ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager

Overview

ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is an on-premises product for managing configuration changes across switches, routers, firewalls, and other network devices. It suits network teams that need a shared workflow for backups, change oversight, automation, and policy checks. Its breadth is useful in larger environments, while the Free Edition’s two-device ceiling makes it a narrow fit for production networks.

Key features

Backups and change control

Scheduled backups, version comparisons, and rollback provide a way to recover a known-good configuration after a faulty change. Real-time change tracking and notifications can help administrators catch unexpected edits, provided someone is responsible for reviewing them.

Automation and compliance

Configlets and scripts can automate routine work and push changes to devices in bulk. This can reduce repeated manual configuration, though teams still need to define the policies and standards used for compliance checks. Compliance reporting gives them a way to review the results.

Firmware and security visibility

Firmware vulnerability identification includes CVE IDs, severity information, and patch links, helping administrators assess and prioritize affected devices. The product page says configuration data retrieved from devices is encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption and stored in the database.

Device coverage and integrations

The editions support devices from more than 200 vendors, according to the product page. Integration with ServiceDesk Plus can create tickets for configuration upload requests and backup failures, connecting those events to a service desk workflow. The mobile apps for Android and iOS provide views of backups, changes, firmware vulnerabilities, compliance, and user activities.

Pricing

The pricing model is freemium, with a free plan and a 30-day trial. The paid editions include AMS and start with two users; Professional and Enterprise list 24x5 technical support.

• Free Edition: free, billed Free without a license, for two devices. It is suitable for a small evaluation or a very limited network, but the cap rules it out for most teams managing production equipment.
• Professional Edition: $238 a year, billed as a 10 Devices Pack with 2 Users. It covers 10–10,000 devices and starts with two users. This is the lower-cost paid route for teams that need to grow beyond the free cap; the initial pack is still limited to 10 devices.
• Enterprise Edition: $3,358 a year, billed as a 250 Devices Pack with 2 Users. It covers 250–30,000 devices and supports distributed environments, automatic data synchronization, and central reporting. It fits larger or distributed teams, but its starting pack and annual price are a substantial step up from Professional.

The product page separately says Professional supports up to 10,000 devices and Enterprise up to 50,000. The Enterprise pricing range is shown as 250–30,000 devices, so teams should confirm the applicable capacity for their intended package.

Platforms

Network Configuration Manager is deployed on-premises. Windows and Linux installers are offered, and its help documentation covers supported Windows and Linux server operating systems. Android and iOS apps provide mobile views; the product is also listed for web access. The platform listing includes Linux, self-hosted, web, Windows, Android, and iOS.

Who it's for

This is a strong fit for organizations managing network equipment across vendors that need configuration history, rollback, bulk changes, or policy reporting in one product. Professional and Enterprise cover larger device counts, with Enterprise adding centralized reporting and synchronization for distributed environments. A team managing only a handful of devices may find the free tier useful, but its two-device limit is restrictive; teams seeking only basic configuration backups may not need this broader workflow.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Scheduled backups, comparison, and rollback give teams a practical recovery path after configuration errors.
• Pros: Real-time change tracking, notifications, bulk automation, and compliance reporting cover several recurring network operations in one product.
• Pros: Support for more than 200 vendors and an integration that can create ServiceDesk Plus tickets broaden its usefulness in established IT workflows.
• Cons: The Free Edition covers only two devices, so it offers little room for a team to manage a real network without upgrading.
• Cons: Professional’s listed 10-device pack starts at $238 a year, and Enterprise starts at $3,358 a year for a 250-device pack; the higher tiers may be more than small networks need.
• Cons: The Enterprise device ceiling differs between the product-page capacity claim and the listed pricing range, so larger deployments need to clarify the package limit.

Alternatives

Consider Unimus if a smaller environment needs a free tier for 10 devices: its free plan includes all features except Compliance and SAML/OIDC, with community support. Choose Oxidized for free, self-hosted configuration management under the Apache-2.0 license. rConfig offers a free, MIT-licensed Core plan with no device limit, while its Starter plan costs $3,900, paid once for up to 300 devices. Arista NG Firewall is another freemium option with a free plan for basic security and connectivity features. Netpicker has a free Foundation plan for unlimited devices and a single user, with Professional features for 10 devices. RANCID is a free option with no stated usage limits. NetKeep is free, self-hosted software for Linux amd64 or arm64 servers under AGPL-3.0. Gluware offers a one-year renewable Community Edition for up to 20 devices, with its full application suite except Topology.

Browse the Network Configuration Management Software list for more products in this category, or compare Network Automation Software and Network Management Software.

Verdict

Choose ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager if your team needs backups, change tracking, automation, and compliance checks across a substantial network, especially when distributed reporting matters. Its main advantage is the breadth of network configuration work it brings together; its main drawback for smaller teams is the two-device free cap and the cost of scaling into paid packs.