Hi, I'm the admin of a small Windows network, and I am wondering if there is any Linux software around that can help me scan my network for security vulnerabilities and the like, is it possible that any GPL software can tell if windows PC's are missing patches or even help to push out the needed patches, we have no centralised patched management system and all the Windows one's cost $1000's. My ultimate aim would be to build a live CD with a selection of programs, so if possible the software should run on Slackware 'cause it's the only one I know how to make live CD's from. Thanx In Advance.

its late at night so i just scanned through your post, try nessus
www.nessus.org
I used it to scan my schools network and reported vulnerabilities to our system admin.

Check out http://www.nessus.org it's quite impressive!

Edit: Sorry blackphiber, I'm a slow typer, you beat me to it...

BTW, nessus is totally client/server, and there's even a Windows client to command the scanning from a windows machine (the server requires *nix though)

cheers
nukkel

for a fast and highly configurable scanner, try superscan: http://www.webattack.com/get/superscan.shtml
(taken from my good-ol' script kiddie days...)

Thanks for your help people, I am aware of nessus and I want to try it out soon, but it's not quite what I'm looking for, Has anyone used GFI Languard or Shavlik HFNetCheck Pro, I am looking for (Or maybe dreaming of) something like this on Linux, as I could never get my boss to spring for that sort of cash, it would also really only be used once in a blue moon or possibly even only once, I'm probably asking too much here but there's always hope.

Have you tried this one yet? Not sure if it can be integrated in a Slackware Live distro, but the source code is available for it:

http://www.snort.org/

Tar file available for download here:

http://www.snort.org/dl/