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Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller vs TeraFlowSDN

Both stand on software-defined networking software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller

Paid APISelf-hostedWeb

NDFC provides centralized lifecycle management and automation for Cisco MDS and Nexus deployments, with multiple fabric modes and API integrations. Buyers should account for per-device licensing, deployment requirements, and the reported critical security advisory.

Visit Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller

TeraFlowSDN

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

TeraFlowSDN offers a broad controller and API surface for smart-network work, including beyond-5G use cases. Its documented deployment requirements and experimental optical driver are important constraints to review.

Visit TeraFlowSDN

The facts

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric ControllerTeraFlowSDN
Free planNoYes
Open sourceNot publishedNot published
Runs onAPI, Self-hosted, WebAPI, Linux, Self-hosted, Web
Lowest paid planFree or on requestNot published
Plans published3None
MakerNot publishedNot published
Websitecisco.comtfs.etsi.org
On software-defined networking software#13 of 26#9 of 26

Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller: what it does well

  • Supports LAN, IP fabric, and SAN operating modes
  • Automates deployment and configuration-compliance remediation
  • Collects data through SNMP, NX-API, streaming telemetry, and SMI-S
  • REST APIs support third-party orchestration integrations
  • Role-based access can vary across fabrics

What to know first

  • Pricing is available on request
  • Each managed Cisco Nexus device requires a right-to-manage license
  • Virtual deployment has specified CPU, memory, and storage requirements
  • A critical REST API and web UI vulnerability was reported

TeraFlowSDN: what it does well

  • Open-source under Apache License 2.0.
  • Supports a broad set of documented network interfaces.
  • Provides a northbound API with gRPC methods.
  • Integrates with ETSI Open Source MANO and OpenSlice.

What to know first

  • Deployment documentation assumes at least 4 cores and 8 GB RAM.
  • The NetConf/OpenConfig Optical driver is experimental.
  • That optical driver contains proprietary extensions.

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