Scanning for IP address lets you take meliorate command over your network. With i-2 commands, you can quickly map out the devices in your network and the IP addresses that they are using. But to understand how to browse a network, first, you demand to empathize how are IP addresses assigned.

Follow these four simple steps to scan your network for IP addresses in utilize:

  1. Open a Command Prompt window.
  2. On Windows or macOS blazon ipconfig or on Linux blazon ifconfig. Press render. Note downward the subnet mask, the default gateway, and your own estimator'southward IPv4 address.
  3. Enter the command arp -a to get a list of all other IP addresses active on your network.
  4. Enter the control ping <IP_address> giving any of the addresses returned by ARP in order to test the response times to that node – don't include the angle brackets that are shown in that example.

DHCP (Assigning IPs Dynamically)

An automated process in networking, called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), assigns IP dynamic addresses to hosts equally presently as they enter the network. In a dwelling house or small network, the DHCP server is commonly a part of the router. When you lot come up into the network, the router will look for an bachelor IP address in its pool and assign it to you, so that your device tin can communicate with others without whatsoever disharmonize.

Dynamic allocation of IP addresses is a great advantage for both end-users and network admins. But sometimes you would need to have some control in gild to manage and troubleshoot your network more efficiently.

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What volition you larn in this Tutorial

In this tutorial, y'all volition learn the bones networking skills on how to scan a network for IP addresses. We volition scan a network with native OS commands, detect which addresses were assigned dynamically, which statically, and test their connectivity.

In the end, we will compare some free IPAM tools aka IP address scanning tools that tin give you additional information. To improve your IP addressing insights, fifty-fifty more, nosotros volition show yous some tools that allow you to track IP addresses and even manage them.

Simple IP Scanning

Operating Systems, like Windows and Linux, come with their ain native simple networking set of tools. Commands such as "ipconfig", "arp -a", or "ping" allow simple scanning and troubleshooting.

The simplest way to get a quick list of IP addresses and their devices connected to your network is with those Os native commands found in the command line. With a list of the assigned IP accost and their devices, you can hands find the devices that are causing the about problems.

  • ipconfig
    This command displays all network settings assigned to one or all adapters in the computer. You can find information such as your ain IP, subnet, and Gateway. For Linux and MacOS is "ifconfig".
  • arp -a
    When you issue the "arp -a", yous'll get IP-address-to-mac conversion and the allocation type (whether dynamic or static) of all devices in your network.
  • Ping
    It helps determine connectivity between 2 hosts and observe the IP address of a hostname.

Related Post: Best IP & Port Scanners

Reading The Output

Finding your own network adapter configuration

In the following screenshot, you'll run across the output from the ipconfig control. On a Windows, the ipconfig control can be entered through the Control line.

Become to Run > type cmd > type ipconfig

  • This Windows figurer has five network adapters, only the terminal ane (Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi) is the only one connected to a network. The balance are asunder.
    ipconfig to view Network adapters
  • In this network, the router (or Default Gateway) is playing the role of the DHCP server. It is assigning the IP address dynamically and giving access to the Net.
  • Yous are reading two of the most important IP addresses for your device; Your ain device's IP (IPv4 and IPv6) and your Gateway. The Subnet Mask is also very important, it shows that you are on the same subnet every bit the gateway.

Now you lot know your subnet, which in this instance is 192.168.1.0/24 (using the CIDR range). Now you need to find the rest of the IP address in your network.

Scanning your Network

The job of the ARP protocol is to map IPs to MAC addresses. It provides a method for hosts on a LAN to communicate without knowing any address and create a cache of data. When a new reckoner enters the LAN, it receives an IP and updates its ARP cache with the Gateway information. This ARP enshroud tin be constitute using the "arp-a" command.

