A network administrator would use the Nmap tool primarily for network discovery and security auditing purposes. Specifically, Nmap helps to:

• Detect and identify open ports on hosts within a network, which is crucial for understanding what services are running and potentially vulnerable

• Discover live hosts and devices on the network, enabling network inventory and mapping

• Identify services running on those open ports, including application names and versions, which aids in managing service upgrades and vulnerability assessments

• Determine the operating systems and versions running on network hosts, as well as detect firewalls and packet filters in use

• Perform security audits and vulnerability assessments by identifying potential weaknesses and entry points that attackers could exploit

• Monitor host or service uptime and assist in troubleshooting network issues

In essence, Nmap is used by network administrators to gain a detailed, real- time overview of their network's structure, services, and security posture, enabling proactive management and defense of network resources