilities without breaking the bank. In this section, we explore five remarkable tools that cater to different monitoring needs, including network discovery, device monitoring, bandwidth monitoring, and protocol analysis. These flexible tools allow IT teams to customize and extend their functionalities according to specific requirements, making network monitoring accessible to organizations of varying sizes and budgets.

An open-source network monitoring and management tool that provides real-time visibility into network performance and health. It offers network device monitoring, traffic analysis, and customizable alerts and notifications to help identify and troubleshoot network issues. Icinga offers cloud-based network monitoring services that allow users to monitor their network from anywhere and provides a range of deployment options, including public and private cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.

Icinga is a free and open-source network monitoring solution. However, in 2022, Icinga announced that it would move to a subscription-based model for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Amazon Linux. Users can still build the agent for free, and the subscription is only required for non-community Linuxes and the official packages.

Icinga User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.4 (11 Reviews)
• G2 4.4 (19 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.6 (55 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 3.8 (3 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.6 (20 Votes)

Nagios XI is a popular IT infrastructure monitoring solution that provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities for networks, systems, and applications. It offers real-time alerting, reporting, and customizable dashboards to help users quickly identify and resolve issues. Nagios XI also includes cloud monitoring capabilities, allowing users to monitor cloud-based infrastructure, such as AWS and Azure, along with on-premises infrastructure. It provides insights into cloud resource usage, performance, and availability, and supports monitoring of cloud services such as RDS, S3, and EC2.

Nagios XI is free for up to 7 nodes after the trial. For enterprises that need to monitor more nodes, Nagios XI offers several pricing options, including an Unlimited Node License for $19,995, a 1000-Node License for $11,995, and other node-based licenses with varying prices. Nagios XI also offers add-ons such as Nagios Log Server, Nagios Network Analyzer, and Nagios Fusion, which can be purchased separately.

Nagios XI User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.1 ( 35 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (49 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.3 (170 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.2 ( 12 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 7.3 ( 171 Votes)

LibreNMS is a free and open-source network monitoring solution that provides auto-discovery, alerting, and reporting capabilities. It offers support for a wide range of devices and protocols, including SNMP, syslog, and ICMP. LibreNMS also includes cloud monitoring capabilities, allowing users to monitor cloud-based infrastructure, such as AWS and Azure, along with on-premises infrastructure. It provides insights into cloud resource usage, performance, and availability, and supports monitoring of cloud services such as EC2 and RDS.

LibreNMS is open source and available for free to download and use. However, some resellers offer pre configured and managed versions of the tool at a price.

LibreNMS User Reviews

• G2 4.6 (12 Reviews)

Zabbix is an enterprise-grade monitoring solution that offers a wide range of monitoring capabilities, including network, server, and application monitoring. It provides real-time alerting, reporting, and customizable dashboards to help users quickly identify and resolve issues. Zabbix also includes cloud monitoring capabilities, allowing users to monitor cloud-based infrastructure, such as AWS and Azure, along with on-premises infrastructure. It provides insights into cloud resource usage, performance, and availability, and supports monitoring of cloud services such as EC2, RDS, and ELB.

Zabbix is released under the GPL license, thus is free for commercial and non-commercial use. There are no limitations on the number of monitored devices, you can use Zabbix to monitor many thousands of devices absolutely free.

Zabbix User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.7 (73 Reviews)
• G2 4.3 (166 Reviews)
• Gartner: 4.4 (290 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.2 (41 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 7.9 (147 Votes)

OpenNMS is a free and open-source network monitoring solution that provides auto-discovery, alerting, and reporting capabilities. It offers support for a wide range of devices and protocols, including SNMP, syslog, and ICMP. OpenNMS also includes cloud monitoring capabilities, allowing users to monitor cloud-based infrastructure, such as AWS and Azure, along with on-premises infrastructure. It provides insights into cloud resource usage, performance, and availability, and supports monitoring of cloud services such as EC2 and RDS. OpenNMS also offers a Kubernetes plugin that allows users to monitor Kubernetes clusters and their components.

