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Head-to-head · Software-Defined Networking Software

Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric vs OpenStack Neutron

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric #4 in Software-Defined Networking Software 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Huawei
OpenStack Neutron #7 in Software-Defined Networking Software 8.4/10 Open source ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit OpenStack

Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric leads on 0 checks, OpenStack Neutron on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreHuawei iMaster NCE-Fabric · 9.0/10

Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric scores higher on our rubric for software-defined networking software: 9.0 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

On deployment model, OpenStack Neutron gives you Hybrid where Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric offers On-premises. On control-plane model, OpenStack Neutron gives you Hybrid where Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric offers Centralized.

Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric is the better fit for data-center fabric orchestration. OpenStack Neutron is the better fit for openStack cloud networking.

  • Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric fits best

    Data-center fabric orchestration

  • OpenStack Neutron fits best

    OpenStack cloud networking

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Side by side

Feature Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric 9.0/10 Visit ↗ OpenStack Neutron 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.4
Ranking #4 in Software-Defined Networking Software #7 in Software-Defined Networking Software
Best for Data-center fabric orchestration OpenStack cloud networking
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Pricing on request Open source
Free plan Not checked yet Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Linux Linux
Support Email, Tickets, Community, Docs Docs, Community
Integrations 7 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric 2/2 · OpenStack Neutron 2/2
Policy segmentation ✓ ✓
Northbound API ✓ ✓
Specs
Deployment model On-premises Hybrid
Control-plane model Centralized Hybrid
Supported protocols OpenFlow, OVSDB, NETCONF, SNMP, BGP-EVPN, JSON-RPC, RESTful, RESTCONF VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, Geneve
Managed device limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Automates provisioning, orchestration, and zero-touch device onboarding
  • Combines VXLAN overlays with physical, logical, and application topology views
  • Integrates with OpenStack, Kubernetes, VMware, and third-party platforms
  • Covers routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, IPAM, and security groups
  • Integrates with Open vSwitch, OVN, Nova, and Keystone
  • Supports VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve networking
Cons
  • On-premises deployment may not fit teams seeking a SaaS control plane
  • Contact-sales pricing makes direct cost comparison difficult
  • Its broad multi-domain scope may exceed simpler network-management needs
  • Designed for OpenStack rather than general network control
  • Requires self-hosted deployment on Linux or through APIs
  • Its broad modular scope can exceed a narrow networking need
Our verdict

Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric is a centralized software-defined networking management and control system for data-center environments. It is designed for enterprise and financial-sector networks spanning multiple vendors, clouds, and data…

Read the review →

OpenStack Neutron provides networking as a service for OpenStack clouds. It exposes APIs for creating and managing networks, subnets, ports, addresses, routers, and related services. The component is aimed at teams operating OpenStack…

Read the review →
  1. Huawei iMaster NCE-FabricSoftware-Defined Networking Software 9.0Pricing on request
  2. OpenStack NeutronSoftware-Defined Networking Software 8.4Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric — where it wins

    • Automates provisioning, orchestration, and zero-touch device onboarding
    • Combines VXLAN overlays with physical, logical, and application topology views
    • Integrates with OpenStack, Kubernetes, VMware, and third-party platforms

    Where it doesn't

    • On-premises deployment may not fit teams seeking a SaaS control plane
    • Contact-sales pricing makes direct cost comparison difficult
    • Its broad multi-domain scope may exceed simpler network-management needs

  • OpenStack Neutron — where it wins

    • Covers routing, NAT, VPN, QoS, IPAM, and security groups
    • Integrates with Open vSwitch, OVN, Nova, and Keystone
    • Supports VLAN, VXLAN, GRE, and Geneve networking

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed for OpenStack rather than general network control
    • Requires self-hosted deployment on Linux or through APIs
    • Its broad modular scope can exceed a narrow networking need
  • Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric9.0/10 · Pricing on request

    Centralized fabric orchestration for multi-vendor, multi-cloud data-center networks.

    Visit HuaweiFull verdict →
  • OpenStack Neutron8.4/10 · Open source

    A broad, modular networking layer for OpenStack deployments.

    Visit OpenStackFull verdict →

More comparisons

All Software-Defined networking software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update