Tenable Nessus

Author: e | 2025-04-24

Nessus Documentation for Tenable Nessus Essentials, Tenable Nessus Expert, Tenable Nessus Professional, Tenable Nessus Manager, and more.

Install Tenable Nessus (Tenable Nessus 10.8)

To link your Tenable Nessus scanner during initial installation, see Configure Nessus. If you choose not to link the scanner during initial installation, you can link Tenable Nessus scanner later. You can link a Tenable Nessus scanner to a manager such as Tenable Nessus Manager or Tenable Vulnerability Management. Note: You cannot link to Tenable Security Center from the user interface after initial installation. If your scanner is already linked to Tenable Security Center, you can unlink and then link the scanner to Tenable Vulnerability Management or Tenable Nessus Manager, but you cannot relink to Tenable Security Center from the interface. To link a Tenable Nessus scanner to a manager: In the user interface of the manager you want to link to, copy the Linking Key, found on the following page:Tenable Vulnerability Management: Settings > Sensors > Linked Scanners > Add Nessus ScannerTenable Nessus Manager: Sensors > Linked ScannersNote: You can also retrieve your scanner linking key from the nessuscli. For more information, see nessuscli fix --secure --get scanner_linking_key in the nessuscli Fix Commands section. In the Tenable Nessus scanner you want to link, in the top navigation bar, click Settings. The About page appears. In the left navigation bar, click Remote Link.The Remote Link page appears. Fill out the linking settings for your manager as described in Remote Link. Click Save. Tenable Nessus links to the manager. Your contact information.A sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. * Field is required Request a demo of Tenable OT Security Get the Operational Technology security you need.Reduce the risk you don’t. Request a demo Don’t wait for an attack--eliminate risks before they’re exploited. Uncover hidden weaknesses Stop threats before they strike Simplify security Secure hybrid environments Request a demo of Tenable Cloud Security Exceptional unified cloud security awaits you! We’ll show you exactly how Tenable Cloud Security helps you deliver multi-cloud asset discovery, prioritized risk assessments and automated compliance/audit reports. See Tenable One in action Exposure management for the modern attack surface. See Tenable Attack Surface Management in action Know the exposure of every asset on any platform. Get a demo of Tenable Enclave Security Please fill out the form with your contact information and a sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. Thank You Thank you for your interest in Tenable Enclave Security. A representative will be in touch soon. Try Tenable Nessus Professional free Free for 7 daysTenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. NEW - Tenable Nessus Expert now available Nessus Expert adds even more features, including external attack surface scanning, and the ability to add domains and scan cloud infrastructure. Click here to Try Nessus Expert. Fill out the form below to continue with a Nessus Pro trial. Buy Tenable Nessus Professional Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. Tenable Nessus Professional will help automate the vulnerability scanning process, save time in your compliance cycles and allow you to engage your IT team. Buy a multi-year license and save. Add Advanced Support for access to phone, community and chat support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Try Tenable Nessus Expert free Free for 7 days.Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Already have Tenable Nessus Professional? Upgrade to Nessus Expert free for 7 days. Buy Tenable Nessus Expert Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Learn How Tenable Helps Achieve SLCGP Cybersecurity Plan Requirements Tenable solutions help fulfill all SLCGP requirements. Connect with a Tenable representative to learn more. Get a demo of Tenable Patch Management Interested in streamlining security and IT collaboration and shortening the mean time to remediate with automation? Try Tenable Patch Management.

Install Tenable Nessus (Tenable Nessus 10.6)

Fill out the form below to continue with a Nessus Pro trial. Buy Tenable Nessus Professional Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. Tenable Nessus Professional will help automate the vulnerability scanning process, save time in your compliance cycles and allow you to engage your IT team. Buy a multi-year license and save. Add Advanced Support for access to phone, community and chat support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Try Tenable Nessus Expert free Free for 7 days.Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Already have Tenable Nessus Professional? Upgrade to Nessus Expert free for 7 days. Buy Tenable Nessus Expert Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Learn How Tenable Helps Achieve SLCGP Cybersecurity Plan Requirements Tenable solutions help fulfill all SLCGP requirements. Connect with a Tenable representative to learn more. Get a demo of Tenable Patch Management Interested in streamlining security and IT collaboration and shortening the mean time to remediate with automation? Try Tenable Patch Management.. Nessus Documentation for Tenable Nessus Essentials, Tenable Nessus Expert, Tenable Nessus Professional, Tenable Nessus Manager, and more. Caution: If you install a Tenable Nessus Agent, Tenable Nessus Manager, or Tenable Nessus scanner on a system with an existing Tenable Nessus Agent, Tenable Nessus Manager, Download Tenable Nessus from the Tenable Downloads site. Start Tenable Nessus Installation. Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the Tenable Nessus installer.

