Forward Networks
Forward Networks provides a digital twin platform that models your entire network infrastructure to prevent outages, verify security policies, and automate complex change management tasks effectively.
UVexplorer
UVexplorer is a network discovery and mapping software providing automated Layer 2 topology maps and real-time inventory tracking to help you maintain complete visibility over your IT infrastructure.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Forward Networks | UVexplorer |
|---|---|---|
| Website | forwardnetworks.com | uvexplorer.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 15 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2013 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Santa Clara, USA | Salt Lake City, USA |
Overview
Forward Networks
Forward Networks provides a mathematical model of your entire network, creating a functional digital twin that spans on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. You can visualize every possible traffic path and verify that your network is behaving exactly as intended. By analyzing your network's state against your specific business policies, the platform identifies misconfigurations and security gaps before they cause outages or breaches.
You can use the platform to perform 'what-if' analysis, allowing you to test changes in the digital twin before deploying them to production. This proactive approach eliminates manual troubleshooting and reduces the risk of human error. Whether you are managing complex data centers or sprawling multi-cloud deployments, you gain a single source of truth that simplifies audits and accelerates digital transformation initiatives.
UVexplorer
UVexplorer provides you with a clear, automated view of your entire network infrastructure. Instead of manually drawing diagrams, you can run deep discoveries that identify every device, link, and port on your network. It automatically generates detailed Layer 2 topology maps that show exactly how your switches, routers, and endpoints connect, saving you hours of manual documentation work.
You can track your hardware and software inventory in real-time, receiving alerts when devices go offline or when unauthorized changes occur. The platform integrates directly with PRTG Network Monitor, allowing you to export your discovered maps and keep your monitoring dashboards up to date without manual data entry. It is designed for IT administrators and MSPs who need to troubleshoot connectivity issues quickly and maintain accurate compliance records.
Overview
Forward Networks Features
- Network Digital Twin Create a vendor-agnostic mathematical model of your entire network to visualize paths across all devices and cloud instances.
- Path Analysis Search for any traffic path between two points to see exactly how packets are handled by every hop.
- Intent Verification Define your network policies and receive instant alerts if a configuration change violates your security or connectivity rules.
- Change Modeling Predict the impact of planned changes by testing them against the digital twin before touching your production environment.
- Security Posture Blast Visualize the potential reach of a compromised host to identify and close security holes in your segmentation strategy.
- Automated Documentation Generate up-to-date network diagrams and configuration state reports automatically for simplified compliance audits and troubleshooting.
UVexplorer Features
- Automated Network Discovery. Scan your entire network to identify every IP-connected device, including detailed hardware and software inventory data.
- Layer 2 Topology Mapping. Generate accurate visual maps that show physical connections between switches, routers, and wireless access points automatically.
- PRTG Integration. Export your discovered device maps directly into PRTG to keep your monitoring environment synchronized and up to date.
- Asset Inventory Tracking. Maintain a detailed database of serial numbers, firmware versions, and installed software across all your networked devices.
- Network Change Alerts. Receive instant notifications when new devices join your network or when existing configurations are modified without authorization.
- Configuration Management. Back up and compare device configurations over time to quickly identify changes that might be causing connectivity issues.
Pricing Comparison
Forward Networks Pricing
UVexplorer Pricing
- Up to 500 network devices
- Automated network discovery
- Layer 2 topology mapping
- Inventory reporting
- Basic device notifications
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited device discovery
- Advanced PRTG integration
- Scheduled network scans
- Configuration backup and restore
- Priority technical support
Pros & Cons
Forward Networks
Pros
- Unmatched visibility into complex multi-vendor network environments
- Drastically reduces time spent on manual troubleshooting
- Simplifies complex compliance audits with automated verification
- Prevents costly outages by catching errors before deployment
Cons
- Initial data collection setup requires significant time
- High price point targets large enterprise budgets
- Requires consistent data snapshots for maximum accuracy
UVexplorer
Pros
- Automated mapping saves hours of manual Visio work
- Deep integration with PRTG simplifies monitoring setups
- Generous free tier for small network environments
- Accurate detection of Layer 2 port connections
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Initial discovery configuration has a slight learning curve
- Requires Windows environment for local installation