Install Nmap on Ubuntu

What Nmap does

1. Network discovery. Finds devices and services.
2. Port scanning. Shows open ports and the programs behind them.
3. OS detection. Guesses the operating system of a host.
4. Vulnerability checks with scripts.

Method 1: APT

Update the package list:

sudo apt update

Install Nmap:

sudo apt install nmap

Method 2: Snap

Install snapd if needed:

sudo apt install snapd

Install Nmap:

sudo snap install nmap

Check the install

nmap --version

First scans

nmap localhost
nmap 192.168.1.10
nmap -p 22,80,443 example.com
nmap -sV 192.168.1.10

• -p chooses ports.
• -sV finds the version of services.
• -A turns on OS detection, version detection and scripts (needs sudo for some features).

Scan a network range:

nmap 192.168.1.0/24

Quick recap

• sudo apt install nmap.
• Check with nmap --version.
• Scan only your own systems.