This week I want to service those who are searching for ITWatchDogs competitors or maybe a ITWatchDogs review. You found the right page to learn more about the key aspects, such as value, capacity, compatibility and scalability. This post focuses on an alternative environmental monitoring solution that provides features that overcome the numerous limitations of ITWatchDogs systems.
Lets compare feature sets and prices. In other words, lets get down to brass tacks and clarify why certain features are important and the reason falling short on some can create problems for the team responsible for the environmental monitoring system.
Environmental Monitoring System Features & Benefits
There are some features and benefits we share with ITWatchDogs (ITWD).
- Warranty
- Integration Software
- Monitoring Options
Many of these shared offerings actually have more in contrast. Let’s take a closer look.
ITWatchDogs Warranty
Upon closer inspection on the ITWD website I discovered the warranty is not free, but priced based on number of years and the unit you wish to buy. The more expensive the unit, the more expensive the warranty.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
In a ITWD review for the WatchDog 15 one customer wrote,
“Extending the warranty is almost not cost effective. Particularly at the 4 year mark it becomes almost cost effective to just buy a back up unit.”
Would you agree with that statement? Let’s say for insurance purposes you opt to either buy the 4 Year Warranty or a back up unit. What happens after your four year warranty expires or if the back up fails? Do you want to purchase another four years or buy a third replacement?
Ravica’s Warranty
Most first-time Ravica customers assume there is some kind of charge for a warranty, but pleasantly surprised to learn it’s free for life on all base units. When a customer needed a BitSight2 replaced all we required was a MAC address and photo documenting the unit’s destruction. I suggested she get creative, so she took it to their machine shop. We don’t get warranty issues this very often, so it was a little fun to receive a picture of the BitSight2 base unit sawed in half with a very clean cut.
Integrated Software
What about enterprise management? How many environmental monitoring systems will you be investing in? How will you manage them all? What does management mean? Can you see up to 600 units on a single page? Can you push down thresholds in a couple of clicks? Scaling a significant investment can cost big dollars if it can’t be easily managed over time. Fortunately both ITWD and Ravica offer a software management solution beyond the standard web interface that simplifies the task.
ITWD’s Console Aggregator
Price: $499.00
ITWD’s Console Aggregator offers a rudimentary, but certainly helpful interface to their environmental monitoring system. The Consolidated Home View is a customizable map on which you can place sensor icons, which reveal their current status upon mouseover. This is great for quick access to readings and camera footage.
Limitations:
- Limited notifications suite
- Only three user/group settings
- No map layering
- Some base units are not SNMPv3 compatible
- Interface is not very customizable
- No apparent LDAP settings
Ravica’s Pro Server Application
As you can see from the screenshot below the Pro Server Application is more robust with complete integration of all systems and graphs under a single pane of glass. There are several preset dashboard configurations, but if you can always create your own layout with a simple drag, drop and resize.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
It’s difficult to find any limitations with all the options:
- Extensive notification suite
- Limitless user/group settings
- Map layering
- All systems SNMPv3 compatible
- Robust custom capability
- VPN/NTP/LDAP settings
- Instant video playback mode
- Immediate access to all base units/sensors
- And more
Monitoring Options
Is security important? If you are installing this in the data center, it would be nice if the system can integrate with security cameras, door magnets, key pads and authentication cards. Is your scope of vision set on a immediate need based on a recent critical event? When considering an environmental monitoring system you might want to keep in mind the type of monitoring you seek now may extend into other aspects in the future. You will want to have the best system in place should that need turn to access/surveillance, power monitoring, fuel monitoring or something else.
Some products Ravica offers that ITWatchDogs does not:
- Fuel Level Monitoring
- Access Control Locks
- Remote Cell Tower Monitoring
- ZigBee Wireless
- Unparalleled Expansion Capacity (600 Data Points)
It’s important to look beyond your current needs when considering an environmental monitoring solution. How much overall value do you find in the price, capacity, compatibility and scalability? Most consumers anticipate, but still don’t want to be bothered with a renewable warranty fee. And, as the reviewer said, it’s cheaper to simply buy a back up unit.
Naturally, you seek an application that seamless integrates all systems under a fully customizable, single pane of glass. I mean, why wouldn’t you? And the ability to build on the solution as your company grows and meets new challenges will make a significant contribution to time and cost savings.
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