Advanced IP Scanner — Windows Network Discovery in Practice
General Information
Advanced IP Scanner is a small utility created for quick network sweeps on Windows systems. It is widely used by administrators when there is a need to see which machines are alive in a subnet, gather basic details, and reach them directly without setting up a heavy monitoring platform. The program is fast, portable, and has enough features to be practical during audits or troubleshooting, yet it stays simple enough to run from a USB stick without installation.
How It Operates
The tool runs a scan over a defined IP range or the whole subnet. For each responding host, it shows hostname, MAC address, and vendor information. From the same results list, it is possible to open file shares, initiate RDP or Radmin sessions, or send Wake-on-LAN commands. If the target system allows it, even a remote shutdown can be triggered. Exporting results into a CSV file is common when administrators need quick documentation of active hosts.
Feature Set
Area | What it provides |
Discovery | High-speed, multithreaded scans across ranges or subnets. |
Identification | Hostnames, MAC addresses, and vendor detection. |
Remote access | One-click launch of RDP or Radmin sessions. |
Power control | Wake-on-LAN and remote shutdown for Windows hosts. |
File access | Opening of shared folders straight from the interface. |
Portability | Can run in portable mode from external media. |
Reporting | Exports results in CSV for reuse or audit. |
Deployment Notes
Installation is straightforward: download the package, choose a standard install or portable launch, and start scanning. To make use of power management features, administrators must configure BIOS/firmware for Wake-on-LAN and ensure proper rights are available for shutdown operations. The tool runs on all current Windows versions and does not require extra components.
Usage Examples
– Quick verification of which devices are live after VLAN or subnet changes.
– Identifying a host during incident response when its address or state is uncertain.
– Waking up groups of PCs before applying updates or maintenance.
– Generating a quick inventory list without relying on a full IPAM solution.
Limitations
Advanced IP Scanner is focused on discovery; it does not store historical data, provide alerts, or handle cross-platform environments. For teams with Linux or macOS in scope, Angry IP Scanner is often the preferred alternative. Deeper remote management also requires pairing with Radmin.
Comparison
Tool | Platforms | Strong Points | Typical Fit |
Advanced IP Scanner | Windows | Simple, portable, integrates with RDP/Radmin, supports WoL/shutdown | Fast LAN discovery for Windows environments |
Angry IP Scanner | Windows, macOS, Linux | Open source, plugin support, wide export options | Mixed-OS networks and scripting tasks |