Product Roadmap for Orion NPM syslog server vs. Kiwi Syslog Server?

The announcement of Kiwi joining with SolarWinds seems like it could have a lot of benefit for existing users from both communities or it could make life miserable for existing users from both communities.

What are SolarWinds specific recommendations to their existing Orion NPM Syslog Server customers? (keep using existing system, migrate to the Kiwi Syslog Server, wait until the Kiwi server is encorporated into Orion NPM in March 2009, Orion NPM syslog server will be removed and Orion Kiwi will become a new module to license, etc.)

What are SolarWinds specific recommendations to their existing Kiwi Syslog Server customers? (keep using existing system, migrate to Orion NPM Syslog Server, wait until the stand-alone Kiwi server can be integrated into Orion NPM--then consider an upgrade in March 2009, Kiwi will be asisimalated into Orion NPM, etc.)

I've used both systems. I believe the Kiwi system to be basically stronger, but without integration into Orion NPM, web portal, etc., it isn't a clean fit for most SolarWinds customers. The existing Orion NPM Syslog Server has too small a capacity to handle enterprise volume data (10 syslog messages per second max is pretty limiting in an enterprise with a few hundred verbose devices, let alone thousands).

Some tentative product roadmap information along with tentative dates would go a long way to helping us understand the potential value of this new aquisition.

Looking forward to a good product roadmap.

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chris.lapoint

The announcement of Kiwi joining with SolarWinds seems like it couldhave a lot of benefit for existing users from both communities or itcould make life miserable for existing users from both communities.

We believe our plans will be extremely positive for both sets of customers. Now that we are one community, you should expect us to leverage the products' respective strengths to drive continued improvement for everyone.

Whatare SolarWinds specific recommendations to their existing Orion NPMSyslog Server customers? (keep using existing system, migrate to theKiwi Syslog Server, wait until the Kiwi server is encorporated intoOrion NPM in March 2009, Orion NPM syslog server will be removed andOrion Kiwi will become a new module to license, etc.)

It would be premature at this point to make any changes to your existing Orion Syslog Server environment, so please hang tight. We're working on integration plans now and we'll want to vet these plans with Orion customers like yourself before we make any final decisions. We certainly don't have any firm timelines at this point, but will enage you in prototypes, betas, etc. as we move along in this process.

Having said that, if you're interested in checking out Kiwi Syslog Server to kick the tires a bit, please feel free to do so.

What areSolarWinds specific recommendations to their existing Kiwi SyslogServer customers? (keep using existing system, migrate to Orion NPMSyslog Server, wait until the stand-alone Kiwi server can be integratedinto Orion NPM--then consider an upgrade in March 2009, Kiwi will beasisimalated into Orion NPM, etc.)

Similar to above, if you're a Kiwi Syslog Server user, we encourage you to check out Orion if you're interested in network monitoring or viewing Syslog events along with other network information (e.g. NetFlow, sFlow, VoIP, etc.). In fact, we have a product tip coming out in our newsletter this week that will describe how to use Kiwi Syslog Server together with an Orion installation.

I've used both systems. Ibelieve the Kiwi system to be basically stronger, but withoutintegration into Orion NPM, web portal, etc., it isn't a clean fit formost SolarWinds customers. The existing Orion NPM Syslog Server has too small a capacity to handle enterprise volume data (10 syslog messages per second max is pretty limiting in an enterprise with a few hundred verbose devices, let alone thousands).

Please check out the product tip in this week's newsletter for more details (should be out tomorrow), but one possibility is to set up Kiwi Syslog Server and forward critical syslog events to Orion Syslog Server. This probably gets you the best of both worlds in the interim.

Network_Guru posted another alternative approach here as well:

Sometentative product roadmap information along with tentative dates wouldgo a long way to helping us understand the potential value of this newaquisition.

As noted above, we absolutely hear you and we'll definitely engage our Orion customers as we define this roadmap. We're still early in the process so please stay tuned.

ToddK

Can someone provide a refresh (i.e. December 2010) on product positions for syslog processing using NPM 10.1 and/or Kiwi Server.

We have an NPM 10.1/NCM 6.0 installation and would like to know if we should have the NPM provide all syslog processing or offload this to a Kiwi server instance - (possibly installed on two different servers).

MarieB

Hi ToddK--

I'll mark this for Brandon to review and comment on b/c he's the PM for both.

davenc

Would also like an update on any possible integration.

Also what are the major differences b/w the two? (if I have NPM running...what are the advanatages of Kiwi Syslog....what am I missing out on using just NPM's capabilities)