  • Use the command line to enter the "arp -a" control.arp -a command
  • This computer has been continued for some fourth dimension into the LAN, and so its ARP cache is very precise and complete. The first IP address shown in the brandish is the Gateway (the same we constitute through the ipconfig control).
  • The output shows the IP, the MAC addresses, and their assignation type. The addresses displayed here were dynamically assigned by the DHCP server in the LAN. All of these IPs are devices continued to the LAN (192.168.1.0/24). The other static addresses are reserved for Multicasting.
  • With the MAC data, y'all can know the vendor. Endeavor searching for vendor prefixes or utilise an automatic online tool such as MACvendors.

Testing Connectivity

Finally, with some information, yous tin can exam connectivity. In the following examination, we tried an extended ping with "ping -t" to the gateway. With this, you tin can learn some unproblematic insights near delay and latency.

ping -t command

From the list generated by the ARP command, you could ping all the live hosts. Or you can go beyond and ping the entire subnet to find hosts not constitute past the ARP (but that would be likewise much manual work…). Later on, we'll discuss how to automatically ping entire subnets at once.

Enhancing IP Scanning

Although having a listing of devices and their allocated IP address volition requite you practiced insights, the data volition non be enough when your network scales. Manual IP scanning in multiple subnets and BYOD (Bring-Your-Ain-Device) scenarios is nearly impossible.  Equally the network scales, problems will scale besides.

Larger networks demand more results, flexibility, and easy-to-read set of commands.

An IP Accost Scanner tool helps you with larger demands. These tools are able to map the entire local network, finds live hosts, and to provide the results of the "arp-a" in a clearer format. Other IP Scanners do not depend on ARP but they operate using repeated ping tests. A Ping Sweep tool lets you ping unabridged subnets and find live hosts just with i button.

Some other IP Scanners go the extra mile and give more data such as Port number, DNS, DHCP, etc. All of this data is likewise presented in the most visual and easy-to-read format. They also allow users to relieve all results and present them in detailed reports.

Avant-garde IP Scanners

Here is our listing of the vii best tools for discovering IP addresses on a network.

  1. SolarWinds Port Scanner (FREE TOOL) A free IP address scanner that will search for all addresses within a given range and identify which are in utilise and so examine which ports on each device are agile. This tool uses multi-threading for high-speed searches. Installs on Windows Server.
  2. ManageEngine OpUtils (Complimentary TRIAL) A suite of network address monitoring tools that covers IP addresses, MAC addresses, and port numbers with a cut-downwards free version also available. Installs on Windows Server and Linux.
  3. Angry IP Scanner A free network scanner that identifies all continued devices and lists their IP addresses plus connexion response speeds. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux.
  4. SolarWinds Ping Sweep (FREE TRIAL) Part of the Engineer's Toolset, this tool searches the network for all active IP addresses, reporting on the response time and showing hostnames from the local DNS server. Installs on Windows Server.
  5. MyLAN Viewer A network scanner that identifies all connected devices and lists their IP addresses and MAC addresses. Runs on Windows.
  6. SolarWinds IP Address Tracker (Gratuitous TOOL) A gratis version of the SolarWinds IP Address Manager. This tool is able to observe all devices connected to a network and requite details of IP address usage. Runs on Windows Server.
  7. SolarWinds IP Accost Scanner (FREE TRIAL) This is function of the SolarWinds IP Accost Manager. Use this equally a standalone utility to place all addresses in use or as part of the IPAM for wider IP address management functions. Runs on Windows Server.

The all-time IP Accost discovery tools

ane. SolarWinds Port Scanner

solarwinds port scanner

The SolarWinds Port Scanner tool is a great all around tool for scanning port DNS Addresses and IP's within the range that you specify, along with advanced abilities and capabilities that go far our #1 Option on the listing.

Some great features of this tool include some of the following features:

  • Power to create a listing of Open/Closed/Filtered Ports of IP addresses specified in your range
  • Browse Range along with specified TCP & UDP ports for identifying possible vulnerabilities
  • Multi-threaded Scanning for Faster Scans!
  • Ability to Launch and Run from either GUI or Control-line
  • Choose a Custom DNS Server to apply for Scanning
  • Power to Salvage Customized Configurations for Scanning
  • Manage & Track Device and User Activeness
  • Edit & View IANA Port name definitions
  • Export to CSV File for Majority Editing and More!

