PRTG vs Riverbed Modeler | TrustRadius

Paessler

If there are a number of different protocols and devices to monitor PRTG is really an all in one solution. There are network specific solutions, telephony solutions, server solutions, etc – but this tool can do anything. Even if you don’t use this tool as your main “monitoring solutions” every IT professional should have access to this tool for at least troubleshooting purposes. If you are looking for something specific built for a task you may be able to find [a] more direct and easy tool to use that would be easier and quicker to setup as customization is not needed.

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Riverbed Technology

Riverbed Modeler is well suited for wireless, wired, ZigBee, and Cisco networks. All these scenarios are efficiently designed and simulated using Riverbed Modeler, as all the devices are available in its object pallet, so we just need to drag and drop for the best scenario design in the given dimensions. The simulation results are around 95% accurate. However, it is not suited for data security, as data encryption algorithms are not available in Riverbed Modeler.

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Read full reviewPros

Paessler

• Very, very configurable. You can create all kinds of monitors for all kinds of things. Plus it has loads of suggestions out of the box. It can get complicated but monitoring is complicated. Pretty decent interface and good support – active community.

• I really liked how easy it was to add alerts by SMS. So easy to setup.

• I like their sizing models (for purchase). We’re actually small enough that we are free. But it’s not free as in stripped down – it’s free because we don’t use many “sensors” and don’t honestly have the need.

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Riverbed Technology

• Allows the USE of C++ In Routing protocol of individual switch nodes

• Easy to use, Easy to setup a working network model, allows to even have computers and all sorts of peripherals like IP Printers etc

• You can stress test your network simulation, absolutely fantastic tool, bridges Monte Carlo with visual representations of the network in question

• Great Customer Support

• Good training articles available online, used as a staple in university setting.

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Paessler

• The probe service can be quite resource-intensive. This can cause false-positive readings from some sensors sometimes.

• The software gets updated very regularly. Whilst this is usually a good thing to fix bugs etc, it does meantime downtime of the monitoring quite often while they are installed.

• The ability to create Maps from Libraries. Very specific issue but a lot of people have been asking for it for years and it is still not available.

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Riverbed Technology

• Riverbed Modeler needs to improve the scenarios of LAN MAN WAN, as the available scenarios under all of these follow a simple area structure that’s not connected to the ISP when it comes to simulation. This generates dummy traffic.

• Riverbed Modeler also needs to work on the selection of result sets so that, as with most designed networks, we can select any result parameter to show. All the parameters are displayed, whether they are relevant or not. It needs to display only relevant result parameters to select.

• The back-end TCP/IP model needs more clarity to expose the structure to some changes.

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Read full reviewLikelihood to Renew

Paessler

It is now an essential tool for monitoring and maintaining the health of our network and systems.

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Riverbed Technology

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Usability

Paessler

The tool is very intuitive to use and it is Windows-based (everybody knows how to use Windows) so it’s easy to get into. Every time is setup in a hierarchy so if you have a good initial hierarchy design, it will really reduce administrative effort down the road.

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Riverbed Technology

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Support Rating

Paessler

I am giving this a 6 simply because I have never had to contact support. The online documentation is adequate for most things, and the user-maintained knowledgebase is excellent. The few times I have run into issues that were not easily resolvable with intuitive UI, I was able to find the answers that I needed either in the PRTG-provided documentation, the knowledgebase, or with a quick online web search.

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Riverbed Technology

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Alternatives Considered

Paessler

I have deployed and tested three products for evaluation I found [PRTG Network Monitor] very easy to deploy, the deployment literally took not more than one hour including basic configuration and network discovery. After deployment few configuration changes and creation of maps, reports and little tweaking is required. [Then] it would go through its process of recommendation that took some time to complete, while [on] other hand other software’s took lot of time to install and configure. And features were also missing, which resulted in decision in favor of [PRTG Network Monitor].

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Riverbed Technology

The only thing comparable to OPNET is Packet Tracer, which is basic and very limited. Packet Tracer in terms of tool comparison between the two is like OPNET’s stone-age relative.

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Read full reviewReturn on Investment

Paessler

• The ability to analyze multiple pieces of information in one place, especially with historical data, has saved our IT department time and headaches. It would be so much more difficult to trace an issue without PRTG, just relying on event logs and an open task manager window.

• The cost is not cheap, so it’s an expense that hits the bottom line like everything else. Figure in hardware costs as well, ideally a server outside of your main environment.

• I keep saying this, but the historical data piece is worth so much. There’s really no good way to collect all of that information in one place without something like PRTG. And that definitely saves time and money in the long run.

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Riverbed Technology

• It comes with a costly paid license, but simulating the network before actual deployment saves a lot of costs, in case after deployment we feel performance is not good and we need to change. This would waste a lot of money, but Riverbed saves this money.

• Its OPNET GURU academic edition is available free of cost, but with limited functionality, which is good for students in maximum case. This will degrade our sale of Riverbed Modeler.

• A one-time investment in Modeler saves a lot of cost regarding networks, topology, designing, and provides a lifetime license with updates.

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