About Nmap
Nmap, short for Network Mapper, is a free and open source tool for exploring networks and checking their security. It is widely used by network administrators and security testers.
What it does
Nmap sends packets to hosts and reads the replies, which reveals open ports, running services and sometimes operating system details. The scripting engine adds checks for specific services and known issues. Zenmap provides a graphical interface on top of the command line tool for people who prefer clicking.
Key features
- Discovers live hosts on a network
- Scans ports to find open services
- Detects service versions and operating systems
- Runs scripts through the Nmap Scripting Engine
- Zenmap graphical interface for beginners
Who it's for
Nmap suits network administrators, penetration testers and students learning networking. Scan only networks you own or have permission to test, because unauthorized scanning can cause real trouble.
Pricing and good to know
Nmap is free and open source, and it is available for Linux, Windows, UNIX, FreeBSD and other systems. The project publishes release notes and a reference guide on its site. Its license is the Nmap Public Source License, so read it if you plan to ship Nmap inside a product.
Highlights
- Discovers live hosts on a network
- Scans ports to find open services
- Detects service versions and operating systems
- Runs scripts through the Nmap Scripting Engine
- Zenmap graphical interface for beginners
