You’d be hard-pressed to find a business that doesn’t recognize the name Cisco. Cisco is one of the biggest names in networking, known for producing reliable hardware. The company produces everything from switches and routers to firewalls. Whether its devices like switches or routers. To help you monitor these devices we’re going to look at the best Cisco network monitoring tools.
Here is our list of the best Cisco network monitoring tools:
- ManageEngine OpManager EDITOR’S CHOICE Network monitoring tool that supports the Cisco User Series, Nexus, and UCS. It comes with email and SMS alerts so you can resolve performance concerns quickly. Download a 30-day free trial.
- Site24x7 Infrastructure (FREE TRIAL) This SaaS package provides network monitoring, including a Cisco Meraki monitor, and it also offers tracking for server resources and middleware activity. Access a 30-day free trial.
- Paessler PRTG Network Monitor (FREE TRIAL) Free network monitoring tool with sensors for monitoring Cisco devices. There are sensors for Cisco IP SLA, Cisco ADSL, Cisco CBQoS, and more. Start a 30-day free trial.
- Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard – Free real-time network monitoring tool with autodiscovery for SNMP devices. View an overview of device performance through the dashboard and alerts system to send notifications about outages.
- SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor Network monitoring tool that can automatically discover SNMP and Cisco devices. Includes a dashboard and a configurable alerts system.
- Zabbix – Open-source network monitoring tool with an autodiscovery feature and integrations for Cisco. Templates for Cisco Network Devices, Cisco ASA Discovery, Catalyst Switches, and more.
- LogicMonitor – Infrastructure monitoring tool with over 1,000 monitoring templates (including integrations for Cisco). Customizable alerts system with email, SMS, and voice notifications.
- Cisco Network Assistant – Free network monitoring tool for Cisco devices that can monitor up to 80 devices. It includes a topology map and configuration management features.
Our methodology for selecting Cisco network monitoring tools
We’ve broken down our analysis for you based on these key criteria:
- Comprehensive coverage of Cisco devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls.
- Real-time monitoring capabilities with detailed visualizations.
- Efficiency in network topology mapping for a top-down performance overview.
- Robust alerting system with customizable options for timely notifications.
- Ease of deployment and use, both in cloud and on-premises environments.
The best Cisco network monitoring tools
1. ManageEngine OpManager (FREE TRIAL)
ManageEngine OpManager is a network monitoring software for Windows and Linux. It supports a range of Cisco devices including the user series, Catalyst Series, Nexus, and UCS. The software also supports technologies like NetFlow and IP SLA that are used by Cisco devices such as routers.
Key Features:
- Supports Cisco User, Catalyst, Nexus, UCS series.
- SNMP monitoring of over 100 performance metrics.
- Email and SMS alerts.
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine OpManager is recommended for its extensive support of various Cisco devices and detailed performance metrics monitoring.
SNMP monitoring enables ManageEngine OpManager to measure over 100 performance metrics including CPU usage, memory utilization, backplane utilization, packet drops, interface collisions, and more. All of this information can be viewed in the form of dials, graphs, and charts.
The alert system tells you when a device’s performance metrics match a predefined threshold by email and SMS. Alerts provide you with a heads up when conditions change so that you can follow up and take action quickly.
Who is it recommended for?
Best for medium to large organizations needing a comprehensive monitoring tool with multiple Cisco devices support.
Pros:
- Extensive Cisco device support.
- Detailed SNMP monitoring.
- Effective alert system.
Cons:
- Multiple editions might be confusing to choose from.
There are three versions of ManageEngine OpManager available to purchase: Standard Edition, Professional Edition, and Enterprise edition. The Standard Edition costs $245 (£186.79) for 10-1000 devices.
The Professional Edition costs $345 (£263) for 10-1000 devices as well but includes extra features such as VMware and Hyper-V monitoring. The Enterprise Edition costs $11,545 (£8,801) for 250-10,000 devices with multi-site monitoring. You can download the 30-day free trial.
2. Site24x7 Infrastructure (FREE TRIAL)
Site24x7 Infrastructure is a SaaS package that watches over network activity. The system uses SNMP to discover and then monitor all network devices and it also includes a traffic analysis service. Any network device from any provider can be monitored with this system. For example, Cisco devices gather and store activity statistics and these can be accessed using the IPFIX and NetFlow protocols and the Site24x7 system can use both of these.
Key Features:
- SNMP network activity monitoring.
- Traffic analysis service.
- Cisco Meraki tracking.
- Performance thresholds with alerts.
Why do we recommend it?
Site24x7 Infrastructure is recommended for its comprehensive network monitoring capabilities, including Cisco Meraki, with a focus on performance thresholds and alerts.
The Infrastructure package can be expanded by plug-ins and there is one available for Cisco Meraki. This is able to track the activities of all of the Meraki range, including its cloud controller. Watch over LANs and wireless networks, firewalls, switches, and routers with this service.
Who is it recommended for?
Best suited for businesses that require a scalable SaaS solution for extensive network and device monitoring.
Pros:
- Broad network device monitoring.
