Netdiscover Command guide: Network Discovery and ARP Reconnaissance Tool

Network reconnaissance is a critical phase in penetration testing and security auditing. While tools like Nmap dominate the scanning landscape, netdiscover offers a specialized approach to network discovery through ARP reconnaissance. This comprehensive guide covers everything security professionals need to know about netdiscover tool/command, from basic usage to advanced techniques.

What is Netdiscover?

Netdiscover tool is an active/passive ARP reconnaissance tool designed for network discovery without relying on DHCP servers. Originally developed for wireless network discovery during wardriving activities, it has evolved into a versatile network inventory tool used by penetration testers and security analysts worldwide.

Unlike traditional IP scanners that rely on ICMP or TCP/UDP probes, netdiscover operates at the data link layer using ARP requests. This approach makes it particularly effective in switched network environments where broadcast traffic is contained within VLANs.

Key Features

ARP-based discovery: Uses Address Resolution Protocol for host detection
Passive and Active scanning modes: Flexibility in reconnaissance approach
No DHCP dependency: Works effectively in DHCP-less networks
Vendor identification: Automatic OUI lookup for device fingerprinting
Lightweight and fast: Minimal resource consumption
Cross-platform support: Available for Linux, macOS, and Windows

How Netdiscover Works

Understanding the underlying mechanism helps security professionals leverage netdiscover effectively. The tool functions by sending ARP requests to target IP addresses and analyzing the responses to build a network map.

ARP Reconnaissance Process

Target Selection: Defines IP range or reads from interface
ARP Request Generation: Crafts ARP “who-has” packets
Response Analysis: Captures and processes ARP replies
Vendor Identification: Matches MAC addresses with OUI database
Results Presentation: Displays discovered hosts with details

In passive mode, netdiscover monitors existing ARP traffic without generating additional network noise, making it ideal for stealth reconnaissance.

Installation Guide

Kali Linux

Netdiscover command comes pre-installed on Kali Linux. If missing, install using:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install netdiscover

Ubuntu and Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install netdiscover

Fedora and RHEL

sudo dnf install netdiscover

Arch Linux

sudo pacman -S netdiscover

macOS

Using Homebrew:

brew install netdiscover

Windows

While netdiscover doesn’t have native Windows support, you can use:

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Virtual machines with Linux
Docker containers

Command Line Options and Parameters

Netdiscover’s power lies in its flexible command-line interface. Let’s explore each option systematically.

Basic Syntax

netdiscover [options]

Range Scanning (`-r`)

The most commonly used option for specifying target networks. You can specify multiple ranges separated by commas:

netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24
netdiscover -r 10.0.0.0/8
netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24,10.0.0.0/16

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

This discovers all active hosts in the typical home/office network range.

Use Cases:

Internal network reconnaissance
Subnet discovery
Network inventory

Interface Selection (`-i`)

Please select the network interface you wish to utilize. This step is frequently necessary, particularly on systems with multiple network connections(like WIFI router, ethernet/lan cable connection, VPN connection, docker-container network, etc).

netdiscover -i eth0 -r 192.168.1.0/24
netdiscover -i wlan0 -r 10.0.0.0/24
netdiscover -i tun0 -r 192.168.100.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -i wlan0 -r 192.168.43.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.43.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 5 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 4 hosts.   Total size: 300
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.43.1    12:34:56:78:9a:bc      1      60  Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd
 192.168.43.108  aa:bb:cc:11:22:33      2      60  Apple, Inc.
 192.168.43.200  ff:ee:dd:44:55:66      1      60  Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd
 192.168.43.250  00:11:22:33:44:55      1      60  Unknown vendor

Critical for:

Multi-homed/multi-interface systems
VPN assessments
Wireless penetration testing

Passive Mode (`-p`)

For Stealth Reconnaissance, use Netdiscover passive mode

Enable passive ARP monitoring. Netdiscover will only listen for ARP traffic without sending requests. This is the default if -r or -l are not used:

netdiscover -p -i eth0

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -p -i eth0

Currently scanning: (passive)   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 8 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 5 hosts.   Total size: 480
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      2      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.50    08:00:27:a1:b2:c3      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.75    aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      3      60  Apple, Inc.
 192.168.1.100   12:34:56:78:9a:bc      1      60  Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd
 192.168.1.200   ff:ee:dd:cc:bb:aa      1      60  Unknown vendor

Monitor network traffic without generating suspicious ARP requests.

