How to Install NMAP on Windows Systems

 How to Install NMAP on Windows Systems

    NMAP, also known as Network Mapper is a open-source tool used to scan ports and IP addresses. Basically it is a network discovery tool. But we can also use this for security auditing and find network vulnerabilities. 

    The network admins can use this to detect which devices are running on their network, find the open ports, discover the vulnerabilities etc. Also they use for network inventory, network and security auditing, service uptimes, monitoring the hosts and to schedule the service upgrades.

NMAP can be installed in operating systems like Linux, Windows and MAC.

To install NMAP in Linux machines, you can use the below code.

            sudo apt-get install nmap

To install NMAP in windows you need to download the exe file from the NMAP download link. Initially while anyone try to check the Nmap in windows it shows an error like 'nmap' is not recognized as a internal or external command.

To install in windows please follow the steps :

• Download the exe file from the NMAP download link.

• Install the NMAP file in your windows machine.

• Copy the Nmap installed path. (C:\Program Files (x86)\Nmap).

• Open Run and type sysdm.cpl. Press enter to open system properties.

• You can also open the system properties by right click the This PC and select properties option.

• Navigate to Advanced tab and click the Environment Variables option

• Select the Path option under User variables and click edit.

• Click New option under the Edit Environment Variables Window.

• Paste the previously copied path there(C:\Program Files (x86)\Nmap) and click Ok button.

• Then open the command prompt and check the by typing nmap whether it's installed or not.

Now onwards you can use the nmap in windows for the further network discovery, auditing etc.