- Cisco Meraki specific monitoring.
- Detailed alerting system.
Cons:
- Might be complex for small networks.
The Infrastructure module is also able to track the activities of endpoints on a network plus virtualizations, containers, and cloud platforms. Its monitoring modules all include performance thresholds that trigger alerts when tripped. Examining these gives you an immediate explanation of the root cause of performance problems. The price of the Infrastructure plan starts at $9 per month when paid annually and you can assess it with a 30-day free trial.
3. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor (FREE TRIAL)
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor is a free network monitoring tool that monitors Cisco devices. The software supports SNMP and NetFlow and can monitor Cisco devices, routers, switches, and ports. There are also monitoring sensors available for Cisco include the Cisco IP SLA Sensor, SNMP Cisco ADSL Sensor, SNMP Cisco CBQoS Sensor, and more.
Key Features:
- SNMP and NetFlow support.
- Sensors for Cisco IP SLA, ADSL, CBQoS.
- Configurable alerts system.
Why do we recommend it?
PRTG Network Monitor is recommended for its diverse range of sensors catering to Cisco devices and its highly customizable alerts system.
The SNMP Cisco ADSL Sensor can monitor your router and measures the speed of downlink, speed of uplink, local attenuation, signal-to-noise ratio, and more. Likewise, The Cisco IP SLA Sensor can be used to measure the performance of VoIP services taking metrics such as round-trip time, jitter, latency, MOS, and more.
The software also has a highly configurable alerts system. Alerts are threshold-based so that you can configure trigger parameters to determine when you receive notifications. Notifications can be sent by email, SMS, push notifications (for Android and iOS), and more.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for businesses of all sizes looking for a versatile, sensor-based monitoring solution for Cisco networks.
PRTG Network Monitor is one of the most accessible and low-cost Cisco network monitoring tools on this list. The platform is free for the first 100 sensors but after that point, you will have to pay. Paid versions of PRTG Network Monitor start at $1,600 (£1,219) for 500 sensors. You can download the 30-day free trial.
4. Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard
Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard is a free network monitor that can monitor devices, applications, and services in real-time. Spiceworks doesn’t have much in the way of integrations or features for Cisco but it can automatically discover and monitor SNMP devices. Once the devices have been discovered you can view the up/down status of Cisco devices through the dashboard.
Key Features:
- Monitors up to 25 devices.
- Color-coded device status overview.
- Alerts for device outages.
Why do we recommend it?
Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard is recommended for its simplicity and effectiveness in monitoring the status of Cisco and other SNMP devices.
The software shows you a grid overview of devices such as servers, routers, switches, and printers. The overview is color-coded so you can easily see whether a device is classified as Good, Disconnected, Slow, Unreachable or Not Tested. There is also an alert system that sends you a notification once a device goes down.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for small to medium-sized enterprises looking for a free, real-time network monitoring solution.
Pros:
- Simple and free to use.
- Real-time monitoring.
- Easy-to-understand dashboard.
Cons:
- Limited to 25 devices.
Spiceworks Connectivity Dashboard is a solid tool for SMEs that want a lightweight Cisco/infrastructure monitoring experience. The only limitation is that you can only monitor up to 25 devices. You can download the software for free.
5. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is a network monitoring tool that can automatically discover Cisco and SNMP devices. Once your devices have been discovered you can monitor the health, availability, and performance of Cisco hardware (including Cisco ASA firewalls). In addition, your devices can be viewed as a network topology map so you can overview performance from a top-down perspective.
Key Features:
- Automatic Cisco and SNMP device discovery.
- Network topology map for performance overview.
- Highly visual user interface with graphs and charts.
- Real-time alerts via email and SMS.
Why do we recommend it?
We recommend SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor for its ability to automate the discovery of Cisco devices and provide a comprehensive view of their health, availability, and performance, enhanced by a user-friendly interface.
The user interface is highly visual, with performance data displayed in tabs as graphs and charts. For instance, if you have Cisco ASA firewalls, you can monitor the status of objects, contexts, and ACLS in one pane of glass. To provide even more visibility, it automatically discovers ACLs and tells you the zones and interfaces assigned to those ACLs.
The real-time monitoring experience is enhanced by an alerts system. You have the choice between out-of-the-box alerts and creating your own. Alerts notify you when a device is experiencing performance issues. Alerts can be sent by email and SMS.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for organizations needing an easy-to-deploy tool for thorough monitoring of Cisco hardware, including ASA firewalls.
Pros:
- Automated device discovery.
- Detailed visual performance data.
- Customizable alert system.
- Suitable for both cloud and on-premises.
Cons:
- Starting price may be high for small businesses.
SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor is excellent for organizations that want a monitoring tool that’s easy to deploy and use (whether in a cloud or on-premises environment.) It starts at a price of $2,995 (£2,275). You can download the 30-day free trial.
6. Zabbix
Zabbix is an open-source network monitoring tool with a range of integrations for Cisco. It uses SNMP to monitor the status of devices. Autodiscoveryautomatically detects new devices added to your network. The feature can also detect device configuration changes, for example, if the firmware of a device is upgraded.
