Which network scanning tool is used to discover hosts, identify open ports, and detect running services across a network?

Which network scanning tool is used to discover hosts, identify open ports, and detect running services across a network?

• A. pathping
• B. arp
• C. nmap
• D. Light Meter

Answer: (C)

The ability to map a network by finding which devices are alive, which ports are open, and what services are running on those ports is what Nmap is built to do. Nmap, short for Network Mapper, can perform host discovery to identify responsive devices, scan those devices to see which ports are open, and probe the open ports to determine the services and often the versions running on them. This combination gives a practical view of the network’s active hosts and their exposed services, which is essential for inventory, security reviews, and vulnerability assessments. _pathping_ is a diagnostic tool that blends ping with traceroute to show route information and packet loss along a path; it doesn’t enumerate open ports or identify the services on those ports. _arp_ resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on a local network segment, but it doesn’t provide broad network scanning for hosts or services beyond the local ARP table. _Light Meter_ isn’t a standard network scanning tool used for discovering hosts or services, so it wouldn’t serve this purpose.

The ability to map a network by finding which devices are alive, which ports are open, and what services are running on those ports is what Nmap is built to do. Nmap, short for Network Mapper, can perform host discovery to identify responsive devices, scan those devices to see which ports are open, and probe the open ports to determine the services and often the versions running on them. This combination gives a practical view of the network’s active hosts and their exposed services, which is essential for inventory, security reviews, and vulnerability assessments.

pathping is a diagnostic tool that blends ping with traceroute to show route information and packet loss along a path; it doesn’t enumerate open ports or identify the services on those ports. arp resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on a local network segment, but it doesn’t provide broad network scanning for hosts or services beyond the local ARP table. Light Meter isn’t a standard network scanning tool used for discovering hosts or services, so it wouldn’t serve this purpose.