Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Management

Name: Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Management
Brand: Cisco
Rating: 4.4 (2 reviews)

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Est 1984|Valuation $449.2B|Raised $49.2B

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MarketsInfrastructure Monitoring

Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Management screenshot

01Competitive Landscape

Narrative comparison

Cisco vs Brocade SANnav: - Brocade SANnav provides a browser-based UI and highlights elimination of Java thick-client dependencies. - Cisco’s approach is also browser-based (Nexus Dashboard + NDFC) but introduces a platform requirement (Nexus Dashboard cluster) that can be heavier for smaller deployments. Where Cisco tends to have advantages (based on positioning and user rationale): - Organizations standardized on Cisco hardware and software in the data center (MDS/Nexus/UCS) may reduce tool sprawl by adopting Cisco's integrated approach. - SAN Analytics/SAN Insights provides flow-level visibility that can aid performance troubleshooting requiring detailed FC/SCSI/NVMe flow visibility. Where alternatives often have clearer advantages: - Brocade SANnav may be preferred when an organization requires SAN management without adopting Nexus Dashboard and its licensing model. - For monitoring-only requirements, third-party tools can be simpler and less costly than full fabric controllers.

Market adoption / trends (directional)

Cisco has transitioned DCNM to NDFC and positions NDFC as a management controller spanning SAN and LAN.
Broadcom/Brocade has transitioned Network Advisor to SANnav.

	Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Management (NDFC/Nexus Dashboard + MDS features)	Broadcom/Brocade SANnav Management Portal	Third-party monitoring (e.g., Stor2RRD / observability tools)
Starting Price	Typically quote-based; licensing varies by tier/device/features	Often quote-based; some resellers list example subscription options (e.g., large-port subscriptions)	Varies; often subscription-based; may be less expensive for monitoring-only needs
Primary Use Case	Cisco MDS environments needing centralized management, templates, and SAN Analytics visibility	Brocade FC environments wanting browser-based SAN management, zoning workflows, and policy management	Teams needing metrics/graphs/alerts across multi-vendor SANs (typically read-only or monitoring-focused)
Key Strength	Integration with MDS switch features; SAN Analytics/SAN Insights; integration with broader Cisco DC tooling	Browser UI (no Java thick client), workflow-focused zoning/config, hierarchical/global views	Rapid time-to-value for monitoring; complements vendor tools; multi-vendor visibility
Key Weakness	Platform and operational overhead (Nexus Dashboard), licensing complexity, UI and naming change concerns	Licensing and entitlement complexity; vendor specificity	Not a full fabric configuration manager; limited zoning/provisioning capabilities

01Competitive Landscape

Narrative comparison

Cisco vs Brocade SANnav:

Brocade SANnav provides a browser-based UI and highlights elimination of Java thick-client dependencies.
Cisco’s approach is also browser-based (Nexus Dashboard + NDFC) but introduces a platform requirement (Nexus Dashboard cluster) that can be heavier for smaller deployments.

Where Cisco tends to have advantages (based on positioning and user rationale):

Organizations standardized on Cisco hardware and software in the data center (MDS/Nexus/UCS) may reduce tool sprawl by adopting Cisco's integrated approach.
SAN Analytics/SAN Insights provides flow-level visibility that can aid performance troubleshooting requiring detailed FC/SCSI/NVMe flow visibility.

Where alternatives often have clearer advantages:

Brocade SANnav may be preferred when an organization requires SAN management without adopting Nexus Dashboard and its licensing model.
For monitoring-only requirements, third-party tools can be simpler and less costly than full fabric controllers.

Market adoption / trends (directional)

Cisco has transitioned DCNM to NDFC and positions NDFC as a management controller spanning SAN and LAN.
Broadcom/Brocade has transitioned Network Advisor to SANnav.

	Cisco MDS 9000 SAN Management (NDFC/Nexus Dashboard + MDS features)	Broadcom/Brocade SANnav Management Portal	Third-party monitoring (e.g., Stor2RRD / observability tools)
Starting Price	Typically quote-based; licensing varies by tier/device/features	Often quote-based; some resellers list example subscription options (e.g., large-port subscriptions)	Varies; often subscription-based; may be less expensive for monitoring-only needs
Primary Use Case	Cisco MDS environments needing centralized management, templates, and SAN Analytics visibility	Brocade FC environments wanting browser-based SAN management, zoning workflows, and policy management	Teams needing metrics/graphs/alerts across multi-vendor SANs (typically read-only or monitoring-focused)
Key Strength	Integration with MDS switch features; SAN Analytics/SAN Insights; integration with broader Cisco DC tooling	Browser UI (no Java thick client), workflow-focused zoning/config, hierarchical/global views	Rapid time-to-value for monitoring; complements vendor tools; multi-vendor visibility
Key Weakness	Platform and operational overhead (Nexus Dashboard), licensing complexity, UI and naming change concerns	Licensing and entitlement complexity; vendor specificity	Not a full fabric configuration manager; limited zoning/provisioning capabilities