About Nmap
Nmap is a network mapping tool that identifies active hosts, open ports, and running services on networks. It uses multiple scanning techniques to gather information about target systems' network configurations and service versions. Widely used for network security audits, asset inventory, and network troubleshooting.
Key features
- 01Scan target hosts for open ports and services
- 02Detect service versions running on remote systems
- 03Identify active hosts and network topology
- 04Execute custom scan configurations for different network environments
Use cases
- 01Explore network assets during security testing and vulnerability assessments
- 02Automate host and service discovery in security workflows
- 03Diagnose network connectivity issues and verify firewall rules
Install
Pick your OS or package manager and run the command in a terminal.
Once installed, runnmap --versionto confirm it works.
Example commands
Common commands in the order you’d use them.
Details
From the project READMENmap 
Nmap is released under a custom license, which is based on (but not compatible with) GPLv2. The Nmap license allows free usage by end users, and we also offer a commercial license for companies that wish to redistribute Nmap technology with their products. See Nmap Copyright and Licensing for full details.
The latest version of this software as well as binary installers for Windows, macOS, and Linux (RPM) are available from Nmap.org
Full documentation is also available on the Nmap.org website.
Questions and suggestions may be sent to the Nmap-dev mailing list.
Installing
Ideally, you should be able to just type:
./configure
make
make install
For far more in-depth compilation, installation, and removal notes, read the Nmap Install Guide on Nmap.org.
Using Nmap
Nmap has a lot of features, but getting started is as easy as running nmap scanme.nmap.org. Running nmap without any parameters will give a helpful
list of the most common options, which are discussed in depth in the man
page. Users who prefer a graphical interface
can use the included Zenmap front-end.
Contributing
Information about filing bug reports and contributing to the Nmap project can be found in the HACKING and CONTRIBUTING.md files.