Today, we introduce a preview of the Lite Network Collector, a key step to a simpler, lower-overhead way to discover and monitor network devices and hosts.
The idea is simple. We want a collector experience that deploys faster, operates more lightly, and aligns better with our platform's direction. The Lite Network Collector is part of our OpenTelemetry-based collector strategy, aiming for a modern, unified model for collection and discovery across SolarWinds® Observability.
Why we are building it
For many customers, deploying the current Network Collector can introduce unnecessary complexity and operational overhead. The Lite Network Collector is intended to make onboarding easier with a smaller footprint, faster setup, and fewer infrastructure dependencies.
This matters for several reasons.
First, it shortens time to value. Customers can move from deployment to monitored entities with less effort and complexity.
Second, it lowers total cost of ownership. The Lite Network Collector eliminates heavyweight dependencies such as SQL Server and Internet Information Services (IIS) while expanding Linux support over time.
Third, it supports our longer-term effort to modernize collection across SolarWinds Observability through a more unified, OpenTelemetry-based approach that simplifies deployment, improves telemetry flow, and lays the groundwork for future cross-product unification.
What is included in the preview
In this preview, customers can use the Lite Network Collector for core network discovery and monitoring scenarios, including:
- Deployment on Windows and Linux
- Basic network device and host discovery and monitoring
- ICMP- and SNMP-based collection
- Monitoring of core device metrics, interfaces, volumes, and hardware health
- Installation, configuration, and discovery workflows in SolarWinds Observability
This release is practical in scope. The goal is to showcase the value of a lighter collector while gathering feedback on onboarding, deployment, supported environments, operational fit, and day-to-day usability.
What is different about the experience
The Lite Network Collector is not only about reducing footprint. It is also about simplifying the overall workflow in SolarWinds Observability.
We have designed the Lite Network Collector to feel like a natural part of SolarWinds Observability, easier to adopt where simplicity and speed matter. This includes a more streamlined deployment, clearer discovery workflows, and differentiation between the full Network Collector and the Lite Network Collector, so customers understand tradeoffs.
Within this preview release, customers can:
- Deploy a collector with fewer dependencies
- Configure discovery within SolarWinds Observability
- Select interfaces and volumes during import
- Follow a more guided onboarding flow
What is not in scope yet
This release is intentionally focused on core discovery and monitoring use cases and does not yet include the full range of capabilities available in the existing Network Collector.
Capabilities not currently included are:
- Topology
- High availability and cluster support
- Enterprise-scale deployment
- Broader support for advanced device families such as SD-WAN and firewalls
- NetFlow, syslog, traps, IP management, and configuration management
This is deliberate. We build incrementally: prove core value, validate fit, and then expand coverage over time.
Why this matters for network and infrastructure observability
From a portfolio point of view, this preview is part of a broader effort to make network monitoring in SolarWinds Observability easier to deploy, adopt, and scale.
The Lite Network Collector supports this directly. It reduces deployment complexity and makes the platform more accessible in environments where a smaller operational footprint matters most.
It also advances the move toward a more modern, unified, OpenTelemetry-based collection model for hybrid infrastructure monitoring.
Lite Network Collector and full Network Collector comparison
The Lite Network Collector and the full Network Collector are designed to serve different needs without compromising the overall monitoring strategy. The Lite Network Collector prioritizes speed of deployment, a smaller footprint, and a focused set of core discovery and monitoring features. It is best suited to customers who need to get started quickly, validate coverage, and monitor essential network devices and hosts with minimal infrastructure overhead.
The full Network Collector remains the right choice when customers need depth, breadth, and advanced capabilities. It supports more complex environments, richer feature coverage, and enterprise-scale requirements where advanced network monitoring, topology, high availability, and broader device support are needed.
Together, the two collectors create a clearer path for adoption. Customers can choose the Lite Network Collector when fast onboarding and focused monitoring matter most, while continuing to rely on the full Network Collector when they need comprehensive depth and advanced functionality. This gives customers flexibility without reducing the capabilities available across SolarWinds Observability.
What comes next
The Lite Network Collector preview is an early milestone, not the final state.
Over time, we plan to expand its capabilities, make remote management and deployment more flexible, and bring it closer to parity with the existing Network Collector. We’ll continue refining the experience based on customer feedback and product priorities, while creating a more streamlined path to adopting our OpenTelemetry-native collection experience.
The direction is clear: simpler deployment, lower overhead, and a modern collector foundation.
Closing
The Lite Network Collector preview is currently available by request. If you’re interested in testing it, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success team to have it enabled for your organization.
We look forward to hearing your feedback and using it to improve the experience.