Toll:

100% Gratis!

Download:

solarwinds.com/costless-tools/port-scanner

Download Gratis!

ManageEngine OpUtils Network Monitoring Toolset

ManageEngine OpUtils combines an IP accost manager, a switch port mapper for MAC accost discovery, and a port scanner to place open TCP and UDP ports on all devices. This combination delivers all address-related functions that you will need in lodge to fully manage your network.

The IP address managing director is, in itself, a suite of utilities. This group of services includes an IP accost scanner. This will discover all of the devices connected to your network and list the IP addresses allocated to them. The IPAM is able to produce IP address reconciliation reports that will enable yous to update your native DHCP server in example it fails to notice expired address leases.

The IP address tracker service in the package tin produce a hierarchical view of your network, enabling yous to identify subnets and the resource allotment of addresses to each. DHCP management tools in the pack permit you lot manage subnet accost pools. The switch port mapper identifies each device by MAC address and switch port number. The port scanner in OpUtils lets you meet which TCP and UDP ports on each device are open.

OpUtils is available for Windows Server and for Linux.

Toll:

OpUtils is available in a Free version, which includes a port scanner and Ping utilities. Contact the ManageEngine sales team for a quote on the paid version.

Download:

The paid version of OpUtils can be downloaded as a 30-mean solar day free trial.

3. Angry IP Scanner

 angry ip scanner

Aroused IP Scanner is i of the nearly popular scanners on the web, with over 29 meg downloads. It is open-source, free, and available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Information technology can let you lot scan your local network or the Internet-facing IP addresses.

This tool is not only capable of scanning IP addresses but also ports. When you define an IP address range, you can also specify a number of the port, and encounter if a device in your network is using a specific service (divers by the port). Angry IP Scanner as well lets y'all relieve all the scan results into multiple formats, such as TXT, XML, CVS, etc.

When you scan, you'll know what hosts are alive, their response time, hostname, MAC address, etc. If yous desire even more information, you can extend results by developing Coffee plugins.

Price:

Open Source and 100% free.

Download:

Become Angry IP from its official site.

iv. SolarWinds Ping Sweep

ping sweep

Ping Sweep from SolarWinds helps you find complimentary IPs and identify which ones are unavailable. Information technology is classified equally a networking discovery tool from the SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset. A comprehensive network software, that includes over lx handy tools. Ping Sweep from SolarWinds is included in the Engineer's Toolset and is dedicated for ping testing. For the MAC accost, port scans, SNMP scans, etc, there are more defended tools in the Engineer'south Toolset.

Just as when you ping from the command line, this tool shows the DNS name for each IP and response time. Information technology tin also let you export results in different formats such as CSV, TXT, XLS, and to an HTML page.

Price:

SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset gives you a xiv-day Free Trial and information technology includes over lx must-take tools.

Download:

Get a fully functional Engineer's Toolset for 14 days past registering to SolarWinds official site.

Download Free!

IP Address Tracker Tools

Having a map of IP addresses, MAC addresses, used ports, etc, is great for networking inventorying and may help with some troubleshooting cases. But a list tin non control and display real-time results.

An IP address Tracker is a good upgrade to our ready of tools and commands described so far. It does permit scanning multiple subnets and displaying results, only it also allows you to keep rail of i or more than IP addresses.

An IP Address Tracker volition notice when an IP address is released. This can exist either because the device lost connectivity or information technology inverse IP address. It will help you minimize IP addressing conflicts (when two devices are trying to take the same IP) and reduce DNS errors.

v. MyLAN Viewer

mylan viewer

MyLAN Viewer is a NetBIOS and IP address scanner for Windows systems. Just like the IP Scanners shown above, this tool volition scan a network and show devices in an easy-to-read format.

But MyLANViewer goes beyond, and not simply shows reckoner name, IP, and  MAC, merely also NIC, Bone version, logged users, shared folders, and much more.

