rConfig Blog

Deep dives on network automation, compliance, security, and the future of configuration management.

WhatsUp Gold pricing, editions and add-on module licensingWhatsUp Gold
Sep 15, 2026 6 min read

How Much Does WhatsUp Gold Cost in 2026?

Most pricing guides will tell you Progress does not publish WhatsUp Gold pricing. That is out of date. Here are the figures the pricing page actually shows, how device and point licensing differ, and the part that still carries no price at all: the configuration management module.

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Network configuration management security posture assessmentSolarwinds
Sep 14, 2026 4 min read

SolarWinds Security in 2026: What NCM Buyers Should Actually Check

Six years on from SUNBURST, "is this vendor secure?" is still the wrong question. Here is what a self-hosted NCM buyer should check instead, and what running config management on your own infrastructure does and does not change.

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A tidy network rack beside a cluttered rack, showing two ways to manage network systemsRancid
Sep 13, 2026 6 min read

What Is RANCID? Network Config Backups Explained

RANCID is an open-source tool that collects network device configs and records what changed. Learn how RANCID backups work, where the tool fits, and when a team may need more.

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Organised and cluttered network racks showing different ways to manage network configurationsNetwork Configuration Management
Sep 13, 2026 8 min read

Open Source Network Configuration Management Tools

Compare RANCID, Oxidized, and rConfig Core by the work they do. See which open-source NCM approach fits your devices, team, and operating model.

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Oxidized and RANCID open-source network configuration backup tools comparedNetwork Configuration Management
Sep 13, 2026 9 min read

Oxidized vs RANCID: Which Config Backup Tool Fits?

Oxidized and RANCID both collect network device configs and track changes. Compare their setup, storage, device support, web access and daily work.

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Graphic compares SolarWinds Kiwi CatTools’ 14-day trial with rConfig’s free config backup, featuring servers, files, database, and checkmarks.Network configuration management
Sep 12, 2026 5 min read

Is There a Free Version of Kiwi CatTools?

The short answer is yes, with conditions SolarWinds no longer publishes. Here is what the free edition covers, and what else you can run for nothing.

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Close-up of glowing fiber optic cables with a blurred background, conveying high-tech connectivity. "rConfig: empowering networks" logo is displayed.ISP Configuration Management
Jun 7, 2026 6 min read

Ciena 6500 TL1 GNE/RNE, Explained, and How to Simulate It at Scale

What TL1 GNE/RNE topology is, how RTRV-NBR and TID routing work, and how to simulate Ciena 6500 nodes over SSH to test your NCM, no hardware.

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Rocket launching from a glowing AI chip on a circuit board, symbolizing innovation and technology. Text: "rConfig, empowering networks."Network Automation
Jun 5, 2026 6 min read

Why Your Network Configs Should Never Leave the Building, Even for AI

AI config analysis usually means sending your configurations to someone else's cloud. Here is why data locality matters for network AI, and how air-gapped and local-LLM approaches keep configs in your control.

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A person in a suit holds a glowing smartphone with AI chatbot icons and digital connections. The text "rConfig empowering networks" is on the side, with a futuristic tone.Network Automation
Jun 5, 2026 5 min read

The Questions to Ask Before You Let AI Touch Your Network

A practical checklist for evaluating AI network automation vendors. What to ask about autonomy, rollback, data handling and human oversight before you trust a tool with your configs.

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