Best Dell SmartFabric Manager Alternatives in 2026
The top Dell SmartFabric Manager alternatives are Arista CloudVision, Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric and ExtremeCloud Orchestrator: 15 data center fabric software our editors would look at instead of Dell SmartFabric Manager, in our ranking order.
Dell SmartFabric Manager: A self-hosted SONiC fabric manager for blueprint-based configuration and operational monitoring. Where it falls short: supports SONiC rather than multi-vendor fabric management.
Switching from Dell SmartFabric Manager? For most data center fabric software buyers the best Dell SmartFabric Manager alternative is Arista CloudVision, built for large Arista data-center fabrics. OpenDaylight has a free plan, which Dell SmartFabric Manager does not.
Why People Look for a Dell SmartFabric Manager Alternative
- Supports SONiC rather than multi-vendor fabric management
- Requires self-hosted deployment on a VM or Linux server
- Pricing requires contacting Dell sales
- No free plan — 1 of the alternatives below has it
- No multi-vendor management — 4 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallArista CloudVision9.3
Large Arista data-center fabrics
Visit Arista CloudVision - Best free optionOpenDaylight8.2
Has a free plan (Dell SmartFabric Manager has none)
Visit OpenDaylight - Best for multi-vendor managementNVIDIA Unified Fabric Manager (UFM)8.5
Multi-vendor management (Dell SmartFabric Manager: no)
Visit NVIDIA Unified Fabric Manager (UFM)
All 15 Dell SmartFabric Manager Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forLarge Arista data-center fabrics
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.8
A broad operations suite for visibility, configuration control and fabric automation.
- API access
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Arista -
Best forHuawei-based VXLAN data-center fabrics
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.8
A self-hosted fabric controller for teams building Huawei-based VXLAN data-center networks.
9.2/10★★★★★Contact Huawei -
Best forTeams operating EVPN-VXLAN IP fabrics
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.8
A self-hosted control point for automating Extreme IP fabric deployment and operations.
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
- API access
9.0/10★★★★☆Contact Extreme -
Best forTeams operating intent-based Nokia SR Linux fabrics
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Editor score 8.9 vs 8.8
Design, simulate, deploy, and monitor SR Linux fabrics with intent-based workflows.
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
- API access
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Nokia -
Best forTeams deploying Dell VLT fabrics
A focused lifecycle tool for designing, deploying, and monitoring Dell VLT fabrics.
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Dell -
Best forTeams managing NVIDIA and SONiC data center fabrics
Fabric assurance for operators who need telemetry, path tracing, and state validation.
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
- API access
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit NVIDIA -
Best forInfiniBand HPC fabric management
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Multi-vendor management
InfiniBand fabric operations with automation, telemetry, validation and scheduler integrations.
- Multi-vendor management
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
Pricing on request · 60-day trial Our NVIDIA Unified Fabric Manager (UFM) verdict → Visit NVIDIA UFM8.5/10★★★★☆Visit NVIDIA UFM -
Best forMid-market and enterprise Brocade SAN operations
A focused, on-premises portal for configuring and monitoring Brocade SAN fabrics.
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
- API access
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Broadcom -
Best forCisco-centric enterprise data centers
Centralizes Cisco network discovery, provisioning, policy, configuration, and assurance.
- API access
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Cisco -
Best forTeams needing open-source multi-protocol control
A broad, self-hosted controller for teams building programmable, multi-protocol networks.
8.2/10★★★★☆Explore OpenDaylight -
Best forKubernetes-centric VXLAN/EVPN networks
Centralized fabric automation for cloud-native, multi-tenant VXLAN/EVPN networks.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Netris -
Best forMulti-fabric SONiC and VLT environments
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Multi-vendor management
A fabric controller for SONiC and multi-fabric environments, with lifecycle and compliance controls.
- Multi-vendor management
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
7.8/10★★★★☆Contact Dorado -
Best forTeams managing SONiC and EVPN/VXLAN switch fleets
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Multi-vendor management
A hybrid controller for automating PicOS switch provisioning, configuration and lifecycle tasks.
- Multi-vendor management
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
7.7/10★★★★☆Contact Pica8 -
Best forMid-market and enterprise teams operating SONiC fabrics
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Multi-vendor management
SandWork automates SONiC overlay and underlay operations, with intent checks and device management.
- Multi-vendor management
- Fabric automation
- Fabric assurance
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forTeams building self-hosted virtual network overlays
- Better than Dell SmartFabric Manager:
- Free plan
A focused way to build logical L2/L3 overlays across VM and container environments.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit site
Dell SmartFabric Manager Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Dell SmartFabric Manager?
Arista CloudVision: #1 in our Data Center Fabric Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A broad operations suite for visibility, configuration control and fabric automation.
Is there a free alternative to Dell SmartFabric Manager?
Yes. OpenDaylight and Open Virtual Network have a free plan or a free tier.
Why do people look for Dell SmartFabric Manager alternatives?
Supports SONiC rather than multi-vendor fabric management; Requires self-hosted deployment on a VM or Linux server; Pricing requires contacting Dell sales.
How do I switch from Dell SmartFabric Manager?
Export your data from Dell SmartFabric Manager (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Dell SmartFabric Manager.
How to Switch from Dell SmartFabric Manager
- Export your data from Dell SmartFabric Manager (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Dell SmartFabric Manager.
Dell SmartFabric Manager vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Paid from | Fabric automation | Supported fabrics | Multi-vendor management | Fabric assurance | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Dell SmartFabric Manager | Yes | SONiC | No | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 1 | Arista CloudVision | 9.3 | |||||
| 2 | Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric | 9.2 | |||||
| 3 | ExtremeCloud Orchestrator | Yes | Small data-center (non-Clos), 3-stage IP Clos, 5-stage IP Clos; BGP underlay with BGP or EVPN overlay; EVPN-VXLAN | No | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Nokia Fabric Services System | Yes | leaf-spine, backbone, border leaf, EVPN-capable SR Linux fabrics | No | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 5 | Dell Active Fabric Manager | Yes | Layer 2 VLT; Layer 3 distributed core; Layer 3 Routed VLT | No | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 6 | NVIDIA NetQ | Yes | NVIDIA Cumulus, NVIDIA NVLink, NVIDIA Spectrum Ethernet, SONiC | No | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | NVIDIA Unified Fabric Manager (UFM) | Yes | InfiniBand | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 8 | Broadcom SANnav Management Portal | Yes | Brocade Fibre Channel fabrics running supported Brocade Fabric OS | No | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 9 | Cisco Catalyst Center | 8.2 | |||||
| 10 | OpenDaylight | Free | 8.2 | ||||
| 11 | Netris | 7.9 | |||||
| 12 | Dorado Cruz Fabric Controller | Yes | SONiC; two-tier VLT; Layer 3 OSPF; L2/L3 VLAG with OSPF; Layer 3 BGP; VXLAN with BGP EVPN; LAN/SAN; MCLAG | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 13 | Pica8 AmpCon Network Controller | Yes | L2/L3; EVPN/VXLAN | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 14 | PANTHEON.tech SandWork | Yes | SONiC; VXLAN overlay and underlay; MC-LAG | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 15 | Open Virtual Network | Free | 7.5 |
Head-to-Head
- Dell SmartFabric Manager vs Arista CloudVision
- Dell SmartFabric Manager vs Huawei iMaster NCE-Fabric
- Dell SmartFabric Manager vs ExtremeCloud Orchestrator
- Dell SmartFabric Manager vs Nokia Fabric Services System
- Dell SmartFabric Manager vs Dell Active Fabric Manager
- Dell SmartFabric Manager vs NVIDIA NetQ
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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