Inventory
All 8 tools, by drawer
Each tool is filed under its main job. Several do more than one — Advanced IP Scanner opens SSH and RDP sessions, Sysinternals covers both diagnosis and remote execution — so each drawer’s comparison also borrows from the other two.
LAN & Port Scanners
Answers: “Which hosts are up on this subnet, what are they, and what do they share?” Full comparison
ScanGPLv2Angry IP ScannerSweep a range, see who answers, export to CSVA small open-source range sweeper: pick the columns you need, run it across a VLAN, export the live hosts.Windows, macOS, LinuxScanPaid for businessLizardSystems Network ScannerList SMB, FTP and web shares and check who can write to themA Windows range scanner built around shared resources and their access rights. Last release: v21.07, July 2021.Windows (vendor lists 7 through 10 and Server 2008 R2–2016)ScanFreewareAdvanced IP ScannerQuick LAN sweep with shares, RDP and remote shutdown one click awayA Windows LAN sweeper that lists hosts, MAC vendors and shares, with remote-control and power actions built in.Windows 7–11 (installed or portable)
SSH, Telnet & File Transfer
Answers: “How do I get a prompt on that box, and move files on and off it?” Full comparison
ConnectMITPuTTYSSH, Telnet or serial into a switch, router or Linux boxThe long-standing SSH, Telnet and serial client for Windows, with a key agent and command-line companions.Windows, Unix-like systemsConnectGPLv3WinSCPCopy configs, firmware and logs over SFTP, SCP or FTP — scripted if neededA Windows file-transfer client for SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3, scriptable from the command line and .NET.Windows
Diagnostic & Planning Utilities
Answers: “Is the addressing plan right, and what is this host actually doing?” Full comparison
DiagnosePaid for businessLizardSystems LanCalculatorWork out subnets, masks and host ranges before you touch a VLANA Windows subnet calculator for IPv4 and IPv6 that splits a network and lists every resulting subnet. Latest release: v22.01, January 2022.Windows 10/11, Server 2012 R2–2019 (vendor list)DiagnoseFreewareSysinternals SuiteSee what a Windows machine is actually doing: processes, sockets, autorunsMicrosoft’s bundle of small Windows troubleshooting utilities, from Process Explorer to TCPView and PsTools.Windows (x64 and ARM64 builds)DiagnoseGPLv2WiresharkCapture and decode the traffic on your own segmentThe standard packet analyser: capture on your own segment and read each conversation frame by frame.Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD