Which tool is commonly used as a network utility for scanning?

Nmap is widely recognized as a powerful network utility tool specifically designed for scanning. Its primary function is to discover hosts and services on a computer network by sending packets and analyzing the responses. This capability makes it invaluable for network administrators and security professionals to identify live hosts, open ports, and the services those ports are running, along with their associated versions.

Nmap's versatility allows it to perform various tasks, from simple ping scans to more advanced features such as OS detection, version detection, and even vulnerability scanning. This makes it an essential tool for both network mapping and security auditing, assisting users in gaining insight into their network's structure and identifying potential security weaknesses.

In contrast, while Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that focuses on capturing and analyzing packet data, it is not primarily a scanning tool. Snort functions as an intrusion detection and prevention system, monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity rather than scanning for devices or services. Metasploit is primarily a penetration testing framework that aids in exploiting vulnerabilities but does not specialize in scanning networks.