I’m diving into the world of networking and I’ve heard that having an IP scanner on hand can make things a lot easier, especially on my Ubuntu 16.04 LTS machine. Honestly, I’m pretty new to this, and while I’ve managed to get the basics down, installing new software still throws me for a loop sometimes.
I’ve done a bit of Googling, and it seems like there are quite a few options out there, but I really want to avoid a trial-and-error approach if I can. I could use a step-by-step guide from someone who actually knows what they’re doing!
So, here’s the deal: I want to install an IP scanner that’s simple but effective. I came across a few that look interesting, like Angry IP Scanner and Nmap, but I’m kind of unsure about which one is better for a newbie like me. If you have any suggestions on which scanner to go for, that would be great!
Also, I’m a little worried about the command line. I usually stick to the GUI, but I know that sometimes I’ll have to venture into the terminal to get things done. I’d appreciate it if you could walk me through the steps for installing the scanner using the command line, as well as any potential pitfalls I should watch out for. I mean, I’ve seen a few horror stories where people ended up messing up their system just by entering the wrong command or missing a step.
Oh, and if you could toss in any tips for first-time users – like how to actually use the scanner once it’s installed – that would be super helpful. I want to be able to not just install the thing, but actually use it effectively to scan my network and maybe even see what devices are connected. I’ve heard it can be quite revealing!
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I’m just trying to wrap my head around this networking stuff, and your input would definitely make the process smoother!
For a straightforward IP scanner on your Ubuntu 16.04 LTS machine, I recommend using Angry IP Scanner. It has a user-friendly graphical interface that makes it ideal for beginners. To install it via the command line, you will need to have Java installed since Angry IP Scanner is a Java application. You can install it by opening your terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and entering the following commands:
Once Java is set up, download the Angry IP Scanner package using:
Then, install it by running:
This will handle any missing dependencies. Watch out for potential errors during the installation; if something goes wrong, double-check that you’ve copied the commands correctly.
Once installed, you can launch Angry IP Scanner either from your application menu or by typing `ipscan` in the terminal. The interface is intuitive: just enter your IP range and click the “Start” button to begin scanning your network. As a first-time user, you’ll find that the results show all connected devices along with useful information like their IP addresses, MAC addresses, and device names. Explore the various options such as exporting the scan results or customizing your scan settings by accessing the preferences in the menu. Familiarize yourself with these features to make the most out of the tool; utilization of the documentation or online resources can also boost your understanding while you get accustomed to network scanning.
Choosing an IP Scanner
Since you’re new to networking, I’d recommend going with Angry IP Scanner for a simple yet effective solution. It has a user-friendly GUI which makes it way easier to navigate as a newbie compared to the command-line-heavy Nmap.
Installing Angry IP Scanner via the Terminal
Don’t worry if the terminal seems scary; I’ll guide you through it step by step. Here’s how to install Angry IP Scanner on your Ubuntu 16.04 LTS:
Ctrl + Alt + T
.Potential Pitfalls
A couple of things to watch out for:
Enter
to ensure you’re okay with what’s being installed or changed.Using Angry IP Scanner
Once you have it open, here’s how to scan your network:
192.168.1.1
to192.168.1.255
).Final Tips
Take your time with it and don’t hesitate to ask for help or research if anything seems off. Networking can be tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be whipping through IP addresses like a pro!