NS1 Pulsar (IBM)
Intelligent traffic steering based on real-world performance data.
Overview
Part of the IBM NS1 Connect platform, Pulsar collects real-time performance data from end-users to provide a clear view of network and CDN performance globally. This data is then used by the NS1 traffic steering engine to route users to the optimal endpoint—whether that's a specific CDN, cloud, or data center—based on real-time availability and latency. The analytics component is the data collected from real users, which is visualized to show performance across different networks.
✨ Key Features
- Real User Monitoring (RUM) for performance data collection
- Global performance visibility by network, geography, and provider
- Data-driven traffic steering
- Comparison of CDN and cloud provider performance
- Actionable insights for infrastructure optimization
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Leverages a massive RUM community for data
- Highly sophisticated and customizable traffic steering logic
- Built on a premium, high-performance DNS network
Unique Value: Make perfect traffic routing decisions based on the actual, real-time performance experienced by your end-users, not just on server-side metrics.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Multi-CDN traffic management
- Cloud provider performance monitoring
- Global server load balancing (GSLB)
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Users needing only basic, single-CDN analytics
- Deep log analysis and security monitoring
🏆 Alternatives
Focuses more on the data-driven traffic steering aspect than just analytics dashboards. It provides the raw performance data and the engine to act on it, which is a more active approach than passive monitoring platforms.
💻 Platforms
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Live Chat
- ✓ Phone Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (All tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
✓ 14-day free trial
Free tier: N/A
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