This tool is able to track specific IP addresses and show notifications when their country change. With it, you tin also go along track of network security by showing port information and detecting rogue DHCP servers. MyLAN Viewer tracks all devices in the subnet including subconscious, and displays alerts when new devices enter the network, and others go.

This tool can likewise brandish the following metrics as well:

  • Display Whois data.
  • Perform traceroute.
  • Manage "Remote Shutdown and Wake On LAN (WOL)".
  • Monitor wireless networks.

Price:

Gratis, but only bachelor for Windows systems.

Download:

Get MyLAN Viewer from its official site.

Related Mail: Best Wake On LAN Tools

6. SolarWinds IP Address Tracker

solarwinds ip tracker

SolarWinds IP Address Tracker is a standalone software and completely free. In addition to creating inventories of all devices, this tool allows yous to scan, track, and manage IP address, including their event logs, all in a unmarried place. SolarWinds IP Tracker is the free version and feature-express of the much coveted IP Address Managing director.

But the IP Tracker does an amazing job to provide a centralized view of the entire IP addressing scheme. It lets you monitor 256 (1 subnet) IP addresses for free. Additionally, this tool allows bones direction functionalities with tools such as, Ping, Telnet, Traceroute. The best of all is that, with SolarWinds IP Address Tracker yous can discover IP address conflicts created past misconfigured DHCP servers.

SolarWinds IP Tracker is only supported by Windows systems.

Price:

100% Free.

Download:

Register with SolarWinds to download the software for free.

Download 100$ Free!

IP Accost Management (IPAM)

Bones IP Address Scanning should be plenty to manage small-scale networks. But when networks scale they depend on multiple subnets and detailed direction requirements. Although SolarWinds IP Tracker is able to find IP address conflicts, it is not able to control them.

Sometimes large-scale networks have standalone DHCP and DNS Servers in lodge to assign addresses to multiple subnets. Just IP conflicts occur and it is really challenging to manage them manually. An IP Accost Management or "IPAM" is a piece of software able to actively control DHCP and DNS. Information technology also gives you the power to manage multiple subnets.

7. SolarWinds IP Address Scanner

solarwinds ipam IP Address Scanner

Among SolarWinds powerful tools, the IP Address Manager does everything a large-scale enterprise needs to manage its addresses properly. It automates many processes to brand IP Address management easier. From automated IP accost tracking, quick static IP reservations, to multi-vendor DHCP and DNS back up.

SolarWinds IPAM comes with an integrated IP address management, DHCP, and DNS tools to administer your unabridged network.

One of the almost unremarkably used tools from this bundle is the IP Address Scanner. This tool allows you to create automated IP address scans to maintain an updated inventory of all IP accost blocks in the network. This is achieved by sending regular ICMP and SNMP polls. The automatic scans utilise ICMP polls to gather status of the IP address and hostname data. It also uses SNMP to find data on MAC addresses and other vendor information. SolarWinds IP Address Scanner supports both IPv4 and IPv6 address management.

SolarWinds IPAM also provides detailed reports of your IP address in real-time.

Cost:

Download the Free Trial for 30 Days!

Download:

Get a fully functional SolarWinds IPAM on a 30-day trial.

Download Gratis Trial!

IP address scanning FAQs

How exercise I notice a network name from an IP address?

To get the network name of a host from an IP address yous need to query the DNS server. Open up a Command Prompt window and enter nslookup <IP_address> putting in the IP address you take instead of <IP_address>.

How do I identify an unknown device on my network?

To run into all of the devices continued to your network, type arp -a in a Command Prompt window. This will show you lot the allocated IP addresses and the MAC addresses of all connected devices. To go the hostname of each IP address you run across in the list, use nslookup <IP_address> putting in the IP address you have instead of <IP_address>.

How can I tell what device is at an IP address?

To become deeper information on devices connected to your network rather than only an IP accost or MAC address, use a network monitor that scans for details with SNMP – the SolarWinds Network Operation Monitor is i case.