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Head-to-head · Data Center Fabric Software

Arista CloudVision vs Dell Active Fabric Manager

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Arista CloudVision #1 in Data Center Fabric Software 9.3/10 Pricing on request ✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Arista
Dell Active Fabric Manager #6 in Data Center Fabric Software 8.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Dell

Arista CloudVision leads on 0 checks, Dell Active Fabric Manager on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreArista CloudVision · 9.3/10
  • Most featuresDell Active Fabric Manager · 2 of 4

Arista CloudVision scores higher on our rubric for data center fabric software: 9.3 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

On deployment model, Arista CloudVision gives you Hybrid where Dell Active Fabric Manager offers On-premises.

Arista CloudVision is the better fit for large Arista data-center fabrics. Dell Active Fabric Manager is the better fit for teams deploying Dell VLT fabrics.

  • Arista CloudVision fits best

    Large Arista data-center fabrics

  • Dell Active Fabric Manager fits best

    Teams deploying Dell VLT fabrics

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Arista CloudVision 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Dell Active Fabric Manager 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.7
Ranking #1 in Data Center Fabric Software #6 in Data Center Fabric Software
Best for Large Arista data-center fabrics Teams deploying Dell VLT fabrics
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request Pricing on request
Free plan Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web Web
Integrations 6 integrations 1 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Arista CloudVision 1/4 · Dell Active Fabric Manager 2/4
Fabric automation Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Multi-vendor management Not checked yet —
Fabric assurance Not checked yet ✓ (best)
API access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Supported fabrics Not checked yet Layer 2 VLT; Layer 3 distributed core; Layer 3 Routed VLT
Deployment model Hybrid On-premises
Our review
Pros
  • Combines topology views, endpoint analysis and real-time telemetry.
  • Controls configuration changes, snapshots, upgrades and rollback workflows.
  • Supports WAN policy management plus REST and gRPC APIs.
  • Designs Layer 2 VLT and two Layer 3 fabric types
  • Discovers fabrics, deploys switch configurations, and validates changes
  • Monitors health and performance through network, fabric, switch, and port views
Cons
  • Requires contacting sales for pricing.
  • Its broad scope may exceed the needs of smaller or simpler networks.
  • CloudVision is centered on Arista network operations.
  • Management is limited to Dell Networking switches
  • On-premises, self-hosted deployment requires local infrastructure
  • Pricing is handled through sales
Our verdict

Arista CloudVision brings network visibility, telemetry and operational controls into a management platform for enterprise data centers, campus networks, WAN and multi-cloud environments. Its feature set is especially relevant to…

Read the review →

Dell Active Fabric Manager (AFM) is a network automation and orchestration tool for administrators managing Dell data center fabrics. It designs Layer 2 VLT, Layer 3 Routed VLT, and Layer 3 distributed-core fabrics, with discovery and…

Read the review →
  1. Arista CloudVisionData Center Fabric Software 9.3Pricing on request
  2. Dell Active Fabric ManagerData Center Fabric Software 8.7Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Arista CloudVision — where it wins

    • Combines topology views, endpoint analysis and real-time telemetry.
    • Controls configuration changes, snapshots, upgrades and rollback workflows.
    • Supports WAN policy management plus REST and gRPC APIs.

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires contacting sales for pricing.
    • Its broad scope may exceed the needs of smaller or simpler networks.
    • CloudVision is centered on Arista network operations.

  • Dell Active Fabric Manager — where it wins

    • Designs Layer 2 VLT and two Layer 3 fabric types
    • Discovers fabrics, deploys switch configurations, and validates changes
    • Monitors health and performance through network, fabric, switch, and port views

    Where it doesn't

    • Management is limited to Dell Networking switches
    • On-premises, self-hosted deployment requires local infrastructure
    • Pricing is handled through sales
  • Arista CloudVision9.3/10 · Pricing on request

    A broad operations suite for visibility, configuration control and fabric automation.

    Visit AristaFull verdict →
  • Dell Active Fabric Manager8.7/10 · Pricing on request

    A focused lifecycle tool for designing, deploying, and monitoring Dell VLT fabrics.

    Visit DellFull verdict →

More comparisons

All data center fabric software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update