Install Tenable Nessus (Tenable Nessus 10.7)

The Tenable One Exposure Management platform. Safely scan your entire online portfolio for vulnerabilities with a high degree of accuracy without heavy manual effort or disruption to critical web applications. Sign up now. Your Tenable Web App Scanning trial also includes Tenable Vulnerability Management. Buy Tenable Web App Scanning Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today. Request a demo of Tenable Security Center Please fill out this form with your contact information.A sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. * Field is required Request a demo of Tenable OT Security Get the Operational Technology security you need.Reduce the risk you don’t. Request a demo Don’t wait for an attack--eliminate risks before they’re exploited. Uncover hidden weaknesses Stop threats before they strike Simplify security Secure hybrid environments Request a demo of Tenable Cloud Security Exceptional unified cloud security awaits you! We’ll show you exactly how Tenable Cloud Security helps you deliver multi-cloud asset discovery, prioritized risk assessments and automated compliance/audit reports. See Tenable One in action Exposure management for the modern attack surface. See Tenable Attack Surface Management in action Know the exposure of every asset on any platform. Get a demo of Tenable Enclave Security Please fill out the form with your contact information and a sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. Thank You Thank you for your interest in Tenable Enclave Security. A representative will be in touch soon. Try Tenable Nessus Professional free Free for 7 daysTenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. NEW - Tenable Nessus Expert now available Nessus Expert adds even more features, including external attack surface scanning, and the ability to add domains and scan cloud infrastructure. Click here to Try Nessus Expert. Fill out the form below to continue with a Nessus Pro trial. Buy Tenable Nessus Professional Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. Tenable Nessus Professional will help automate the vulnerability scanning process, save time in your compliance cycles and allow you to engage your IT team. Buy a multi-year license and save. Add Advanced Support for access to phone, community and chat support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Try Tenable Nessus Expert free Free for 7 days.Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Already have Tenable Nessus Professional? Upgrade to Nessus Expert free for 7 days. Buy Tenable Nessus Expert Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Learn How Tenable Helps Achieve SLCGP Cybersecurity Plan Requirements Tenable solutions help fulfill all SLCGP requirements. Connect with a Tenable representative to learn more. Get a demo of Tenable Patch Management Interested in streamlining security and IT Your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today. Request a demo of Tenable Security Center Please fill out this form with your contact information.A sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. * Field is required Request a demo of Tenable OT Security Get the Operational Technology security you need.Reduce the risk you don’t. Request a demo Don’t wait for an attack--eliminate risks before they’re exploited. Uncover hidden weaknesses Stop threats before they strike Simplify security Secure hybrid environments Request a demo of Tenable Cloud Security Exceptional unified cloud security awaits you! We’ll show you exactly how Tenable Cloud Security helps you deliver multi-cloud asset discovery, prioritized risk assessments and automated compliance/audit reports. See Tenable One in action Exposure management for the modern attack surface. See Tenable Attack Surface Management in action Know the exposure of every asset on any platform. Get a demo of Tenable Enclave Security Please fill out the form with your contact information and a sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. Thank You Thank you for your interest in Tenable Enclave Security. A representative will be in touch soon. Try Tenable Nessus Professional free Free for 7 daysTenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. NEW - Tenable Nessus Expert now available Nessus Expert adds even more features, including external attack surface scanning, and the ability to add domains and scan cloud infrastructure. Click here to Try Nessus Expert. Fill out the form below to continue with a Nessus Pro trial. Buy Tenable Nessus Professional Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. Tenable Nessus Professional will help automate the vulnerability scanning process, save time in your compliance cycles and allow you to engage your IT team. Buy a multi-year license and save. