issues? [email protected]
Note: Windows Server 2022 is partially compatible with later hotfixes of the 2020.2.6 release, but Windows Server 2019 remains the most stable, natively documented OS for this specific version. Database Requirements (Microsoft SQL Server)
: Supports latest versions of Microsoft Edge, Chrome, and Firefox. Network Port Requirements Ensure the following ports are open for communication: Web Console : 80 (HTTP) or 443 (HTTPS).
For administrators running Windows Server 2016 or 2019, this version remains a reliable choice.
SolarWinds NPM 2020.2.6 is commercial enterprise software. However, you can access its features without upfront licensing fees via specific evaluation pathways: solarwinds npm 202026 system requirements free
Deploying SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) 2020.2.6 requires careful infrastructure planning. This version introduces critical performance optimizations, security fixes, and enhanced polling capabilities. To ensure network monitoring stability, your underlying hardware and software must meet specific architectural baselines.
requires a 64-bit Windows Server architecture , a minimum quad-core processor , 8 GB of RAM , and a separate Microsoft SQL Server database engine to map, alert, and report on critical network infrastructure metrics . While the full enterprise version requires a paid commercial license, users can access the SolarWinds NPM Free 30-Day Evaluation to test all premium monitoring features within a staging or production environment.
If you only need basic functionality, SolarWinds offers several standalone free tools that complement NPM, such as: Note: Windows Server 2022 is partially compatible with
The main database (SQL Server) will consume the majority of available RAM. For the free trial, 16 GB is sufficient to monitor a small lab of 50–100 devices.
| SQL Version | Compatibility | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | SQL Server 2019 | Full Support | Standard or Enterprise edition | | SQL Server 2017 | Full Support | Best balance for 2020.2.6 | | SQL Server 2016 SP2 | Full Support | Older but stable | | SQL Server 2014 | Limited | Not recommended | | SQL Server Express | Works | 10GB DB limit; 2020.2.6 will crash when DB fills |
16 GB minimum, 32 GB or more recommended for larger environments. For administrators running Windows Server 2016 or 2019,
Always install the Orion database on a separate drive or server from the main application to ensure maximum performance.
The SolarWinds Orion Platform (which powers NPM 2020.2.6) requires a Windows environment. Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2019 Database: Microsoft SQL Server 2016, 2017, or 2019 Web Browser: Microsoft Edge Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome 3. Key Features of Version 2020.2.6