OpenNMS offers three pricing tiers: Essential, Premier, and Premier+. The Essential plan costs $42,000 per year and includes up to two Meridian cores, up to 25 Minions, installation consulting, and support, among other features. The Premier plan costs $56,700 per year and includes everything in the Essential plan plus flows/streaming telemetry, Sentinel, ALEC, and NewTS. It also has faster response times and covers up to four Meridian cores and 100 Minions. The Premier+ plan has custom pricing and includes everything in the Premier plan but covers more than four Meridian cores and 100 Minions. It also has even faster response times and a mid-year checkup. OpenNMS offers an add-on for 24/7 emergency support for $24,000 per year and a Mini OpenNMS Appliance 1 for $750 each.

OpenNMS User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.7 (3 Reviews)
• G2 4.3 (10 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 6.8 (13 Votes)

Application performance monitoring (APM) tools with network device monitoring functions provide a holistic approach to monitoring network devices by integrating application-level insights with network performance metrics. In this section, we delve into six cutting-edge tools that offer a comprehensive suite of features, including network monitoring, application monitoring, server monitoring, log monitoring, and security monitoring. By combining network and application insights, these tools empower IT teams to proactively manage network devices within the broader IT ecosystem, enhancing overall performance and user experience.

Datadog is a cloud-based monitoring and analytics platform that provides monitoring, alerting, tracing, and logging capabilities for applications and infrastructure. It offers full-stack observability with support for over 450 integrations across more than 150 technologies, including AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, and Docker. Datadog's cloud monitoring services enable users to collect and analyze data from across their entire stack, providing deep insights into system performance and helping them troubleshoot issues quickly.

The pricing for Datadog's Network Performance Monitoring plan starts at $5 per host, per month, billed annually, and the Network Device Monitoring plan starts at $7 per device, per month, billed annually.

For example, to monitor 50 devices using the Network Performance Monitoring plan, it would cost $250 per month or $3,000 per year, and for the Network Device Monitoring plan, it would cost $350 per month or $4,200 per year. However, it's important to note that these prices are subject to change and may vary depending on the specific needs of each business.

Additionally, Datadog offers various pricing plans with different features and capabilities, so it's recommended to review their website and speak with a sales representative to determine the best plan and pricing for a specific use case.

Datadog User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.6 (215 Reviews)
• G2 4.3 (409 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (446 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.3 (106 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.6 (193 Votes)

AppDynamics is an application performance monitoring (APM) solution that provides real-time insights into application performance, user experience, and business impact. It provides end-to-end visibility across application environments, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, enabling users to quickly identify and resolve issues before they impact end-users. AppDynamics' cloud monitoring services allow users to monitor their applications, microservices, and APIs in real-time and track performance metrics such as response times, error rates, and resource utilization.

AppDynamics provides the Advanced and Peak plans, which cater to the needs of larger enterprises, offering additional features such as multi-cloud support, machine learning, and analytics. The Advanced plan is available for $35,500 per year and provides monitoring for one application with up to 5,000 nodes, while the Peak plan is priced at $71,100 per year and includes monitoring for one application with up to 10,000 nodes. It's essential to note that the pricing may vary based on the specific requirements of each organization, and AppDynamics also provides custom plans for businesses with complex environments.

AppDynamics User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.6 (29 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (898 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (1 458 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 3.8 (31 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.4 (162 Votes)

Dynatrace is an APM and digital experience management (DEM) solution that provides real-time insights into application performance, user experience, and business impact. It uses AI-powered automation to detect anomalies and performance issues, providing root cause analysis and recommendations for remediation. Dynatrace's cloud monitoring services allow users to monitor their applications and infrastructure across cloud, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments, providing visibility into cloud provider-specific metrics such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Dynatrace offers full-stack monitoring, infrastructure monitoring, and digital experience monitoring with pricing that varies depending on factors such as the level of services and support needed, the size and complexity of the environment being monitored, and the length of the contract. Full-stack monitoring starts at $69 per month billed annually per 8 GB host, infrastructure monitoring starts at $21 per month billed annually per 8 GB host, and digital experience monitoring starts at $11 per month billed annually for 10k digital experience monitoring units.

