IP scanning is the ongoing IT task of analyzing a business network to discover IP addresses and identify relevant information associated with those IP addresses and devices. With this tool, admins can set a specified range of addresses to discover any IP addresses within that range. In today’s modern environment, it’s essential for digital networks to deliver 24/7 business continuity. With so many interconnected devices running on a network at any given time, maintaining this level of continuity can be challenging, especially without effective monitoring practices that keep track of all those devices. Before you can begin monitoring, you need to perform a thorough IP scan either manually or, preferably, with a tool that delivers visibility into all the devices on your network. An IP address scanner can help you manage your network. It can quickly discover all the IP addresses within a set range so you can start monitoring right away and deliver the network availability users expect.

How does an IP scanner work?

In simple terms, an IP scanner works either by conducting ICMP ping sweeps to find a range of IP addresses or by using SNMP scans to map network topology. Indirect discovery, or neighbor scans, can retrieve device status by scanning a neighbor ARP table of active IP addresses. How exactly does an IP scanner tool use these three main protocols to discover IP addresses? ICMP scans (ping sweeps): An IP network scanner that uses this protocol will scan your network using ICMP message packets, pinging all of the network entities within the given IP range. Depending on the ICMP echo reply received in response to these messages, the IP range scanner will display the status and other information about the IP address. SNMP scans: An IP scanner tool combines SNMP’s proactive and reactive scanning approaches to discover all the IP addresses within a given range. Neighbor discovery from ARP tables: A network IP finder uses this protocol to leverage previously existing ARP tables that already have IP addresses mapped to MAC devices to rediscover network devices or engage in a neighbor discovery process. SolarWinds ® IP Address Manager (IPAM) specifically works by scanning IP addresses and subnets to automatically detect changes whenever they occur. IPAM allows admins to choose between using any of the three protocols above based on what best suits the specific network environment. Plus, IPAM can scan as often as every 10 minutes, or as little as once per week. You have the freedom to schedule scans at the frequency that best suits your needs.

What are the benefits of using an IP scanner?

Discovering and managing IP addresses is a complicated process in most cases. An IP scanner provides major advantages over manual IP scanning. It can deliver essential information more quickly, provide automatic updates, alert admins to problem areas, and provide information to assist with proactive network mapping and organization. Specifically, an IP network scanner, like SolarWinds® IPAM, can prove beneficial in several key areas: Compliance: Sometimes IP addresses are necessary for legal or regulatory compliance. Using an IP scanner ensures you have important information at your fingertips and more quickly pinpoint exactly where a compliance issue arose. Network information and health: An IP scanner or subnet scanner helps organize your subnets and IP addresses. By seeing which devices have which IP addresses assigned to them, you are empowered to prevent conflicts and network outages.

What other IP tool features does IPAM have?

IPAM offers robust IP tool features, including IP address tracking, alerting and reporting, and integrated management of DHCP, DNS, and IP addresses. IPAM can operate in hybrid environments that include local devices, VMware, and cloud monitoring. IPAM also allows network admins to easily delegate IP management to other team members or departments. More specifically, with IPAM you can: Automate IP address discovery , which means you can scan the network using automated neighbor and subnet discovery for all IP addresses and their individual statuses. Network scanner to gain more information about your systems Automatically discover and track IP addresses to save time and improve your network reliability. Find and reclaim IP addresses no matter whether they’re abandoned, static, or reserved, and monitor DHCP address pools. IP Planning to optimize IP capacity and successfully manage your IP address space. Manage IPv4 and IPv6 addresses more easily by eliminating complex spreadsheets and automating the process. Optimally allocate IP addresses in subnets for simplified IP address organization and management. If you’re interested in more information on IPAM and its features, check out our IP Address Management Software Guide .

Does IP Scanner help with reducing network errors?

It does. Adding ever more devices to organizations’ networks makes staying on top of the many IP addresses connected to these devices increasingly challenging. Those challenges lead to using complex spreadsheets, human errors, and miscommunications that can all cause network downtime if you aren’t careful. By automating the process, a LAN IP scanner or other IP Scanner can eliminate these and other errors. Three main categories of network errors IP Scanner can help with are: Human errors: With IP requests and changes coming in practically every second, it’s inevitable that any human IP address management effort is going to have errors. With an automated IP scan, you can help eliminate those errors. Multiple administrators for IP management: When multiple admins handle a task like IP management, it can be difficult to keep track of all the changes happening and who made them. That makes it difficult to create workflows and ensure the accuracy of each input. Lack of real-time data availability: Without an IP scanner, IP addresses are often stored in unwieldy spreadsheets, making it difficult to create an audit trail or determine who changed what information. Plus, it takes far longer to manually update a spreadsheet than for an IP scanner tool to update its records, meaning that the information in spreadsheets is often outdated. All of these problems can lead to network errors and slow down the process of resolving those errors when they do occur. By automating the IP scan process and ensuring that devices are always discovered, and their records are up to date, an IP scanner reduces network errors and creates a smoother troubleshooting process.

