Containerlab vs ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager
Containerlab
containerlab.dev
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager
manageengine.comSide by side
| Figure | Containerlab | ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $19.83/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 8 |
| Spec score · Network Automation Software | 8.8 (#2) | 9.0 (#1) |
| Company ownership | The repository says Containerlab was kick-started by Nokia engineers and supports multi-vendor platforms. | ManageEngine is the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation. |
| Documentation depth | Documentation covers installation, quickstart, topology syntax, kinds, networking, commands, GUI, API server, Clabernetes, examples, releases, and developer contribution workflows. | The help center includes installation, operating-system requirements, ports, database migration, licensing, REST API reference and troubleshooting material. |
| Integrations | Containerlab can launch VM based routers through vrnetlab or boxen integration and can run containerlab style topologies on Kubernetes through Clabernetes. | The OpManager add-on documentation lists integrations with Password Manager Pro, ServiceDesk Plus and ServiceNow. |
| License | The public GitHub repository identifies the project license as BSD-3-Clause. | The EULA grants a proprietary, non-transferable license and prohibits redistribution, modification, reverse engineering and multi-server installation. |
| Security | The installer can configure sudo-less operation using a SUID binary and clab_admins group, whose members are effectively granted root-level privileges. | The product page says configuration data retrieved from devices is encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption and stored in the database. |
| Self-hosting | Containerlab can run from Linux packages, a container image, Nix, source builds, WSL, macOS Linux environments, or remote Linux hosts. | Installers are provided for Windows and Linux, with central and probe binaries for Enterprise Edition. |
| Support | The project directs users with questions, ideas, and bug reports to its Discord community. | The product page lists 24x5 technical support for the Professional and Enterprise editions. |
| System requirements | The normal installation requires a Linux server or VM, Docker, sudo privileges, and locally available or pullable node images. | Current production support lists Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016 and Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Red Hat, CentOS Stream, Rocky and Debian. |
| What it does | Containerlab is a CLI that launches container-based networking labs, connects their interfaces into user-defined topologies, and manages lab lifecycles. | Network Configuration Manager is a web-based, multi-vendor configuration, change and compliance manager for switches, routers, firewalls and other network devices. |
Plans
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager
- FreeFree
- Free EditionFree
- TrialFree
- Professional Edition$238 a year
- Professional Edition$238 a year
- Enterprise Edition$3,358 a year
- EnterprisePriced on request
- ProfessionalPriced on request
In their own words
Containerlab
Containerlab is a command-line tool for orchestrating container-based networking labs. Users describe nodes, links and lab settings in topology files, then use lifecycle commands to deploy, destroy, save, inspect or graph a lab. Supported nodes include containerized and virtual-machine network operating systems from Nokia, Cisco, Juniper, Arista and other vendors and projects. The project lists platforms such as Nokia SR Linux and SR OS, Cisco XRd and Nexus 9000v, Juniper cRPD and vMX, Arista, SONiC, Cumulus VX, VyOS, FRR, VPP, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, OpenWRT, Linux containers and generic VMs. It can launch VM routers through vrnetlab or boxen, and Clabernetes can run Containerlab-style topologies on Kubernetes. Optional interfaces include a VS Code extension, desktop app and web app; desktop and web connect to a reachable clab-api-server on a Linux host. Its single binary and topology definitions can start labs in CI systems such as GitLab CI and GitHub Actions. Containerlab is free and open source. Documented prerequisites include a Linux server or VM, Docker and sudo privileges for some operations.
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager manages configuration and change workflows for switches, routers, firewalls, and other network devices. It schedules configuration backups, tracks changes in real time, and supports version comparison and rollback to trusted configurations. Configlets and scripts can automate tasks and apply changes in bulk. The product checks device configurations against defined policies and standards, supports compliance reporting, and identifies firmware vulnerabilities with CVE IDs, severity information, and patch links. The product page says it supports devices from more than 200 vendors and encrypts retrieved configuration data with AES 256-bit encryption. This is an on-premises product, with Windows and Linux installers and Android and iOS apps for viewing backups, changes, vulnerabilities, compliance, and user activity. The Free Edition covers two devices. Professional is $238 a year for a 10-device pack; Enterprise is $3,358 a year for a 250-device pack. Both paid editions list 24x5 technical support.