Best Network Mapper

SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper (Free Trial) SolarWinds has acquired a solid reputation in the field of network administration tools. In the past 20 years, the company has made quite a few excellent network administration tools. The company is also famous for its free tools. SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper is a highly sophisticated network topology tool offering a wide range of functionalities. This network mapping solution can automatically discover and map your complete network topology, displaying the structure and how each component connects in easy-to-interpret, dynamic diagrams. Dec 05, 2020 For top-line solutions I recommend SolarWinds ® Network Performance Monitor and Network Topology Mapper, both easy-to-use tools capable of mapping your network along with providing important data and performance metrics. Skip to Best Network Mappers list What Are Network Maps? Overall, SolarWinds ® Network Topology Mapper comes most highly recommended. This network topology tool is well-suited for businesses small and large, as it provides a scalable but user-friendly network mapping solution. If you’d like to try SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper, a 14-day free trial is available. May 26, 2021 Here is our list of the best network mapping and topology software: SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper EDITOR’S CHOICE Automatic and on-demand network topology mapping options that can also record VMWare and Hyper-V virtualizations. Auto-detects all updates and changes to your network in real-time.

Intro	Reference Guide	Book	Install Guide
Download	Changelog	Zenmap GUI	Docs
Bug Reports	OS Detection	Propaganda	Related Projects
In the Movies		In the News

Nmap 7.90 has been released with Npcap 1.00 along with dozens of other performance improvements, bug fixes, and feature enhancements! [Release Announcement | Download page]
After more than 7 years of development and 170 public pre-releases, we're delighted to announce Npcap version 1.00! [Release Announcement | Download page]
Nmap 7.80 was released for DEFCON 27! [release notes | download]
Nmap turned 20 years old on September 1, 2017! Celebrate by reading the original Phrack #51 article. #Nmap20!
Nmap 7.50 is now available! [release notes | download]
Nmap 7 is now available! [release notes | download]
We're pleased to release our new and Improved Icons of the Web project—a 5-gigapixel interactive collage of the top million sites on the Internet!
Nmap has been discovered in two new movies! It's used to hack Matt Damon's brain in Elysium and also to launch nuclear missiles in G.I. Joe: Retaliation!
We're delighted to announce Nmap 6.40 with 14 new NSE scripts, hundreds of new OS and version detection signatures, and many great new features! [Announcement/Details], [Download Site]
We just released Nmap 6.25 with 85 new NSE scripts, performance improvements, better OS/version detection, and more! [Announcement/Details], [Download Site]
Any release as big as Nmap 6 is bound to uncover a few bugs. We've now fixed them with Nmap 6.01!
Nmap 6 is now available! [release notes | download]
The security community has spoken! 3,000 of you shared favorite security tools for our relaunched SecTools.Org. It is sort of like Yelp for security tools. Are you familiar with all of the 49 new tools in this edition?
Nmap 5.50 Released: Now with Gopher protocol support! Our first stable release in a year includes 177 NSE scripts, 2,982 OS fingerprints, and 7,319 version detection signatures. Release focuses were the Nmap Scripting Engine, performance, Zenmap GUI, and the Nping packet analysis tool. [Download page | Release notes]
Those who missed Defcon can now watch Fyodor and David Fifield demonstrate the power of the Nmap Scripting Engine. They give an overview of NSE, use it to explore Microsoft's global network, write an NSE script from scratch, and hack a webcam--all in 38 minutes! (Presentation video)
Icons of the Web: explore favicons for the top million web sites with our new poster and online viewer.
We're delighted to announce the immediate, free availability of the Nmap Security Scanner version 5.00. Don't miss the top 5 improvements in Nmap 5.
After years of effort, we are delighted to release Nmap Network Scanning: The Official Nmap Project Guide to Network Discovery and Security Scanning!
We now have an active Nmap Facebook page and Twitter feed to augment the mailing lists. All of these options offer RSS feeds as well.

Nmap ('Network Mapper') is a free and open source(license) utility fornetwork discovery and security auditing. Many systems and networkadministrators also find it useful for tasks such as networkinventory, managing service upgrade schedules, and monitoring host orservice uptime. Nmap uses raw IP packets in novel ways to determinewhat hosts are available on the network, what services (applicationname and version) those hosts are offering, what operating systems(and OS versions) they are running, what type of packetfilters/firewalls are in use, and dozens of other characteristics. Itwas designed to rapidly scan large networks, but works fine againstsingle hosts. Nmap runs on all major computer operating systems, andofficial binary packages are available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OSX. In addition to the classic command-line Nmap executable, the Nmapsuite includes an advanced GUI and results viewer(Zenmap), a flexible datatransfer, redirection, and debugging tool(Ncat), a utility forcomparing scan results (Ndiff), and a packet generation and response analysis tool (Nping).