Dynatrace User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice : 4.5 (47 Reviews)
• G2 4.5 (1 101 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (1 458 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.2 (29 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.5 (542 Votes)

Splunk is a cloud-based platform that provides monitoring, logging, and analytics capabilities for applications and infrastructure. It offers machine learning-driven insights and predictive analytics for detecting and resolving issues, and provides support for over 300 integrations across multiple technology stacks. Splunk's cloud monitoring services allow users to monitor their entire stack, from infrastructure to application performance, and analyze data in real-time to identify issues and troubleshoot problems.

Splunk offers three pricing tiers for its Observability Cloud: Infrastructure, App & Infra, and End-to-End. Infrastructure starts at $15 per host/month billed annually, while App & Infra and End-to-End start at $60 and $75 per host/month billed annually, respectively. Splunk also offers individual observability offerings, including Splunk Infrastructure Monitoring, Splunk APM, Splunk RUM, Splunk Synthetic Monitoring, Splunk On-Call, and Splunk IT Service Intelligence, each with their own starting prices.

Splunk User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.5 (185 Reviews)
• G2 4.3 (373 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.3 (1 332 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 3.5 (4 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.6 (425 Votes)

New Relic is an APM solution that provides real-time insights into application performance, user experience, and business impact. It offers support for multiple languages, frameworks, and environments, including cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments, and provides customizable dashboards and alerts for tracking performance metrics. New Relic's cloud monitoring services enable users to monitor their entire stack, including applications, infrastructure, and logs, and provides out-of-the-box integrations with popular cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.

New Relic offers different pricing plans for its observability platform, with varying data and user costs. The Standard, Pro, and Enterprise plans all start at $0/month for 100 GB of data ingested, with a cost of $0.30/GB beyond the free limit. The Data Plus plan starts at $0.50/GB beyond the free limit for original data ingest or $0.10/GB beyond the free limit for New Relic Vulnerability Management with the original data option, and starts at $0.50/GB beyond the free limit for Data Plus ingest or $0.10/GB beyond the free limit for New Relic Vulnerability Management with Data Plus. Basic users are free for all plans, while core users cost $49/user/month. Full platform users have different pricing for each plan, with the Standard plan offering 1 free user and $99/additional user (up to 5), the Pro plan costing $349/user/month with custom pricing available, and the Enterprise plan costing $549/user/month with custom pricing available.

New Relic User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.5 (165 Reviews)
• G2 4.3 (346 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (1 315 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.1 (30 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.6 (280 Votes)

Elastic Observability is a cloud-based monitoring and observability solution that provides real-time insights into application performance, infrastructure, and logs. It offers support for multiple technologies and integrations, including AWS, Azure, and GCP, and provides customizable dashboards and alerts for tracking performance metrics. Elastic Observability's cloud monitoring services enable users to monitor their entire stack, from infrastructure to application performance, and analyze data in real-time to identify issues and troubleshoot problems.

Elastic Observability offers four pricing tiers based on the level of features and support provided. The Standard tier starts at $95 per month, while the Gold tier starts at $109 per month, the Platinum tier at $125 per month, and the Enterprise tier at $175 per month. The pricing is based on cloud production configurations with 120 GB storage and 2 zones and may vary based on the customer's specific needs and usage. Each tier includes additional features like security, observability applications for APM, logging, and metrics, and advanced security features, machine learning capabilities for anomaly detection, cross-cluster replication, searchable snapshots, support for searchable cold and frozen tiers, and Elastic Maps Server.

Elastic Observability User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice 4.3 (24 Reviews)
• G2 4.2 (75 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.5 (115 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 3.7 (9 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.6 (10 Votes)

When it comes to monitoring network devices with a focus on high security and granular visibility, packet capture-based tools rise to the occasion. In this section, we explore six exceptional tools that capture and analyze network traffic at the packet level. These tools provide unparalleled insights into network behavior, enabling IT teams to diagnose and resolve complex network issues effectively. With their ability to examine individual packets, these tools are instrumental in optimizing network performance, detecting security threats, and ensuring robust network connectivity in sensitive environments.

Ixia/Keysight Network Monitoring provides network visibility and security solutions to enterprises and service providers. Their cloud network monitoring solution offers visibility into public, private, and hybrid cloud environments. It provides packet-level visibility, performance monitoring, and security analysis of network traffic in the cloud. The solution can be deployed as a virtual machine or on-premises appliance.

Hawkeye (also known as IXChariot Pro) offers three different bundles for network testing solutions. The 10 Endpoint Solution Bundle costs $30,447.99, the 25 Endpoint Solution Bundle costs $50,515.99, and the Hawkeye Server License costs $11,078.99.

Ixia/Keysight User Reviews

• G2 4.5 (44 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 8.7 ( 4Votes)

Viavi Observer Solutions offers a comprehensive network performance management solution for enterprises, service providers, and government agencies. Their cloud network monitoring solution provides end-to-end visibility across hybrid cloud environments. It offers real-time analytics and diagnostics of cloud network performance, identifying and resolving issues before they impact users. The solution is available as a SaaS or on-premises deployment.

The prices listed below are for Viavi Solutions products and are based on the information provided on VPCi.com and CDW. However, it should be noted that these prices are subject to change based on various factors such as region, contract terms, and specific requirements. The prices listed should be used for informational purposes only and are not a definitive representation of Viavi Solutions pricing for these products. The following is a list of some of the Viavi Observer solutions and their prices:

• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 4 ports, 16TB: $48,865.57
• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 8 ports, 96TB: $166,156.92
• Viavi Observer Apex Enterprise Hardware: $215,260.00
• Viavi Observer High Density Optical nTAP: $698.16
• Viavi Observer Apex Enterprise, 80TB: $160,159.91
• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 8 ports, 384TB: $494,526.13
• Viavi Observer GigaStor Gen 4, 8 ports, 192TB: $325,803.46
• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 8 ports, 96TB: $174,534.87
• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 4 ports, 24TB: $57,590.22
• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 4 ports, 32TB: $87,962.68
• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 4 ports, 48TB: $93,082.54
• Viavi Observer GigaStor Gen 4, 8 ports, 576TB: $727,247.03
• Viavi Observer High Density Optical nTAP, 1 Gb Singlemode (9um core) HDOT Module: $581.80
• Viavi Observer GigaStor, 2 ports, 288TB: $427,618.87
• Viavi Observer High Density Optical nTAP, 10 Gb Single Mode (9um core) HDOT Module: $698.16
• Viavi Observer Apex Enterprise Virtual Appliance: $130,590.66
• Viavi Observer GigaStor Software Edition, 1TB capacity: $8,139.42

Viavi Solutions User Reviews

• Gartner 4.8 (78 Reviews)

Gigamon provides a cloud visibility and analytics platform for monitoring and securing hybrid cloud environments. Their cloud network monitoring solution offers real-time visibility into network traffic across public, private, and hybrid cloud environments. It enables IT teams to monitor and optimize network performance, detect and respond to security threats, and ensure compliance. The solution can be deployed as a physical or virtual appliance, or as a SaaS offering.

Gigamon offers a range of products for network monitoring and its pricing varies based on the features and support provided. The Gigamon Control Card, GigaVUE-HC2, costs $24,046.34, while the Gigamon Control Card Version 2, GigaVUE-HC2, costs $27,326.12. The GigaVUE-HC1 node with 12 1G/10G cages, 4 10/100/1000M Copper, fan tray, 2 power supplies, AC power costs $25,139.60, while the GigaVUE-HC2 base unit with chassis, Control Card, 1 Fan Tray, CLI, 2 power supplies, AC power costs $29,518.13. Gigamon also offers various feature licenses for its GigaSMART product line, ranging from $5,460.85 to $32,792.44 per module.

Gigamon User Reviews

• G2 4 (1 Reviews)
• Gartner: 4.6 (63 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.3 (2 Reviews)

Netscout nGeniusOne is a network and application performance management solution for enterprises and service providers. Their cloud network monitoring solution offers end-to-end visibility into multi-cloud environments, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It provides real-time analytics and diagnostics of network performance, ensuring that applications are running smoothly and user experience is optimized. The solution is available as a SaaS or on-premises deployment.

For example, CDW offers the NetScout Certified nGeniusONE Server - network monitoring device for $36,634.99, while SHI offers the NetScout nGeniusONE Server with an MSRP of $103,350.00 and a discounted price of $98,285.00.

Netscout nGeniusOne User Reviews

• Gartner 4.3 (8 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 3.5 (4 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 9.3 (11 Votes)

Extrahop Revealx is a cloud-native network detection and response (NDR) solution for securing hybrid cloud environments. Their cloud network monitoring solution provides full visibility into network traffic, detecting and responding to security threats in real-time. It offers automated threat detection and response, ensuring that IT teams can quickly remediate security incidents before they cause damage. The solution is available as a SaaS offering.

The given price list shows the monthly cost of Reveal(x) SaaS sensors on AWS with different data transfer capacities. The pricing for each Reveal(x) 360 sensor is as follows: Extra-Small SaaS Sensor (1 Gbps) costs $3,651/month, Small SaaS Sensor (5 Gbps) costs $8,958/month, and Medium SaaS Sensor (10 Gbps) costs $13,582/month. The Reveal(x) 360 Extra-Small Ultra SaaS Sensor + PCAP (1 Gbps) costs $5,952/month, and the Reveal(x) Small Ultra SaaS Sensor + PCAP (5 Gbps) costs $18,799/month.

Extrahop Revealx User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice : 4.3 (3 Reviews)
• G2 4.6 (61 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.7 (135 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.3 (6 Reviews)
• TrustRadius 9 (4 Votes)

Skylight is a cloud-native network and application performance monitoring solution for enterprises and service providers. Their cloud network monitoring solution offers real-time visibility into network traffic across multi-cloud environments. It provides end-to-end network performance monitoring, ensuring that applications are running smoothly and user experience is optimized. The solution can be deployed as a SaaS or on-premises deployment.

Accedian's Skylight Platform is one of the network monitoring solutions for which pricing information is not publicly available. I did my best and I was not able to find any pricing examples for this product. Sorry.

Skylight User Reviews

• Capterra/GetApp/Software Advice : 5 (2 Reviews)
• Gartner 4.7 (34 Reviews)
• PeerSpot 4.6 (5 Reviews) *TrustRadius 7.9 (5 Votes)

We hope that this comprehensive guide to the top 30 categorized network device monitoring tools has provided valuable insights and assistance in your research and understanding of the industry. By exploring various categories, we aimed to showcase a wide range of tools that cater to different monitoring needs, ensuring that you can find the right solution for your network infrastructure.

From performance monitoring to traditional device monitoring, open-source options, application performance monitoring with network device functions, and high-security packet capture tools, each category represents a distinct set of capabilities and features designed to empower IT teams in their network monitoring endeavors.

By delving into these tools, we aimed to equip you with the knowledge and understanding necessary to make informed decisions and select the ideal solution for your specific requirements. Whether you are seeking real-time insights, enhanced security, cost-effective alternatives, holistic monitoring approaches, or granular packet-level analysis, our curated list has introduced you to exceptional options.

As the network monitoring landscape continues to evolve, we encourage you to stay updated on emerging technologies, trends, and advancements in the field. By keeping abreast of the latest developments, you can further enhance your network management strategies and ensure the continued efficiency and reliability of your network infrastructure.

We sincerely hope that this article has served as a valuable resource, guiding you through the diverse world of network device monitoring tools. May it empower you to optimize your network performance, enhance security, and maintain seamless connectivity. Thank you for joining us on this exploration, and we wish you success in your network monitoring endeavors.