Benefits:

Stealth reconnaissance
Network traffic analysis
Compliance with engagement rules

Print/Parsable Output (`-P`)

Print results in a format suitable for parsing by another program and stop after the active scan:

netdiscover -P -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -P -r 192.168.1.0/24

192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45       1       60      Dell Inc.
192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b       1       60      PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff       1       60      Unknown vendor

Generate machine-readable output for scripts. Perfect for integration with other security tools and automated reporting.

Applications:

Script integration
Automated reporting
Data processing pipelines

Advanced Options

Count Specification (`-c`)

Set the number of times to send each ARP request. This can be useful on networks with packet loss:

netdiscover -c 5 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -c 5 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 12 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 720
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      5      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      4      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      3      60  Unknown vendor

This sends exactly 5 ARP requests per target, useful for:

Time-constrained assessments
Networks with packet loss
Increasing detection reliability

Fast Mode (`-f`)

Enable fast mode scan. This saves time and is recommended for automatic scans:

netdiscover -f -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -f -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

-- Ending netdiscover at: Fri Jun 20 14:23:15 2025 -- 3 hosts found.

Quick scan with limited requests per host.

Trade-offs:

Faster completion time
Potential for missed hosts
Higher network load

Filter Configuration (`-F`)

Customize the pcap filter expression. The default filter is "arp":

netdiscover -F "arp and src net 192.168.1.0/24" -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -F "arp and src net 192.168.1.0/24" -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 2 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 2 hosts.   Total size: 120
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.200   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

List/File Input (`-l`)

Scan the IP address ranges listed in the given file. Each range should be on a separate line:

netdiscover -l targets.txt

File format example (targets.txt):

192.168.1.0/24
10.0.0.1-10.0.0.50
172.16.1.1

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -l targets.txt

Currently scanning: File   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 6 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 5 hosts.   Total size: 360
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 10.0.0.10       12:34:56:78:9a:bc      1      60  Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd
 10.0.0.25       ff:ee:dd:cc:bb:aa      2      60  Apple, Inc.
 172.16.1.1      aa:bb:cc:11:22:33      1      60  Cisco Systems, Inc

MAC/Hostname File (`-m`)

Scan a list of known MAC addresses and hostnames from the given file. This allows you to associate known names with discovered MAC addresses:

netdiscover -m known_hosts.txt -r 192.168.1.0/24

File format example (known_hosts.txt):

00:14:22:01:23:45   server01
08:00:27:53:81:2b   workstation-lab
aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff   printer-hp

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -m known_hosts.txt -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc. / server01
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH / workstation-lab
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor / printer-hp

Enhanced information:

Physical address identification
Hostname correlation
Asset management integration

Sleep Time (`-s`)

Set the sleep time (in milliseconds) between each ARP request (used with active scanning):

netdiscover -s 100 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -s 100 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

Use cases:

Rate limiting for stealth
Network congestion management
IDS evasion

Sleep Suppression (`-S`)

Enable sleep time suppression between each request (hardcore mode). Use with extreme caution as it can flood the network:

netdiscover -S -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -S -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

-- Ending netdiscover at: Fri Jun 20 14:25:32 2025 -- 3 hosts found.

Caution: May trigger intrusion detection systems and flood the network.