Key Features:
- SNMP monitoring with autodiscovery.
- Templates for various Cisco devices.
- Categorized alerts with multiple notification options.
Why do we recommend it?
Zabbix is recommended for its open-source nature and the ability to provide detailed monitoring through pre-configured templates for Cisco devices.
When monitoring Cisco devices, the user can choose out-of-the-box templates for Cisco hardware, Cisco ASA Discovery, Cisco Memory and CPU, Catalyst Switches, and Cisco Network devices. Each template allows you to monitor different performance metrics. With the Catalyst Switches integration, you can monitor switch uptime, CPU, memory utilization, interface traffic, and more.
Notifications tell you if a device is unavailable or experiencing performance issues. Alerts are categorized according to the severity with six classifications; Not Classified, Information, Warning, Average, High, and Disaster. The user can choose to be notified via email, SMS, Jabber, Messenger, or by a custom script.
Who is it recommended for?
Suitable for businesses seeking a flexible, cost-effective solution for comprehensive Cisco network monitoring.
Pros:
- Open-source and free.
- Auto-discovery for devices.
- Extensive alert classifications.
Cons:
- May require technical expertise for setup.
Any organization searching for premium, low-cost Cisco network monitoring tools would be well advised to investigate Zabbix. It’s available for free on CentOs, OracleLinux, Ubuntu, Debian, Raspbian, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. You can download the free trial.
7. LogicMonitor
LogicMonitor is a real-time infrastructure monitoring tool with over 1,000 built-in monitoring templates. For Cisco users, LogicMonitor comes with out-of-the-box integrations or LogicModules, designed to monitor Cisco devices. There are LogicModules for Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco IPSec tunnel, Cisco switches and routers, and Cisco ASA devices.
Key Features:
- Over 1,000 monitoring templates.
- LogicModules for Cisco devices.
- Preconfigured alerts with customization options.
Why do we recommend it?
LogicMonitor is recommended for its vast array of monitoring templates and specialized LogicModules for Cisco devices, offering extensive monitoring capabilities.
Each logic module allows you to monitor specific performance metrics. For example, if you’re monitoring ASA devices then you can use the corresponding module to view information on Connections, IPSec Tunnels, Sessions/users, and tunnel traffic. Alternatively, if you’re monitoring routers and switches you can monitor Port Status, Power Budget, Stack State, Switch Role, and more.
To help the user monitor more efficiently, LogicMonitor has alerts. Alerts come preconfigured and can be sent via email, SMS, and voice messages. You can even change where alerts are routed to based on the severity, group, or time of day.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for enterprises operating in hybrid computing environments needing deep, customizable monitoring.
Pros:
- Extensive monitoring templates.
- Specialized modules for Cisco.
- Advanced alerting features.
Cons:
- Pricing information not readily available.
LogicMonitor is one of the top Cisco network monitoring tools for users working in hybrid computing environments. To view the pricing information you need to contact the company directly. You can sign up for the 14-day free trial.
8. Cisco Network Assistant
Cisco Network Assistant is a free network management tool for Cisco devices. Cisco Network Assistant offers monitoring for up to 80 devices. The user can discover devices within the network and view them geographically on a topology map.
Key Features:
- Monitors up to 80 Cisco devices.
- Topology map and configuration management.
- Integration with Cisco Active Advisor.
Why do we recommend it?
Cisco Network Assistant is recommended for its focused approach on Cisco devices, offering essential monitoring and configuration management tools.
Configuration management enables the user to manage Cisco device settings remotely through one pane of glass. You can make software upgrades through the drag-and-drop user interface, which makes it easier to update a network full of devices.
The software has strong integration with Cisco infrastructure. For example, there is integration with Cisco Active Advisor so that you can view hardware information on Warranty, Contract, Advisories, End of Life notifications, and more. Also, you can access the device manager in one click.
Who is it recommended for?
Best suited for smaller companies or those heavily reliant on Cisco devices, looking for a straightforward monitoring solution.
Pros:
- Specifically designed for Cisco devices.
- Easy configuration management.
- Free to use.
Cons:
- Limited to 80 devices, less suitable for larger networks.
Cisco Network Assistant is a good option for smaller companies but the device limit makes it unsuitable for larger enterprises or those using lots of non-Cisco devices. The software is available on Windows Professional, Windows Ultimate, Windows Server, and Mac OS. You can download Cisco Network Assistant for free.
Choosing a Cisco Network Monitoring Tool
Cisco Network Monitoring tools are essential for monitoring network devices. Cisco infrastructure needs to be monitored as closely as any other type of infrastructure. Picking the right monitoring tool gives you the visibility you need to diagnose performance issues and resolve them.
While generic SNMP monitoring tools can monitor Cisco devices it is worth considering whether you need more support and integrations. Tools with out-of-the-box templates and sensors aimed specifically at Cisco will create a smoother overall monitoring experience.
Paessler PRTG Network Monitor, and LogicMonitor are all top network monitoring tools with integrations for monitoring Cisco devices. Whatever your needs, we recommend you try them free before making a decision.
