Knowing the right way to discover IP addresses on networks is the first part of effective Internet Protocol address management. It is potentially beneficial to be able to access a full list of IPv4 addresses and their devices when trying to resolve issues with connectivity.
When you seek a specific Internet Protocol address, using the ICMP packet internet groper or ping command is the easiest way of discovering that device. Using the command with the specific address that you are seeking will allow you to know whether that device is on your network and responds to pings.
You can now use the ‘arp -a’ command (without quotes) to find out which MAC address is associated with the said address. Now, what if one wants to discover every device on their network?
In that case, they can use the said ICMP command to deliver a packet internet groper request to an IP broadcast address. Imagine that you wish to discover every address from the IPv4 market associated with the network ‘192.168.1.0/24’; here, you can enter the ‘> ping 192.168.1.255’ command without quotes.
Then, using the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) table will allow you to see every device with a response to the ping request. This approach has some limitations, though, because not every device responds to the request on the broadcast address.
What Makes An IP Scanner A Useful Tool?
It is challenging to track an Internet Protocol address down manually on a big network. It is practically not impossible in a corporate network with numerous dynamic Internet Protocol addresses where random devices are constantly connected to those addresses. That is where an IP scanner enters the picture. This form of software aids in detecting every active device on a corporate network and associating it with its respective IP. The tool can scan and detect connected devices automatically across all subnetworks too.
A network visibility tool such as an automated network scanner provides an array of benefits. Regular network scanning allows identifying which devices are connected to a network at a time as well as gathering device information, including available services, risks, and the OS in use.
Are you thinking about adding an IP scanner? If so, check which network scanners allow mapping out the network infrastructure too. A granular layer network topology map offers a visual context that can speed up your process of troubleshooting.
Using a dedicated software program is the best approach to finding the address on your network, irrespective of its size. The program will aid you in not only reducing your workload but also improving efficiency.