Nmap

ApplicationNmap Project

Also called network mapper, zenmap

Nmap ProjectSystem

A port scanner from the Nmap Project. The process is nmap.exe. Zenmap is the old GUI. It is not Advanced IP Scanner.

What you need to know

Nmap is a port scanner. Advanced IP Scanner is a LAN device GUI.

The Nmap Project's nmap.exe scans ports and runs scripts. Get it from nmap.org. Zenmap is the old GUI. Advanced IP Scanner is Famatech's friendlier LAN tool. Wireshark is a packet decoder.

What is it?: A port scanner
Same as Advanced IP Scanner?: No. That is Famatech's LAN GUI
Zenmap?: The old official GUI

Feex says

If you need a real port scan on a network you are allowed to test, I would use nmap.exe from nmap.org. I would open Advanced IP Scanner for a simple LAN device list. I would not treat them as the same tool.

What is Nmap?

nmap.exe scans hosts and ports. Zenmap.exe wraps some of that in a GUI. Advanced IP Scanner is advanced_ip_scanner.exe from Famatech. Wireshark captures packets. They are different jobs.

If you have never used it

If you need to see which ports a host has open, Nmap is Gordon Lyon's scanner. Download it from nmap.org. The Windows command is nmap.exe. Zenmap is the old GUI. It is not Advanced IP Scanner, which is Famatech's friendlier LAN browser, and it is not Wireshark.

What is it used for?

Port and service scans you are allowed to run

nmap host. Advanced IP Scanner is a clickable LAN list, not this scriptable scanner.

NSE scripts the Nmap book documents

Scripts are Nmap. Famatech's tool does not run NSE.

Optional Zenmap GUI

Zenmap is the old official GUI. Many people use the CLI or another front end now.

Who is it for?

Admins mapping their own network
Students following the Nmap book
Anyone who should not scan networks they do not own

Current status

Nmap (1997) is a current port scanner from Nmap Project. The vendor still points Windows users at https://nmap.org/download.html.

How old is it?

Nmap started in 1997. Advanced IP Scanner arrived later as a LAN GUI. Zenmap was the official GUI and is now dated next to the CLI. Current nmap.exe still ships from nmap.org.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

nmap.exe Windows

Zenmap GUI

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows 10 or Windows 11, per current nmap.org Windows builds
RAM	Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand: Rises with timing and script load
Network demand: The scan is the network load

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
nmap.exe	Scanner CLI
zenmap.exe	Older official GUI, still shipped in some Windows builds

Startup components

nmap.exe is a CLI. It should not start with Windows.

File locations

Common Nmap locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files (x86)\Nmap\

File formats

XML and grepable output (-oX, -oG)normal text

Common problems

Scanning without permission

That can be illegal or against policy. Advanced IP Scanner on your LAN is still a scan. Stay on networks you own or were asked to test.

Npcap missing after install

The Windows installer can add Npcap. Wireshark uses Npcap too. They are still different apps.

Getting unstuck

Download from nmap.org/download.html

A random "Nmap Pro" host is not the project. Advanced IP Scanner is at advanced-ip-scanner.com if you wanted the Famatech GUI.

Add Npcap if raw scans fail

The Nmap installer documents this. Zenmap will not fix a missing driver by itself.

Start with nmap -sV on one host you own before you script a subnet

That is the safe learning path. Wireshark is the next tool if you need packet decode.

Alternatives

Advanced IP Scanner for a simple LAN GUI. Wireshark for packets. Angry IP Scanner is another GUI scanner.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	nmap.org/download.html Official installer or vendor page
Help	nmap.org/book/ Vendor support
Official site	nmap.org/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

The scan uses the NIC and CPU. A huge subnet is a policy and time problem, not a GPU need.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Nmap official site · Vendor product page
Nmap help · Vendor support
Nmap download · Official Windows builds
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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