Like any skilled professional, such as a plumber, carpenter, or mechanic, a system administrator has a toolbox of tools specially made for the tasks and processes required to carry out his or her tasks. The following list shows the tools you need to be familiar with for the Server+ exam:
- Port scanners: This is a software application that scans a server (or host) to identify any open TCP/UDP ports. An open port is a possible entry point for an external attacker. Port scanners allow server administrators to ensure that the state of the server complies with the security policies of its organization. Not all port scanners scan for the full range of TCP/UDP port numbers. Some scan for only the well-known ports, others scan for the ports most commonly exploited, and yet others scan for the full range of port numbers (up to 65536).
A port scan assigns one of three states...
