How to Use Free IP Scanners: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use Free IP Scanners: A Step-by-Step GuideIP scanners are essential tools for network administrators and IT professionals, helping to identify and manage devices connected to a network. Whether you’re troubleshooting issues, managing a small office network, or just curious about the devices in your home, knowing how to use a free IP scanner can simplify your tasks significantly. This guide will walk you through the steps of using a free IP scanner effectively.

Understanding IP Scanners

Before diving into the steps, let’s clarify what an IP scanner does. An IP scanner detects all devices on a local network by sending requests to IP addresses within a specified range. It collects information such as device names, MAC addresses, and open ports. This data can help you manage your network, identify unauthorized devices, and troubleshoot connectivity issues.

Popular Free IP Scanner Tools

Several free IP scanner tools are available, each with unique features. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Advanced IP Scanner
• Angry IP Scanner
• SoftPerfect Network Scanner
• Fing
• Nmap

For this guide, we will focus on Advanced IP Scanner, which is user-friendly and widely used.

Step 1: Download and Install the IP Scanner

1. Visit the official website for Advanced IP Scanner.
2. Click on the Download button.
3. Once downloaded, open the installer and follow the prompts to install the software on your computer.

Make sure to run the installer as an administrator to avoid any permission issues during installation.

Step 2: Launch the Application

After installation, launch Advanced IP Scanner. You’ll be greeted with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate through the options.

Step 3: Set the IP Range

1. Adjust the IP Range: By default, the scanner sets a range based on your current network. However, you can manually specify a range if needed.

   • To change the range, enter the starting and ending IP addresses in the respective fields. For example, if your network range is 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.254, enter these values.

2. Select Network Type: Choose the network type you’re scanning; typically, this would be your local area network (LAN).

Step 4: Start Scanning

1. Click the “Scan” button to begin the scanning process.
2. The software will send requests to each IP address within the specified range to identify connected devices.

Step 5: View Scan Results

Once the scan is complete, you’ll see a list of devices on your network. The information displayed usually includes:

• IP Address: The current IP address of each device.
• Device Name: The hostname or name of the device.
• MAC Address: The hardware address of the network interface.
• Status: Indicates whether the device is online or offline.

Step 6: Analyze Device Information

1. Highlight a Device: Click on any device to view additional details.
2. Ping Test: Use the ping feature to check the responsiveness of a device.
3. Remote Access: If supported, you can potentially access devices remotely or see shared folders.

Having this information can help you identify devices, manage them effectively, and troubleshoot connectivity issues.

Step 7: Save or Export Results

If you need to keep a record of the scan results:

1. Navigate to the File menu.
2. Choose the option to Export or Save the scan results.
3. Select the desired format (CSV, HTML, TXT, etc.) and specify the save location.

Additional Features of Advanced IP Scanner

Advanced IP Scanner offers several useful features to enhance your network management:

• Wake-on-LAN (WoL): This feature allows you to wake up devices remotely that support WoL.
• Remote Desktop: Connect to remote PCs directly from the scan results, if available.
• Network Shares: Access shared folders and files on connected devices.

Conclusion

Using a free IP scanner like Advanced IP Scanner empowers you to monitor and manage your network effectively. By following this step-by-step guide, you can quickly set up the software, scan your network, and analyze the devices connected. Whether for personal use or professional network management, mastering this tool will enhance your connectivity and troubleshooting capabilities.

Feel free to experiment with the settings and features of the IP scanner, as each network may present different challenges and requirements. Happy scanning!