networkscan

Network scanning, or simply networkscan, is the process of identifying active devices, open ports, and services on a computer network. It is a foundational technique in network management, security assessment, and incident response, enabling operators to inventory assets, map topology, and detect misconfigurations or exposed services. Scanning may be performed within an organization’s own network or against systems for which permission has been granted; unauthorized scanning can be illegal and may trigger defensive measures.

Techniques commonly involved include host discovery (for example, ping sweeps or ARP requests to determine which IP addresses are in use), port scanning (probing TCP or UDP ports to see which services are listening), and service or version detection (banner grabbing or protocol negotiation to identify running software). OS fingerprinting analyzes responses to infer the target’s operating system. More advanced scans may include traceroute to map network paths, vulnerability assessment to identify missing patches, and compliance checks.

Tools such as Nmap, Masscan, and ZMap automate many of these tasks and can produce outputs listing live hosts, open ports, detected services, and estimated operating systems. Proper use emphasizes safety: scans should be authorized, performed during approved maintenance windows, and conducted with rate limiting to minimize disruption and evade intrusion detection systems.

In practice, network scanning serves asset inventory, change management, security hardening, and risk assessment, while remaining subject to legal and ethical constraints. See also network discovery, vulnerability assessment, and intrusion detection systems.