SoftPerfect Network Scanner is an exceptionally useful and robust tool designed for system administrators and users who require comprehensive control and insight into their local network. This program efficiently scans computers on the network, delivering detailed information about their status and availability. Its intuitive design makes it accessible even for those without extensive networking expertise, making it an excellent choice for monitoring and managing network health.
The software operates by performing network scans through ping commands, identifying open TCP ports, and revealing shared resources on accessible computers. This includes both visible and hidden shared resources, providing a complete overview of network security. A standout feature of SoftPerfect Network Scanner is its ability to uncover resources not typically visible in Network Neighborhood, which is crucial for detecting unwanted or misconfigured shared folders and maintaining a secure network environment.
In This Post
Quick Start & Pro Tips
Optimizing Scan Performance with Thread Settings
- Open SoftPerfect Network Scanner and navigate to Options > Program Options > General tab.
- Adjust the Max. threads value to control the number of simultaneous scanning threads. A higher number can speed up scans on robust networks, while a lower number reduces network load.
- Configure Max. thread run-time to gracefully stop threads that exceed a specified time, preventing hangs on unresponsive IP addresses.
Why: Optimizing thread settings allows you to balance scan speed with network impact. Increasing threads can significantly reduce scan duration on well-provisioned networks, while managing run-time ensures the scanner remains responsive and efficient, especially in environments with many offline or slow devices.
Creating Custom Filters for Targeted Analysis
- After a scan completes, access the advanced filter panel by selecting View > Setup Filter or View > Quick Host Filter > Settings.
- Define filter criteria based on various parameters such as IP Address, MAC Address, Host Name, OS, Open Ports, or Shared Folders.
- Save your custom filters for quick application in future scans, allowing you to focus on specific network segments or device types.
Why: Custom filters are essential for targeted network analysis, enabling you to quickly isolate and examine specific devices or vulnerabilities. This streamlines troubleshooting, security audits, and inventory management by cutting through irrelevant data and highlighting critical information.
Leveraging Virtual Columns for Enhanced Data Presentation
- Go to Options > Virtual Columns from the main menu.
- Create a new virtual column and use the [Column Name] syntax to reference existing scan result columns in the Source Columns expression.
- Optionally, apply a regular expression and replacement expression to extract or reformat specific parts of the data, such as extracting a CPU generation number from a WMI query result.
Why: Virtual columns allow you to transform and combine existing scan data into more meaningful and digestible formats without performing additional remote queries. This customization enhances reporting and analysis, making complex information more accessible and actionable for specific administrative tasks.
Download SoftPerfect Network Scanner
File size: 15.2 MB
OS support: Windows
Windows
Tech Specs
| Software Name | SoftPerfect Network Scanner |
|---|---|
| Version | 26.5 |
| License | Trial |
| File Size | 15.2 MB |
| OS Support | Windows |
| Language | Multi-language |
| Developer | SoftPerfect Research |
| Homepage | https://www.softperfect.com/products/networkscanner/ |
| Changelogurl | https://www.softperfect.com/products/networkscanner/changelog/ |
| Last Updated | May 26, 2026 |
Main Features
- Comprehensive Network Scanning: SoftPerfect Network Scanner performs multi-threaded ping sweeps with ICMP and ARP support for both IPv4 and IPv6 networks, ensuring thorough discovery of all active devices. It efficiently identifies live devices and their status across various network infrastructures.
- Detailed Device Information Retrieval: The scanner collects extensive data including host names, MAC addresses, NIC vendors, operating system versions, currently logged-on users, and uptime. It can also retrieve installed applications and other critical system details for inventory and management.
- Port and Shared Resource Discovery: It checks for open TCP and UDP ports to identify running services and enumerates shared folders, printers, and drives on Windows networks. This includes optional security and disk space analysis, helping to secure network resources.
- Advanced Remote Query Capabilities: SoftPerfect Network Scanner can pull live data from devices using various protocols like WMI, remote registry, SNMP, SSH, HTTP, JSON, XML, PowerShell, and custom scripting. This allows for deep inspection and management of remote systems.
- Network Discovery and Monitoring: The tool detects DHCP servers, UPnP, mDNS, WSD, and ONVIF devices, and can identify duplicate IP addresses. It also offers continuous background scanning with notifications for devices joining or leaving the network.
- Portability and Ease of Use: Designed to be highly portable, the program does not require installation and can run directly from an executable file, such as a USB stick. This makes it convenient for technicians and administrators working across multiple systems without leaving traces.
- Integration with Nmap: Extend scanning capabilities with Nmap integration for advanced OS detection, service version probing, and the execution of Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) scripts, enhancing vulnerability assessment.
Required Specs
Minimum
- OS: Windows 7 or later; macOS; Linux
How to Install
Installation Steps
- Click the download button above to get the installer for your operating system.
- Locate the downloaded file (e.g., netscan_setup.exe) and double-click to run the installer.
- Follow the on-screen installation wizard, accepting the license agreement and choosing your installation directory.
- Once the installation is complete, launch SoftPerfect Network Scanner from your Start Menu or desktop shortcut.
Compatibility: Compatible with Windows 7 and later versions, macOS, and Linux. A portable version is also available that does not require installation.
Fix Common Problems
- Issue: Installation fails or program doesn’t launch → Solution: Run the installer or executable as an administrator.
- Issue: Unable to scan certain network segments → Solution: Ensure appropriate network permissions and firewall rules are configured to allow the scanner to access target IPs and ports.
Common Questions
Is SoftPerfect Network Scanner free to use?
SoftPerfect Network Scanner is available as a free trial version with unlimited duration, but it limits the display of discovered devices to a maximum of 10. To scan and view more than 10 devices, a commercial license is required.
What operating systems does SoftPerfect Network Scanner support?
SoftPerfect Network Scanner is a cross-platform tool compatible with Windows (including Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11), macOS, and Linux. It offers a consistent experience across these different operating environments.
Can SoftPerfect Network Scanner be run without installation?
Yes, SoftPerfect Network Scanner is designed to be portable and can be run directly from its executable file, such as from a USB drive, without requiring any installation. This makes it highly convenient for on-the-go network diagnostics.
Discover more from Software Wave
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.