Angry IP Scanner

Angry IP Scanner: Comprehensive Guide & Cheat Sheet

Angry IP Scanner is a fast, open-source, cross-platform network scanner popular among IT professionals, network administrators, and security enthusiasts. This guide provides a detailed overview, installation instructions, feature breakdown, usage tips, and a handy cheat sheet for quick reference.

1. Background & Overview

Angry IP Scanner is designed to scan IP addresses and ports, helping users discover devices and services on a network. Its key strengths are speed, simplicity, and extensibility through plugins. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and does not require installation on most platforms, making it highly portable .

2. Installation & Setup

General Installation Steps

  • Download: Visit the official Angry IP Scanner website and download the appropriate version for your operating system.

  • No Installation Required: On most platforms, Angry IP Scanner is a standalone executable (portable). Simply extract and run.

  • Java Requirement: Angry IP Scanner requires Java Runtime Environment (JRE). Ensure Java is installed on your system.

Platform-Specific Notes

  • Windows: Download the .exe file. Double-click to run. For advanced use, add the executable to your PATH for command-line access.

  • macOS: Download the .dmg or .jar file. For .dmg, drag to Applications. For .jar, run with java -jar.

  • Linux: Download the .deb, .rpm, or .jar file. Install using your package manager or run the .jar directly.

Tip: Always use the latest version for new features and security patches .

3. User Interface & Configuration

Main UI Elements

  • IP Range Fields: Enter the starting and ending IP addresses for your scan.

  • Ports Field: Specify which ports to scan (e.g., 80, 443, 1-1024).

  • Start/Stop Buttons: Begin or halt a scan.

  • Results Table: Displays discovered hosts, open ports, hostnames, MAC addresses, and more.

  • Menu Bar: Access preferences, plugins, export options, and help.

Configuration Settings

  • Preferences: Set default IP ranges, ports, thread count, and appearance (dark/light mode).

  • Data Fetchers: Choose which information to collect (e.g., hostname, MAC address, NetBIOS info).

  • Plugins: Manage and install plugins to extend functionality .

4. Basic Scanning Options

  • IP Range: Scan a single IP, a range (e.g., 192.168.1.1-254), or a list from a file.

  • Port Range: Scan specific ports (e.g., 22, 80, 443) or a range (e.g., 1-1024).

  • Ping Method: Choose between ICMP, TCP, or UDP ping to detect live hosts.

  • Threads: Adjust the number of concurrent threads for faster scanning (default: 100).

5. Advanced Features

  • Multithreaded Scanning: Scans multiple IPs/ports in parallel for speed .

  • Custom Data Fetchers: Add or remove columns to collect specific data.

  • Plugin Support: Extend with community or custom plugins.

  • Command-Line Interface (CLI): Automate scans and integrate with scripts .

  • Export Results: Save results as CSV, TXT, XML, or IP-Port list for further analysis .

6. Command-Line Usage

Angry IP Scanner can be run from the command line for automation:

ipscan [options]

Common Options:

  • -r <range>: Specify IP range (e.g., -r 192.168.1.1-254)

  • -p <ports>: Specify ports (e.g., -p 80,443,8080)

  • -o <file>: Output results to a file (CSV, TXT, XML)

  • -t <threads>: Set number of threads

  • -f <fetchers>: Specify data fetchers (e.g., hostname, mac)

Example:

ipscan -r 192.168.1.1-254 -p 22,80,443 -o results.csv -t 200

This scans the specified IP range for ports 22, 80, and 443, using 200 threads, and saves results to results.csv .

7. Exporting & Reporting

  • Export Formats: CSV, TXT, XML, IP-Port list.

  • Customizable Fields: Choose which columns to include in exports.

  • Integration: Exported data can be imported into spreadsheets, SIEMs, or other network management tools .

8. Performance Optimization

  • Increase Threads: Raise thread count for faster scans, but beware of network/device limits.

  • Limit Scan Range: Scan only necessary IPs/ports to reduce load.

  • Optimize Fetchers: Disable unnecessary data fetchers to speed up scans.

  • Batch Scanning: Use CLI for scheduled or automated scans .

9. Security Considerations

  • Use Responsibly: Scanning can trigger security alerts or violate policies. Always have authorization.

  • Avoid Overloading Networks: High thread counts can cause network congestion or device instability.

  • Data Privacy: Be cautious with exported data; it may contain sensitive network information.

  • Update Regularly: Keep Angry IP Scanner and Java updated to mitigate vulnerabilities .

10. Common Use Cases

  • Network Inventory: Discover all devices on a subnet.

  • Security Audits: Identify unauthorized or rogue devices.

  • Port Auditing: Check for open or vulnerable ports on network devices.

  • Troubleshooting: Diagnose connectivity issues by verifying device presence .

11. Troubleshooting & Best Practices

  • If No Results: Check firewall settings, network connectivity, and Java installation.

  • Slow Scans: Increase thread count or reduce scan range.

  • Permission Issues: Run as administrator/root if needed for certain ping methods.

  • Community Support: Use forums and community guides for help and plugin recommendations .

  • Regular Updates: Always use the latest version for bug fixes and new features.

12. Cheat Sheet

Task
GUI Steps / CLI Command Example

Scan local subnet

Enter 192.168.1.1-254 in IP range, click Start

Scan specific ports

Enter ports (e.g., 22,80,443) in Ports field

Export results

File > Export > Choose format (CSV, TXT, XML)

Increase scan speed

Edit > Preferences > Performance > Increase thread count

Command-line scan

ipscan -r 10.0.0.1-10.0.0.254 -p 80,443 -o scan.csv

Add data fetcher

Tools > Fetchers > Add/Remove columns

Use plugin

Tools > Plugins > Manage

Troubleshoot connectivity

Check firewall, run as admin/root, verify Java installation

13. Additional Resources

14. Summary

Angry IP Scanner is a powerful, flexible, and user-friendly tool for network discovery and security auditing. Its cross-platform nature, plugin support, and automation capabilities make it suitable for a wide range of network management tasks. By following best practices and leveraging its advanced features, users can efficiently manage and secure their networks .

Use Angry IP Scanner responsibly and always ensure you have permission to scan the networks you target.

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