Nmap was named “Security Product of the Year” by LinuxJournal, Info World, LinuxQuestions.Org, and Codetalker Digest. Itwas even featured in twelvemovies, includingThe Matrix Reloaded,Die Hard 4,Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, andThe Bourne Ultimatum.

Nmap is ...

Flexible: Supports dozens of advanced techniques formapping out networks filled with IP filters, firewalls, routers, andother obstacles. This includes many port scanning mechanisms (both TCP &UDP), OSdetection, version detection, ping sweeps, and more. See the documentation page.
Powerful: Nmap has been used to scan huge networks ofliterally hundreds of thousands of machines.
Portable: Most operating systems are supported, includingLinux,Microsoft Windows,FreeBSD,OpenBSD,Solaris,IRIX,Mac OS X,HP-UX,NetBSD,Sun OS,Amiga,and more.
Easy: While Nmap offers a rich set of advanced features forpower users, you can start out as simply as 'nmap -v -A targethost'. Both traditional command line and graphical (GUI)versions are available to suit your preference. Binaries areavailable for those who do not wish to compile Nmap from source.
Free: The primary goals of the Nmap Project is to help makethe Internet a little more secure and to provideadministrators/auditors/hackers with an advanced tool for exploringtheir networks. Nmap is available for free download, and also comes with fullsource code that you may modify and redistribute under the terms ofthe license.
Well Documented: Significant effort has been put intocomprehensive and up-to-date man pages, whitepapers, tutorials, andeven a whole book! Find them in multiplelanguages here.
Supported: While Nmap comes with no warranty, it is well supported by a vibrant community of developers and users. Most of this interaction occurs on the Nmap mailing lists. Most bug reports and questions should be sent to the nmap-dev list, but only after you read the guidelines. We recommend that all users subscribe to the low-traffic nmap-hackers announcement list. You can also find Nmap on Facebook and Twitter. For real-time chat, join the #nmap channel on Freenode or EFNet.
Acclaimed: Nmap has won numerous awards, including'Information Security Product of the Year' by Linux Journal, InfoWorld and Codetalker Digest. It has been featured in hundreds ofmagazine articles, several movies, dozens of books, and one comic bookseries. Visit the press pagefor further details.
Popular: Thousands of people download Nmap every day, andit is included with many operating systems (Redhat Linux, DebianLinux, Gentoo, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, etc). It is among the top ten (out of30,000) programs at the Freshmeat.Net repository. This is importantbecause it lends Nmap its vibrant development and user supportcommunities.

Nmap users are encouraged to subscribe to the Nmap-hackersmailing list. It is a low volume (6 posts in 2017), moderated listfor the most important announcements about Nmap, Insecure.org, andrelated projects. You can join more than 128,000 current subscribersby submitting your email address here:

We also have a development list for more hardcore members(especially programmers) who are interested in helping the project byhelping with coding, testing, feature ideas, etc. New (test/beta)versions of Nmap are sometimes released here prior to generalavailability for QA purposes. You can subscribe at the Nmap-dev listinfo page.

Both lists are archived (along with many other security lists) at Seclists.org.

Though it isn't nearly as active as the mailing lists, the official IRC channel is #nmap on Freenode (irc.freenode.net).

Intro	Reference Guide	Book	Install Guide
Download	Changelog	Zenmap GUI	Docs
Bug Reports	OS Detection	Propaganda	Related Projects
In the Movies		In the News

Networks are rapidly becoming larger and more complex, with numerous technologies playing into their growth and expansion. Network mapping has become increasingly important for administrators and managers tasked with handling these growing networks. Though the process of local area network (LAN) mapping can be performed manually, this manual work is risky, as there’s a higher chance something will be missed when it involves highly complex networks.

With the significant amount of network topology mapping software available on the market these days, I decided to review the tools network pros need to check out to help reduce their workloads and improve accuracy. I go over why SolarWinds^® Network Topology Mapper (NTM) is a top choice for those looking for high-quality mapping software. Spoiler alert: this tool uses the best network mapping techniques to automatically discover your network topology, and it creates several types of informative visualizations, allowing you to easily see and navigate your network. And if you need a more comprehensive monitoring solution, I explain why SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is a good all-in-one option for those looking for a tool with other essential performance measuring tools in addition to a network topology mapper.

But First: What Is Network Mapping?

Network topology mapping is the process of visually and logically mapping the network to understand the connections between the server and different nodes. Network performance software and tools usually include some network mapping features to help optimize the network.

Network maps are useful resources when admins conduct performance monitoring processes to check each part of the network. Maps can help show where performance bottlenecks exist and where there are opportunities to improve, improving service quality for end-users. Network performance monitoring outputs admins can visualize in network maps include metrics like the latency between the server and clients, bandwidth, throughput, and errors or failures.

Why You Should Use a Network Topology Mapper

Network topology mapping gives you a high degree of visibility into your network and the relationships between your network devices. This visibility can be extremely useful for everything from troubleshooting problems to maintaining network security. Even if you use the best network mapping techniques, manual mapping is a time-consuming process often resulting in incomplete topology diagrams if you don’t keep up with each new device added to or removed from your network.

