Aravolta vs Sunbird dcTrack
Sunbird dcTrack
Aravolta
The short version
Sunbird dcTrack is a DCIM focused on asset management and cable management. Aravolta is an integrated BMS, EPMS, SCADA, NOC, and DCIM platform that auto-discovers your equipment and deploys in days. If you need power metering, cooling monitoring, tenant billing, 3D visualization, and asset management in one system, Aravolta was built for that.
Sunbird has been in the DCIM market for a long time. But data center operators need more than asset tracking and cable management. They need real-time power metering, cooling management, supervisory control, tenant billing, and 24/7 monitoring to all work together. Here's where the two platforms differ.
| Category | Aravolta | Sunbird dcTrack |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Unified BMS + EPMS + SCADA + NOC + DCIM | DCIM (asset management, capacity planning, cable mgmt) |
| Deployment time | Days to weeks with auto-discovery | Weeks to months with professional services |
| Monitoring latency | Sub-second, real-time streaming | Polling-based, minutes between updates |
| BMS / cooling | Built-in: chillers, CRACs, sensors, fire suppression | Not included, requires separate BMS vendor |
| EPMS / power metering | Built-in: one-line diagrams, branch circuit monitoring | Power tracking via SNMP, no one-line diagrams |
| SCADA | Web-native, any browser, no dedicated hardware | Not included |
| NOC operations | Built-in 24/7 monitoring, alerting, dispatch | Not included |
| Tenant billing | Automated, usage-based invoices via API | Not included |
| Customer portal | White-label, tenant self-service | Not included |
| 3D visualization | 3D facility views, rack elevations, floor plans, heatmaps | 3D modeling, cable management visualization |
| Asset discovery | Automated via SNMPv3, Redfish, IPMI, BACnet, Modbus | Manual entry with some auto-discovery |
| Protocols | SNMPv3, Redfish, IPMI, Modbus/TCP, BACnet/IP, gNMI, OPC-UA | SNMP, limited Modbus |
| API | REST API, webhooks | REST API (limited scope) |
| Pricing | Per-device, transparent | Quote-based, plus professional services |
As of March 2026. Based on publicly available documentation.
The core difference: DCIM vs. unified platform
Sunbird is a DCIM. It tracks assets, documents cables, and helps you plan capacity.
The challenge for colocation operators is that asset management and visualization are only one part of running a facility. You also need power metering (EPMS), cooling and environmental monitoring (BMS), supervisory control (SCADA), 24/7 alerting and dispatch (NOC), and tenant-facing tools for billing and self-service. With Sunbird, you need a separate vendor for each of those.
Aravolta combines all of these into one platform. Your ops team gets one login, one dashboard, one vendor to call. When a chiller trips, you immediately see the power impact, the affected racks, and the tenant exposure in the same view. That cross-system visibility doesn't exist when your BMS, EPMS, and DCIM are from three different vendors.
Deployment
Sunbird deployments require professional services and take weeks to months. The 3D visualization features need detailed modeling of your facility before they provide value, which means someone has to build the model manually.
Aravolta ships a physical node to your facility. It auto-discovers every IP-enabled device on your network: PDUs, UPS systems, chillers, switches, sensors. Devices are classified automatically and monitoring starts immediately. Most facilities are fully operational within days.
Monitoring
Sunbird polls devices on intervals of minutes between updates. That works for capacity planning, but it means if a breaker trips or a chiller goes down, you might not know for several minutes.
Aravolta streams metrics in real-time with sub-second updates. Alerts fire immediately. For colocation operators with SLA commitments, the difference matters.
Tenant billing and customer portals
Sunbird doesn't do tenant billing or customer portals. You'd need a separate metering system and a manual process to generate invoices.
Aravolta monitors every branch circuit and ties power consumption directly to tenants. Overage detection is automatic. Invoices can be generated via API. Tenants get a white-label portal where they can view their own power usage, set up alerts, and submit support tickets.
Cost
Sunbird is quote-based pricing with professional services on top. The 3D modeling and cable management features require detailed manual setup, which means more professional services hours.
Aravolta uses transparent per-device pricing. No professional services required. The auto-discovery engine handles the setup that would otherwise cost you consulting hours.
Switching from Sunbird
If you're evaluating a move from Sunbird, Aravolta can run in parallel during the transition. The auto-discovery engine picks up your existing equipment without manual re-entry.
- Auto-discovery means no manual data migration for monitored devices
- Run both systems in parallel during evaluation
- Your team gets direct access to Aravolta engineers during onboarding
FAQ
Can Aravolta replace Sunbird and my BMS vendor?
Yes. Aravolta includes BMS capabilities (chiller monitoring, CRAC units, environmental sensors, fire suppression) alongside DCIM features. It connects to your existing BACnet, Modbus, and SNMP devices directly.
Does Aravolta have 3D visualization?
Yes. Aravolta provides 3D facility visualization, rack elevation views, interactive floor plans, and power/cooling heatmaps.
How long does deployment actually take?
Most facilities are fully operational within days of the node being plugged in. Auto-discovery handles device identification and classification. Your team validates the results and configures alert thresholds with guidance from our engineers.
Does Aravolta handle tenant billing?
Yes. Aravolta monitors power at the branch circuit level and maps consumption to tenants. Overage detection is automatic. You can generate usage-based invoices via API or let tenants view their own data through a white-label portal. Sunbird does not offer tenant billing.
Do I need to rip out Sunbird to use Aravolta?
No. Aravolta can run alongside existing tools during an evaluation period. The auto-discovery engine picks up your equipment without manual re-entry, so there is no disruption to current operations.
Last updated: March 2026