Node Specification (`-n`)

Set the last source IP octet used for scanning (from 2 to 253). This can be useful for avoiding conflicts or specific IP ranges:

netdiscover -n 100 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -n 100 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.50    08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

Continuous Listening (`-L`)

Similar to -P, but continues listening after the active scan is completed:

netdiscover -L -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -L -r 192.168.1.0/24

192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45       1       60      Dell Inc.
192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b       1       60      PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff       1       60      Unknown vendor
192.168.1.200   ff:ee:dd:cc:bb:aa       1       60      Apple, Inc.
192.168.1.150   12:34:56:78:9a:bc       1       60      Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd

No Header (`-N`)

Do not print the header. Only valid when -P or -L is enabled:

netdiscover -P -N -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -P -N -r 192.168.1.0/24

192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45       1       60      Dell Inc.
192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b       1       60      PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff       1       60      Unknown vendor

Ignore Home Configuration (`-d`)

Ignore home configuration files for autoscan and fast mode:

netdiscover -d -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -d -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

Practical Usage Examples

Wireless Network Discovery

For wireless assessments:

sudo netdiscover -i wlan0 -r 192.168.43.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -i wlan0 -r 192.168.43.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.43.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 8 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 5 hosts.   Total size: 480
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.43.1    12:34:56:78:9a:bc      1      60  Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd
 192.168.43.108  aa:bb:cc:11:22:33      2      60  Apple, Inc.
 192.168.43.150  ff:ee:dd:44:55:66      1      60  Xiaomi Communications Co Ltd
 192.168.43.200  00:11:22:33:44:55      2      60  Huawei Technologies Co.,Ltd
 192.168.43.250  bb:aa:cc:dd:ee:ff      2      60  Unknown vendor

Common for mobile hotspot and wireless AP reconnaissance.

VPN Tunnel Scanning

During VPN assessments:

sudo netdiscover -i tun0 -r 10.8.0.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -i tun0 -r 10.8.0.0/24

Currently scanning: 10.8.0.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 2 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 10.8.0.1        00:ff:12:34:56:78      1      60  OpenVPN Technologies, Inc.
 10.8.0.100      aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      2      60  Unknown vendor

Discover hosts accessible through VPN connections.

Understanding Output

Netdiscover provides structured output containing:

Standard Output Format

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 4 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 240
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:11:22:33:44:55      1      60  Router Manufacturer Inc.
 192.168.1.100   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      2      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.200   ff:ee:dd:cc:bb:aa      1      60  Apple, Inc.

Output Components

IP Address: Target host IP
MAC Address: Physical network interface identifier
Count: Number of ARP responses received
Len: Packet length in bytes
Vendor: Manufacturer identification from OUI database

Troubleshooting Common Issues

“Command Not Found” Error

Problem: bash: netdiscover: command not found

Sample Terminal Output:

$ netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24

bash: netdiscover: command not found

Solutions:

Install netdiscover: sudo apt install netdiscover
Check PATH: which netdiscover
Use full path: /usr/bin/netdiscover

Permission Denied

Problem: You must be root to run this

Sample Terminal Output:

$ netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24

You must be root to run this. (Maybe install pcap dev?. I use libpcap's pcap_open_live method)

Solution: Use sudo privileges:

sudo netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24

“Not an Ethernet Interface” Error

Problem: Interface specification issues

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -i wlan1 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Fatal: wlan1 is not an ethernet interface. I use libnet's libnet_build_arp method.

Solutions:

List interfaces: ip link show
Verify interface name: netdiscover -i wlan0
Check interface status: ip link show wlan0

No Results Found

Problem: Netdiscover doesn’t find anything

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 0 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 0 hosts.   Total size: 0
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Ending netdiscover at: Fri Jun 20 14:35:12 2025 -- 0 hosts found.

Troubleshooting steps:

Verify network connectivity
Check firewall rules
Confirm target range
Try different interface
Use passive mode for monitoring

Alternative approach with passive mode:

sudo netdiscover -p -i eth0

Package Installation Issues

Problem: unable to locate package netdiscover

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo apt install netdiscover

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package netdiscover

Solutions:

Update package lists: sudo apt update
Install from source: Download from GitHub repository
Use alternative package manager: sudo snap install netdiscover

Netdiscover vs Other Tools

Netdiscover vs Nmap

Feature	Netdiscover	Nmap
Protocol	ARP only	TCP/UDP/ICMP
Speed	Fast for local networks	Comprehensive but slower
Stealth	Excellent passive mode	Various stealth techniques
Functionality	Network discovery focused	Full-featured scanner
Learning curve	Simple	Complex

Netdiscover vs ARP-scan

Netdiscover advantages:

Better passive monitoring
Integrated vendor lookup
Wireless network focus

ARP-scan advantages:

More customization options
Better scripting support
Advanced filtering

Alternative Tools

For Windows environments:

Angry IP Scanner
Advanced IP Scanner
Fing

For comprehensive scanning:

Nmap with ARP scan (-sn)
Masscan for large networks
Zmap for internet-wide scanning

Advanced Techniques

Script Integration

Combine netdiscover with other tools for comprehensive reconnaissance:

#!/bin/bash
# Network discovery pipeline
netdiscover -P -r $1 | grep -E "^[0-9]" | cut -d' ' -f1 > discovered_hosts.txt
nmap -sV -iL discovered_hosts.txt

Sample execution and output:

$ ./network_recon.sh 192.168.1.0/24
$ cat discovered_hosts.txt
192.168.1.1
192.168.1.100
192.168.1.254

Starting Nmap 7.80 ( https://nmap.org ) at 2025-06-20 14:40 EDT
Nmap scan report for 192.168.1.1
Host is up (0.001s latency).
Not shown: 999 closed ports
PORT   STATE SERVICE VERSION
22/tcp open  ssh     OpenSSH 8.2p1 Ubuntu 4ubuntu0.3

Automated Reporting

Generate structured reports for documentation:

netdiscover -P -r 192.168.1.0/24 | \
awk '/^[0-9]/ {print $1","$2","$6}' > network_inventory.csv

Sample CSV output:

$ cat network_inventory.csv

192.168.1.1,00:14:22:01:23:45,Dell Inc.
192.168.1.100,08:00:27:53:81:2b,PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
192.168.1.254,aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff,Unknown vendor

Continuous Monitoring

Set up continuous network monitoring for security purposes:

#!/bin/bash
# Continuous monitoring script
LOG_FILE="/var/log/netdiscover_monitor.log"

while true; do
    echo "$(date): Starting network scan" >> $LOG_FILE
    netdiscover -P -c 3 -r 192.168.1.0/24 >> $LOG_FILE 2>&1
    echo "$(date): Scan completed" >> $LOG_FILE
    sleep 300
done

Sample log output:

$ tail -f /var/log/netdiscover_monitor.log

Fri Jun 20 14:45:01 EDT 2025: Starting network scan
192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45       1       60      Dell Inc.
192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b       1       60      PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff       1       60      Unknown vendor
Fri Jun 20 14:45:15 EDT 2025: Scan completed

Multi-Range Scanning

Scan multiple network ranges efficiently:

#!/bin/bash
# Multi-range scanner
RANGES="192.168.1.0/24,10.0.0.0/24,172.16.1.0/24"

netdiscover -P -r $RANGES

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -P -r 192.168.1.0/24,10.0.0.0/24,172.16.1.0/24

192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45       1       60      Dell Inc.
192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b       1       60      PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
10.0.0.1        12:34:56:78:9a:bc       1       60      Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd
10.0.0.50       ff:ee:dd:cc:bb:aa       1       60      Apple, Inc.
172.16.1.1      aa:bb:cc:11:22:33       1       60      Cisco Systems, Inc

Custom Filter Implementation

Create advanced filtering for specific reconnaissance needs:

# Filter for specific vendor equipment

netdiscover -P -r 192.168.1.0/24 | grep -i "cisco\|dell\|hp"

Sample filtered output:

$ sudo netdiscover -P -r 192.168.1.0/24 | grep -i "cisco\|dell\|hp"

192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45       1       60      Dell Inc.
192.168.1.50    00:1b:21:3c:4d:5e       1       60      Cisco Systems, Inc
192.168.1.200   3c:d9:2b:12:34:56       1       60      Hewlett Packard

Stealth Scanning with Custom Timing

Implement stealth techniques to avoid detection:

# Ultra-stealth scan with random delays
sudo netdiscover -s 5000 -c 1 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Sample Terminal Output:

$ sudo netdiscover -s 5000 -c 1 -r 192.168.1.0/24

Currently scanning: 192.168.1.0/24   |   Screen View: Unique Hosts

 3 Captured ARP Req/Rep packets, from 3 hosts.   Total size: 180
 _____________________________________________________________________________
   IP            At MAC Address     Count     Len  MAC Vendor / Hostname
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 192.168.1.1     00:14:22:01:23:45      1      60  Dell Inc.
 192.168.1.100   08:00:27:53:81:2b      1      60  PCS Systemtechnik GmbH
 192.168.1.254   aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff      1      60  Unknown vendor

-- Ending netdiscover at: Fri Jun 20 15:02:33 EDT 2025 -- 3 hosts found.

