OS Manuals

/usr/bin/ncat

network discovery and security auditing tool

From nmap 7.94-r3 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running ncat --help (exit 0). permalink

Ncat 7.94 ( https://nmap.org/ncat )
Usage: ncat [options] [hostname] [port]

Options taking a time assume seconds. Append 'ms' for milliseconds,
's' for seconds, 'm' for minutes, or 'h' for hours (e.g. 500ms).
  -4                         Use IPv4 only
  -6                         Use IPv6 only
  -U, --unixsock             Use Unix domain sockets only
      --vsock                Use vsock sockets only
  -C, --crlf                 Use CRLF for EOL sequence
  -c, --sh-exec <command>    Executes the given command via /bin/sh
  -e, --exec <command>       Executes the given command
      --lua-exec <filename>  Executes the given Lua script
  -g hop1[,hop2,...]         Loose source routing hop points (8 max)
  -G <n>                     Loose source routing hop pointer (4, 8, 12, ...)
  -m, --max-conns <n>        Maximum <n> simultaneous connections
  -h, --help                 Display this help screen
  -d, --delay <time>         Wait between read/writes
  -o, --output <filename>    Dump session data to a file
  -x, --hex-dump <filename>  Dump session data as hex to a file
  -i, --idle-timeout <time>  Idle read/write timeout
  -p, --source-port port     Specify source port to use
  -s, --source addr          Specify source address to use (doesn't affect -l)
  -l, --listen               Bind and listen for incoming connections
  -k, --keep-open            Accept multiple connections in listen mode
  -n, --nodns                Do not resolve hostnames via DNS
  -t, --telnet               Answer Telnet negotiations
  -u, --udp                  Use UDP instead of default TCP
      --sctp                 Use SCTP instead of default TCP
  -v, --verbose              Set verbosity level (can be used several times)
  -w, --wait <time>          Connect timeout
  -z                         Zero-I/O mode, report connection status only
      --append-output        Append rather than clobber specified output files
      --send-only            Only send data, ignoring received; quit on EOF
      --recv-only            Only receive data, never send anything
      --no-shutdown          Continue half-duplex when receiving EOF on stdin
      --allow                Allow only given hosts to connect to Ncat
      --allowfile            A file of hosts allowed to connect to Ncat
      --deny                 Deny given hosts from connecting to Ncat
      --denyfile             A file of hosts denied from connecting to Ncat
      --broker               Enable Ncat's connection brokering mode
      --chat                 Start a simple Ncat chat server
      --proxy <addr[:port]>  Specify address of host to proxy through
      --proxy-type <type>    Specify proxy type ("http", "socks4", "socks5")
      --proxy-auth <auth>    Authenticate with HTTP or SOCKS proxy server
      --proxy-dns <type>     Specify where to resolve proxy destination
      --ssl                  Connect or listen with SSL
      --ssl-cert             Specify SSL certificate file (PEM) for listening
      --ssl-key              Specify SSL private key (PEM) for listening
      --ssl-verify           Verify trust and domain name of certificates
      --ssl-trustfile        PEM file containing trusted SSL certificates
      --ssl-ciphers          Cipherlist containing SSL ciphers to use
      --ssl-servername       Request distinct server name (SNI)
      --ssl-alpn             ALPN protocol list to use
      --version              Display Ncat's version information and exit

See the ncat(1) manpage for full options, descriptions and usage examples
Options (50)
OptionDescriptionSource
-4Use IPv4 onlyhelp
-6Use IPv6 onlyhelp
-U, --unixsockUse Unix domain sockets onlyhelp
--vsockUse vsock sockets onlyhelp
-C, --crlfUse CRLF for EOL sequencehelp
-c, --sh-exec commandExecutes the given command via /bin/shhelp
-e, --exec commandExecutes the given commandhelp
--lua-exec filenameExecutes the given Lua scripthelp
-g hop1Loose source routing hop points (8 max)help
-G nLoose source routing hop pointer (4, 8, 12, ...)help
-m, --max-conns nMaximum <n> simultaneous connectionshelp
-h, --helpDisplay this help screenhelp
-d, --delay timeWait between read/writeshelp
-o, --output filenameDump session data to a filehelp
-x, --hex-dump filenameDump session data as hex to a filehelp
-i, --idle-timeout timeIdle read/write timeouthelp
-p, --source-port portSpecify source port to usehelp
-s, --source addrSpecify source address to use (doesn't affect -l)help
-l, --listenBind and listen for incoming connectionshelp
-k, --keep-openAccept multiple connections in listen modehelp
-n, --nodnsDo not resolve hostnames via DNShelp
-t, --telnetAnswer Telnet negotiationshelp
-u, --udpUse UDP instead of default TCPhelp
--sctpUse SCTP instead of default TCPhelp
-v, --verboseSet verbosity level (can be used several times)help
-w, --wait timeConnect timeouthelp
-zZero-I/O mode, report connection status onlyhelp
--append-outputAppend rather than clobber specified output fileshelp
--send-onlyOnly send data, ignoring received;help
--recv-onlyOnly receive data, never send anythinghelp
--no-shutdownContinue half-duplex when receiving EOF on stdinhelp
--allowAllow only given hosts to connect to Ncathelp
--allowfileA file of hosts allowed to connect to Ncathelp
--denyDeny given hosts from connecting to Ncathelp
--denyfileA file of hosts denied from connecting to Ncathelp
--brokerEnable Ncat's connection brokering modehelp
--chatStart a simple Ncat chat serverhelp
--proxy addr[:portSpecify address of host to proxy throughhelp
--proxy-type typeSpecify proxy type ("http", "socks4", "socks5")help
--proxy-auth authAuthenticate with HTTP or SOCKS proxy serverhelp
--proxy-dns typeSpecify where to resolve proxy destinationhelp
--sslConnect or listen with SSLhelp
--ssl-certSpecify SSL certificate file (PEM) for listeninghelp
--ssl-keySpecify SSL private key (PEM) for listeninghelp
--ssl-verifyVerify trust and domain name of certificateshelp
--ssl-trustfilePEM file containing trusted SSL certificateshelp
--ssl-ciphersCipherlist containing SSL ciphers to usehelp
--ssl-servernameRequest distinct server name (SNI)help
--ssl-alpnALPN protocol list to usehelp
--versionDisplay Ncat's version information and exithelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.