Proactive and automated support solutions are critical for protecting and optimizing your environment.
This overview highlights the key differentiators between VMware Skyline and Runecast Analyzer, the only alternative available.
Runecast AnalyzerYes
Skyline with Production supportNo, reports with issues are sent days after the scan and there is no guaranteed delivery time
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, reports with issues are sent days after the scan and there is no guaranteed delivery time
Runecast AnalyzerYes
Skyline with Production supportNo, reports are sent with days delay
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, reports are sent with days delay
Runecast AnalyzerYes, support for vSphere, vSAN and NSX-V
Skyline with Production supportNo, storage product (vSAN) is not supported
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, storage product (vSAN) is not supported
Runecast AnalyzerYes, all data is kept locally and nothing leaves your environment
Skyline with Production supportNo.
Skyline data collection may include customer identifiable information. Examples include ESXi host names, IP addresses, license keys, customer IDs or entitlement account numbers.
Data is transmitted to secure data centers within the United States, operated by VMware.
Source: VMware Skyline FAQ, page 2
Skyline with Premiere supportNo.
Skyline data collection may include customer identifiable information. Examples include ESXi host names, IP addresses, license keys, customer IDs or entitlement account numbers.
Data is transmitted to secure data centers within the United States, operated by VMware.
Source: VMware Skyline FAQ, page 2
Runecast AnalyzerYes, an immediate report containing the most complex known issues from your configuration settings and from your logs
Skyline with Production supportNo.
Skyline with Premiere supportLimited. A delayed report containing the most complex known issues from your configuration settings, but not from your logs
Runecast AnalyzerYes, the Runecast Analyzer engine doesn't need to be connected to the Internet and can be upgraded in an offline mode
Skyline with Production supportNo, VMware Skyline Collector application is continuously sending data to VMware servers to be examined and will not work without Internet connectivity
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, VMware Skyline Collector application is continuously sending data to VMware servers to be examined and will not work without Internet connectivity
Runecast AnalyzerYes, against VMware security hardening policies, DISA-STIG 6 and PCI-DSS
Skyline with Production supportNo
Skyline with Premiere supportA limited number of VMware security hardening policies
Runecast AnalyzerYes, fully customizable report frequency sent as a PDF or XSL format
Skyline with Production supportNo, a report is on-request/demand only with no guaranteed response time
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, a report is on-request/demand only with no guaranteed response time
Runecast AnalyzerYes, RestAPI and out-of-the box plug-in for vSphere, vRO and SolarWinds Virtualization Manager
Skyline with Production supportNo
Skyline with Premiere supportNo
Runecast AnalyzerYes, summary dashboard, customizable issues pages, full control over settings and findings, granular control over filters
Skyline with Production supportNo, a uniform report with simple online charts
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, a uniform report with simple online charts
Runecast AnalyzerYes, you have full control over your privacy settings
Skyline with Production supportNo.
You are required to participate in VMware's Enhanced Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). As part of the Enhanced CEIP, VMware collects certain technical data and product logs about your organization's use of VMware products and services on a regular basis.
Data is accessible to VMware employees who perform customer support and engagement. Data can be shared across VMware teams to enable cross-product correlation and analysis.
Source: VMware Skyline FAQ, page 3, VMware Skyline Collector Terms and Conditions
Skyline with Premiere supportNo.
You are required to participate in VMware's Enhanced Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). As part of the Enhanced CEIP, VMware collects certain technical data and product logs about your organization's use of VMware products and services on a regular basis.
Data is accessible to VMware employees who perform customer support and engagement. Data can be shared across VMware teams to enable cross-product correlation and analysis.
Source: VMware Skyline FAQ, page 3, VMware Skyline Collector Terms and Conditions
Runecast AnalyzerYes, 3+ years on the market, developed by admins for admins. New features released twice a quarter.
Skyline with Production supportNo, still in beta
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, still in beta
Runecast AnalyzerBi-weekly or daily in case of critical issues
Skyline with Production supportUnknown
Skyline with Premiere supportUnknown
Runecast Analyzer24x7 response from the people who developed it
Skyline with Production supportSkyline with Premiere supportRunecast AnalyzerYes, available now and available globally
Skyline with Production supportNo, not publicly available. Available by invitation only and only in certain regions
Skyline with Premiere supportNo, not publicly available. Available by invitation only and only in certain regions
“…troubleshooting took too long because we had to call VMware support center in many cases. Runecast Analyzer changed all that”
Director of Network Operations
“The tool we always wanted from VMware”
Senior Systems Engineer
“Best 3rd party software for your vSphere environments,”
IT and Services admin
“It’s like having a VMware technician 24/7 auditing your VMware environment, it's absolutely great!!!”
Senior Systems Engineer
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