The scan takes significantly longer but generates minimal network noise.

Legal and Ethical Usage (Security Considerations)

Authorized testing only:

Obtain written permission
Follow engagement rules
Document activities and collect scanning logs
Report findings responsibly

Integration with Penetration Testing

Reconnaissance Phase

Netdiscover fits early in the kill chain:

Passive reconnaissance: Gather public information
Active reconnaissance: Netdiscover for host discovery
Enumeration: Detailed service scanning
Vulnerability assessment: Identify weaknesses

Conclusion

Netdiscover remains an essential tool for network reconnaissance, particularly in environments where traditional scanning methods fall short. Its ARP-based approach provides unique advantages for discovering hosts in switched networks and wireless environments.

The tool’s simplicity shouldn’t be underestimated – often the most effective reconnaissance comes from understanding when to use specialized tools like netdiscover rather than relying solely on comprehensive scanners like Nmap.

For security professionals, mastering netdiscover’s various modes and options provides another valuable technique in the network discovery arsenal. Whether conducting authorized penetration tests, performing network inventories, or investigating security incidents, netdiscover’s focused functionality delivers reliable results.

Remember that effective network reconnaissance combines multiple tools and techniques. Netdiscover excels at its specific function – use it as part of a comprehensive methodology rather than a standalone solution.

Additional Resources

Official documentation: Man page (man netdiscover)
Source code: Available on Netdiscover GitHub repository
Community forums: Security-focused discussion groups
Training courses: Penetration testing certification programs
Related tools: Explore the broader network reconnaissance toolkit

This guide provides a foundation for using netdiscover effectively. Practice in authorized environments, stay current with updates, and always operate within legal and ethical boundaries.

What is Netdiscover?

Key Features

How Netdiscover Works

ARP Reconnaissance Process

Installation Guide

Kali Linux

Ubuntu and Debian

Fedora and RHEL

Arch Linux

macOS

Windows

Command Line Options and Parameters

Basic Syntax

Range Scanning (-r)

Interface Selection (-i)

Passive Mode (-p)

Print/Parsable Output (-P)

Advanced Options

Count Specification (-c)

Fast Mode (-f)

Filter Configuration (-F)

List/File Input (-l)

MAC/Hostname File (-m)

Sleep Time (-s)

Sleep Suppression (-S)

Node Specification (-n)

Continuous Listening (-L)

No Header (-N)

Ignore Home Configuration (-d)

Practical Usage Examples

Wireless Network Discovery

VPN Tunnel Scanning

Understanding Output

Standard Output Format

Output Components

Troubleshooting Common Issues

“Command Not Found” Error

Permission Denied

“Not an Ethernet Interface” Error

No Results Found

Package Installation Issues

Netdiscover vs Other Tools

Netdiscover vs Nmap

Netdiscover vs ARP-scan

Alternative Tools

Advanced Techniques

Script Integration

Automated Reporting

Continuous Monitoring

Multi-Range Scanning

Custom Filter Implementation

Stealth Scanning with Custom Timing

Legal and Ethical Usage (Security Considerations)

Integration with Penetration Testing

Reconnaissance Phase

Conclusion

Additional Resources

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Range Scanning (`-r`)

Interface Selection (`-i`)

Passive Mode (`-p`)

Print/Parsable Output (`-P`)

Count Specification (`-c`)

Fast Mode (`-f`)

Filter Configuration (`-F`)

List/File Input (`-l`)

MAC/Hostname File (`-m`)

Sleep Time (`-s`)

Sleep Suppression (`-S`)

Node Specification (`-n`)

Continuous Listening (`-L`)

No Header (`-N`)

Ignore Home Configuration (`-d`)