nmap
Nmap (Network Mapper) is a free and open-source network scanning tool that allows users to discover hosts on a network, scan ports, and identify services running on those hosts. It’s a powerful tool for system administrators, security professionals, and network engineers.
What can you do with nmap?
- Discover hosts on a network: Nmap can automatically detect all hosts on a local network or the internet.
- Scan specific ports: You can scan specific ports to see which services are running on those ports (e.g., HTTP, FTP, SSH).
- Identify services and versions: Nmap can identify the service running on a port and even its version number.
- Detect operating systems: Nmap can sometimes detect the underlying operating system of a host.
Special hacks for nmap
- Use the -O flag to enable OS detection: This is useful when you want to know what operating system a host is running.
- Use the –version-all flag to get detailed service versions: When scanning, this flag will give you a more detailed report of the services and their versions on each port.
- Use the -sV flag for version detection: This flag tells nmap to try to determine the version of the services it finds.
Experience level required
Nmap is versatile enough that users at various skill levels can benefit from using it. However, it’s most useful for intermediate and advanced Linux users who want detailed information about their networks or when troubleshooting network issues.
- Beginners: May find nmap too complex and not fully understand its capabilities.
- Intermediate users: Can use nmap to scan ports and discover hosts but might not know all the options and flags it offers.
- Advanced users: Will appreciate the detailed information that nmap provides, including service version numbers and OS detection.