Nmap Development mailing list archives

Re: Nmap and WinPcap


From: "Hans Nilsson" <hasse_gg () ftml net>
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 06:18:46 -1100

Since I downloaded and looked at it, I'll spare anyone else. It contains
Nmap 3.81.


On Thu, 11 Jan 2007 22:55:51 -0800, "Fyodor" <fyodor () insecure org> said:
On Thu, Jan 11, 2007 at 04:48:10PM -1100, Hans Nilsson wrote:
Here's a version of Nmap that doesn't require WinPcap anything:
http://www.download.com/PacketStuff-Network-Toolkit/3000-2085_4-10428838.html

You could also take a look at the developers website:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060427203232/http://www.packetstuff.com/

While I think the developer means well, it is worth noting that
distributing GPL-based tools linked to proprietary libraries is a
copyright violation.  It also must be using an ancient version of Nmap
given that the package was added to download.com in 2005.

That package links to the Packet Snifer SDK [1], which allows for
Winpcap-comapatable features in a staticly linked library (rather than
having to install WinPcap).  For all I know, there product may be
based on WinPcap code (their BSD-style license allows it).  The
WinPcap folks themselves have a somewhat-similar product named WinPcap
professional [2].  I don't know if WinPcap pro can do static linking,
but it at least works as a stand-alone DLL which eliminates the need
to install WinPcap separately.

I suppose (if we wanted to) we could add an exception to the Nmap
license allowing linking to Packet Sniffer SDK or WinPcap Pro, just
like the current OpenSSL exception.  But I'm hopeful that the free
version of WinPcap will gain this feature at some point.  If nobody
else adds it before this, maybe it can be a Google SoC student
project.

In most cases, the WinPcap installation isn't a problem anyway.
Still, being able to statically link Pcap (like you can with PSSDK)
would be cool.

Cheers,
Fyodor

[1] http://www.microolap.com/products/network/pssdk/
[2] http://www.cacetech.com/products/winpcap_professional.htm

-- 
  Hans Nilsson
  hasse_gg () ftml net

-- 
http://www.fastmail.fm - Email service worth paying for. Try it for free


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