# Nmap Fundamentals

> Master the ultimate network x-ray machine. Go beyond basic port scanning to understand TCP packet mechanics, OS fingerprinting, NSE scripting, and IDS evasion.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/nmap-fundamentals
Last updated: 2026-07-07

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Beginner |
| Category | Cybersecurity |
| Lessons | 7 |
| Estimated time | 30 min |
| XP | 200 |

Amateurs run nmap -A against a target and wonder why they get blocked by the first firewall they encounter. Professionals understand that Nmap is not just a port scanner; it is a highly tunable, packet-crafting engine that speaks the raw language of the network.

In this foundational yet deeply technical module, we strip away the magic of the Nmap command line and look at the actual packets hitting the wire. You will learn how the TCP handshake can be manipulated to perform stealth scans, how Nmap mathematically deduces a remote operating system by analyzing TCP/IP stack quirks, and how to weaponize the Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) for automated vulnerability discovery. Finally, we will master the art of flying under the radar, tuning timing templates and fragmenting packets to bypass legacy IDS/IPS sensors.

Stop blindly blasting the network. Learn to map it with surgical precision.

## Lessons

1. What is Network Scanning (30 min)
2. Nmap Basics (30 min)
3. Host Discovery Techniques (30 min)
4. Port Scanning Basics (30 min)
5. Service & Version Detection (30 min)
6. NSE Scripts for Vulnerability Scanning (30 min)
7. Evasion & Stealth Scanning Techniques (30 min)

## Related

- [Learning path: Recon & Enumeration Tools](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/recon-enumeration-tools)
- [All rooms](https://codelivly.com/rooms)