You should use a network topology mapper to make sure your network topology diagrams are always up-to-date. A robust network topology mapper offers network admins the tools they need to map networks at any scale, from the smallest business to the biggest enterprise. It also lets you map a specific packet pathway for help with traffic bottlenecks and service provider status. With a network topology mapper, admins can see a device’s status as well as its logical connections at the touch of a button. In short, if you’re interested in having a topology map capable of giving you the insights you need to improve your network performance, you need to use a network topology mapper.

Top Network Mapping Techniques

There are a few ways to think about network mapping techniques. The first is to consider physical vs. logical topology mapping. Physical mapping is all about the concrete network, from cables to terminations. Logical network mapping is more common, and it focuses on data behavior within the networked environment rather than the physical layer. A logical network map is appropriate for a greater range of use cases, as it provides an accurate sense of how the network’s data actually works, with insight into features like routers, subnets, and so on. However, a physical map can be useful for network engineers.

Another way to think about network mapping techniques is to consider manual, semi-automated, and fully automated techniques for creating maps. Manual maps take time to create and aren’t useful for highly dynamic networks. But a manually created Visio map can be useful if you want to create a highly complex, nested map to fit unique specifications.

For most, semi-automated or automated network topology mapping is more useful and feasible. A semi-automated map might be able to automatically discover new devices on the network, but you’ll still need to take steps to position devices and set connections correctly. Automated network topology mapping is responsive to your network environment as it changes, adjusting devices, their connections, and the performance of those connections on an ongoing basis to display an updated and complete logical map.

To optimize your network topology mapping efforts, you should invest in a tool capable of automating the mapping process, creating an initial network map when it’s first installed, and regularly scanning your network to ensure the map always reflects your current network and device relationships. The best network topology mappers will also be configurable and customizable, allowing you to adjust the frequency of network scans and easily create visual representations of different aspects of your network.

Best Network Mapping Tools

I believe using network mapping software is a vital step in managing your network efficiently and professionally in any business setting. There are several tools you can use, including some free network topology mapper tools, but I recommend a couple of products due to their extensive feature lists and easy-to-use nature.

Network Topology Mapper

SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper is a dedicated network mapping tool. It automatically discovers and maps out your network topology and shows you the structure of your network in easy-to-view diagrams.

From a single network scan, NTM can build multiple maps, allowing you to compare and choose the map best suited to your needs. It also integrates well with other software, allowing you to export to Microsoft Office Visio as well as PDF and PNG formats. You can try NTM free for 14 days.

Network Performance Monitor

For a more comprehensive network topology mapper with additional features, I recommend SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor. NPM includes packet-level network topology insights (including cloud and VMware environments) and also offers great Wi-Fi heat mapping tools.

With the NetPath^™ function, you can gain insight not just into your own network but into data pathways all the way to destination services. You can see hop-by-hop packet paths and instantly know where issues are occurring. You also get features such as the PerfStack^™ dashboard, which allows you to compare the performance of different metrics side by side.

NPM includes troubleshooting features and alerts and is designed to be an easily scalable and reliable centralized network management tool. This is my pick if you want a truly comprehensive tool for provisioning and maintaining your network topology. You can get more information about the features of this network mapping tool here.

PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor is another comprehensive network topology mapping software offering network monitoring for the entire network, including network traffic, application performance, cloud services, and database capacity as well as network uptime, security, and hardware longevity. You can use it for network topology mapping, as it allows you to create maps using the PRTG map designer. This is a manual process, but once you’ve created the maps, you can use them to view network information in real time for your devices, connections, and status updates. This software is on the pricier end for what it offers.

Intermapper

Another great option for network mapping software is the Intermapper tool by HelpSystems. The Intermapper tool has both network mapping and network performance monitoring features, and it has cross-vendor support for Cisco, Apple, Dell, and more. With an intuitive and clear display, it provides a fully customizable network map, allowing you to see real-time network health with color-coded animations. You can choose either device-based pricing or a flat fee for unlimited devices.

Visio

Visio is the Microsoft diagramming and vector application for creating maps and charts (including network maps). Visio isn’t technically a network mapping tool, but network administrators can use it for this purpose. However, the network diagram needs to be created manually using the “Detailed Network Diagram” template. Generally, automatic network mapping tools may be more suitable for troubleshooting and security purposes. Visio can be an inexpensive option for an enterprise unwilling to invest in automated and comprehensive network mapping software.

Getting Started With Network Mapping

As you can tell, there’s a lot of network topology mapping software out there, from simple network topology mappers and flow-chart programs to comprehensive network performance tools. When compared to some of the best free mapping software, paid products might seem expensive at first glance. However, paid network mapping and performance monitoring tools are much more comprehensive, reliable, and complete when it comes to usefully mapping your network.