About the OpenVAS Software

About the OpenVAS Software

(by Michael Wiegand)

The OpenVAS software consists of five distinct components:

OpenVAS-Server:

This is the core component. It implements the functionality used for scanning a large number of target servers at high speed. Scans will always originate from the host where OpenVAS-Server is running; therefore, this machine has to be able reach the intended targets.

The server requires these other modules:

OpenVAS-Libraries:

This module contains application libraries needed by OpenVAS-Server.

OpenVAS-LibNASL:

The NVTs are written in the "Nessus Attack Scripting Language" (NASL). This module contains the functionality needed by OpenVAS-Server to interface with NASL.

OpenVAS-Plugins:

This module contains a base set of NVTs. Please be aware that the update cycle of this module is not intended to ensure the availability of the most recent NVTs. If you need up-to-date NVTs you should consider subscribing to a NVT feed as described in section *.

OpenVAS-Client:

OpenVAS-Client controls the OpenVAS server, processes the scan results and displays them to the user. OpenVAS-Client can run locally or remotely on any machine able to connect to the OpenVAS-Server and can control multiple servers.

About the OpenVAS Software