Find Active IPs Faster With an IP Address Scanner

SolarWinds IP Address Scanner helps you inspect IP ranges, discover active addresses, and improve IP visibility across your network.

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Manage IP Addresses Efficiently

Perform IP Scans

Create & Scan Subnets

Scan Custom IP Ranges

Schedule Automated IP Scans

Discover and Add IP Addresses

Scan IP Addresses Across Your Network

Screenshot of SolarWinds IPAM subnet scanning interface showing active and available IP addresses across network subnets

An IP address scanner helps you stay on top of dynamic network changes and IP status. SolarWinds IP Address Manager uses automated ICMP and SNMP polling to discover active addresses, gather hostname details, and surface MAC addresses and system info. Set scans to run every 10 minutes or once per week—whatever your environment demands. Build and maintain documentation of your IP address blocks while gaining historical insights into network health. Stop relying on spreadsheets that don’t provide informative and up-to-date IP status and start scanning IP addresses on your network with a centralized, automated tool designed for hybrid IT.

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Create and Scan Subnets From One Place

Screenshot of SolarWinds IPAM Subnet Management creating and organizing network subnets

Subnets are smaller, more efficient network segments within a larger business network. With SolarWinds IP Address Manager as your subnet scanner, create subnets and hierarchies using the Subnet Allocation Wizard or start by importing from an existing spreadsheet, then schedule and perform automated IP address scans across your network subnets. Search across all subnets, a group of subnets, or within a specific subnetwork. Configure new scans or edit existing subnet scans within the Manage Subnets & IP Addresses screen. Set the subnet scanner interval to any frequency between every 10 minutes and every seven days to keep your IP data accurate and current.

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Scan Custom IP Ranges for Active Addresses

Screenshot of SolarWinds IPAM IP range scanner performing ICMP ping sweeps across a defined address range

Using an IP range scanner, admins can define a range of addresses to automatically discover active IP addresses within that range. This is especially useful within large subnets. IPAM detects used devices through ICMP ping sweeps, so admins can search for a defined range of IP addresses across managed nodes and poll devices for response time, granular and accurate status, and availability. IPAM offers control over IP range scanning with separate schedules for nodes, interfaces, and volumes. Gain the visibility you need to prevent conflicts before they disrupt services.

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Schedule Automated IP Scans to Save Time

Screenshot of SolarWinds IPAM scheduled scan configuration showing automated network scanning intervals

If you rely on spreadsheets or other insufficient tools, scanning an entire network for IP addresses and issues wastes valuable time. Leveraging IPAM as your network IP scanner enables you to scan your entire network automatically on an ongoing basis. Monitor and manage DHCP servers, DNS servers, and IP addresses from a single interface. IPAM also manages your Infoblox environment, VMware, and cloud resources, and scans your network using user-defined fields like asset tag and serial number for precise device management. Less manual tracking. More network uptime.

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Discover and Add IP Addresses Automatically

Screenshot of SolarWinds IPAM discovery scan job status showing scanning for new IP addresses on the network and updating status

Using IPAM as your network IP finder gives you oversight over the connectivity and functionality of your business network. Discover and add new devices using the SolarWinds Platform, or add nodes by querying your Active Directory Domain Controller. Import a spreadsheet of IP addresses and subnets when migrating from manual tracking. Once your network is configured, search managed IP addresses to discover current information in real time. Stop guessing what is on your network—automated discovery keeps your records accurate and your team confident.

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Explore IP Address Scanner FAQs

Learn how an IP address scanner works, what it finds, and how it helps manage networks.

What is an IP address scanner and what does it do?
How does an IP address scanner work?
What are the benefits of using an IP address scanner?
What other IP management features does SolarWinds IPAM offer?
Can an IP address scanner help reduce network errors?
Can an IP address scanner detect IP conflicts?

What is an IP address scanner and what does it do?

An IP address scanner is a tool that analyzes a business network to discover IP addresses and identify relevant information associated with those addresses and devices. With an IP address scanner, admins can set a specified range of addresses to discover any IP addresses within that range. In today's modern environment, it's essential for digital networks to deliver 24/7 business continuity. With so many interconnected devices running on a network at any given time, maintaining this level of continuity can be challenging without effective monitoring practices. Before you can begin monitoring, you need to perform a thorough IP scan—preferably with a tool that delivers visibility into all the devices on your network. An IP address scanner can help you manage your network by discovering all the IP addresses within a set range so you can start monitoring right away and deliver the network availability users expect.

Learn More

What is an IP address scanner and what does it do?
An IP address scanner is a tool that analyzes a business network to discover IP addresses and identify relevant information associated with those addresses and devices. With an IP address scanner, admins can set a specified range of addresses to discover any IP addresses within that range. In today's modern environment, it's essential for digital networks to deliver 24/7 business continuity. With so many interconnected devices running on a network at any given time, maintaining this level of continuity can be challenging without effective monitoring practices. Before you can begin monitoring, you need to perform a thorough IP scan—preferably with a tool that delivers visibility into all the devices on your network. An IP address scanner can help you manage your network by discovering all the IP addresses within a set range so you can start monitoring right away and deliver the network availability users expect.
Learn More