Cisco Catalyst Center vs NVIDIA Config Manager
Cisco Catalyst Center
cisco.com
NVIDIA Config Manager
docs.nvidia.comSide by side
| Figure | Cisco Catalyst Center | NVIDIA Config Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Network Provisioning Software | 7.8 (#6) | 7.6 (#7) |
| Deployment | Cisco describes hardware and virtual appliance deployments, including current guides for VMware ESXi and Ubuntu KVM. | The platform is deployed with Helm on a Kubernetes cluster, with an installer offering interactive TUI and headless CLI workflows. |
| Purpose | Cisco Catalyst Center is a centralized network controller and management dashboard for enterprise network operations. | NVIDIA Config Manager automates bootstrapping and operation of NVIDIA AI-factory network infrastructure. |
Plans
Cisco Catalyst Center
- Cisco DNA AdvantagePriced on request
- Cisco DNA EssentialsPriced on request
In their own words
Cisco Catalyst Center
Cisco Catalyst Center has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
NVIDIA Config Manager
NVIDIA Config Manager is an open-source platform for bootstrapping and operating NVIDIA AI-factory network infrastructure. It is deployed with Helm on Kubernetes, with an installer that supports interactive and headless command-line workflows. Documented network tasks include configuration backup and deployment, cable and hardware validation, password rotation, reprovisioning, and operating system or firmware upgrades.
Core components include workflow orchestration, template rendering, PostgreSQL-backed configuration storage, zero-touch provisioning, and Kea DHCP configuration generation. Nautobot is the default bundled DCIM provider; other providers can connect through a provider-neutral SDK. Browser authentication uses an OIDC proxy, while API clients use bearer tokens. Approval workflows and an audit trail cover day-two changes. Airgapped bundles can include charts, images, manifests, and an offline installer. Standard deployment requires Kubernetes access, kubectl, Helm 3.x, Python 3.13 or later, and uv. The project describes the software as Developer Preview and not recommended for production use.