Nmap vs RustScan

Nmap is a free, open-source utility for discovering networks and auditing security. It uses raw IP packets to identify available hosts, services and versions, operating systems, and packet filters or firewalls. Scanning options include TCP and UDP ports, OS and version detection, and ping sweeps. Network administrators can use it to inventory systems, plan service upgrades, and monitor host or service uptime. The Nmap Scripting Engine runs bundled or user-written scripts in parallel for networking tasks such as discovery and vulnerability checks. The suite also includes Zenmap, a graphical interface and results viewer; Ncat for data transfer and debugging; Ndiff for comparing scan results; and Nping for packet generation and response analysis. Most port-scan types require privileged access to send and receive raw packets, although unprivileged users can run connect and FTP bounce scans. Nmap is not a comprehensive vulnerability scanner. End-user use is free, but redistribution in commercial products requires an OEM license. Quarterly OEM licenses start at $9,980.00 per 3 months for eligible small or startup companies.

RustScan is a free command-line port scanner for finding open network ports. The project says it can scan all 65,000 ports in three seconds, and discovered ports can be passed automatically to Nmap for further analysis. It supports IPv6, CIDR ranges and file input, with scripting in Python, Lua and Shell. Listed capabilities include service detection, operating-system detection and greppable-text output. RustScan describes adaptive learning that uses information about the scan environment and usage to improve over time. The project also says its continuous integration checks whether the scanner becomes significantly slower than the previous version and aims to ensure accessibility. Cargo is the only officially supported installation method, although releases and package-manager options are also listed. The installation guide recommends Docker and says its image works across systems, including Windows, which is not officially supported. The maintainer says RustScan has been tested only on Linux and that macOS or Windows may have issues; the guide also notes macOS's low open-file limit can significantly affect scanning. The project is licensed under GPL-3.0.