AppNeta vs Cacti
AppNeta
networkobservability.broadcom.comCacti
cacti.netSide by side
| Figure | AppNeta | Cacti |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Network Performance Monitoring Software | 8.4 (#5) | 8.2 (#9) |
| Purpose | AppNeta provides real-time, end-user-centric performance insights across networks, applications, and locations. | Cacti is a network graphing and operational monitoring framework built around RRDtool. |
| Support | AppNeta support functions are handled through the Broadcom Support Portal, with documentation and courses available through Broadcom Tech Docs and Academy. | The Cacti site directs users seeking help to its support section, but the opened pages do not state a support service level. |
Plans
In their own words
AppNeta
AppNeta is Broadcom’s monitoring product for real-time, end-user-focused visibility across networks, applications, and locations. It combines active synthetic tests with passive packet visibility across on-premises, cloud, hybrid, and ISP environments. Delivery Monitoring measures network paths and runs diagnostics; Experience Monitoring simulates user actions and API or web-service requests through browser and HTTP workflows; Usage Monitoring uses deep packet inspection, a library of more than 2,000 application definitions, and packet capture. Monitoring Points can be deployed and managed remotely for distributed sites. Named use cases include SD-WAN and ISP validation. Intelligent Alarms can send filtered high-severity alerts through webhooks to systems such as ServiceNow, while data can integrate with DX NetOps. SaaS documentation states encrypted communications and packet captures, U.S. data processing, annual SOC 2 Type II audits, semiannual penetration tests, and a 99% availability target.
Cacti
Cacti is a free, self-hosted network graphing and operational monitoring framework built around RRDtool. It collects data through SNMP object identifiers or scripts, which can retrieve database information or run other code. Availability checks cover SNMP, ICMP, TCP, and UDP. Discovery and automation can create graphs and data sources, while Remote Data Collectors distribute collection and cache data during network interruptions. Graph items support line, area, stacked, horizontal-rule, vertical-rule, print, and comment types. Device templates connect devices with graph templates and data queries, and plugins can extend collection to other protocols, with WMI listed as an example. Role-based management covers users, groups, and domains. Cacti supports SNMP versions 1, 2, and 3, with a documented limitation for advanced SNMPv3 settings such as SHA224+ or AES192+ when PHP SNMP is used. It is available for Linux/Unix and Windows. Installation requires MySQL, PHP, RRDtool, Net-SNMP, and a PHP-capable web server such as Apache or IIS.