What is NMap?
Nmap ("Network Mapper") is an open source utility for network exploration or security auditing. It
was designed to rapidly scan large networks, although it works fine against single hosts. Nmap uses
raw IP packets in novel ways to determine what hosts are available on the network, what services
(ports) they are offering, what operating system (and OS version) they are running, what type of packet
filters/firewalls are in use, and dozens of other characteristics. Nmap runs on most types of computers,
and both console and graphical versions are available. Nmap is free software, available with full source
code under the terms of the GNU GPL.
Currently NMapWin is using nmap v 2.54beta36. See www.insecure.org for
the latest release. In case you want to use a newer version of nmap than the one which is supplied with this
distribution, get the new version from www.insecure.org and place it into the %NMAPWIN%\bin directory.
Features
- Flexible: Supports dozens of advanced techniques for mapping out networks filled with IP
filters, firewalls, routers, and other obstacles. This includes many port scanning mechanisms (both TCP
& UDP), OS detection, pings sweeps, and more. See the documentation page.
- Powerful: Nmap has been used to scan huge networks of literally hundreds of thousands of machines.
- Portable: Most operating systems are supported, including Linux, Open/Free/Net BSD, Solaris, IRIX,
Mac OS X, HP-UX, Sun OS, and more. Windows support is in beta and we are not distributing binaries yet. See
the portability page.
- Easy: While Nmap offers a rich set of advanced features for power users, you can start out as
simply as "nmap -O -sS targethost". Both traditional command line and graphical (GUI) versions are
available to suit your preference. Binaries are available for those who do not wish to compile Nmap from source.
- Free: The primary goals of the Nmap Project is to help make the Internet a little more secure and
to provide administrators/auditors/hackers with an advanced tool for exploring their networks. Nmap is
available for free download, and also comes with full source code that you may modify and redistribute under
the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).
- Well Documented: Significant effort has been put into comprehensive and up-to-date man pages,
whitepapers, and tutorials. Find them in multiple languages here.
- Supported: While Nmap comes with no warranty, you can write the author (fyodor@insecure.org)
if you experience any problems. We also host several mailing lists you can join.
- Acclaimed: Nmap has won numerous awards, including "Information Security Product of the Year"
by both Info World and Codetalker Digest. It has been featured in hundreds of magazine articles. Visit the
press page for details.
- Popular: Thousands of people download Nmap every day, and it is included with many operating
systems (Redhat Linux, Debian Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, etc). It is among the top ten (out of 15,000) downloads
at the Freshmeat repository. This is important because it lends Nmap its vibrant development and user support communities.
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