local network

When managing or troubleshooting a network, knowing what devices are connected is essential. This is where arp-scan becomes an invaluable tool. arp-scan is a command-line utility in Linux that allows system administrators to scan a local network to discover and list all devices that respond to ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) requests. The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is a key element of IP networking on LANs. ARP translates IP addresses into physical MAC addresses, allowing for the identification of devices on a local network. Essentially, when your computer wants to communicate with another device on the same network, it uses ARP to find out the hardware address of the destination device.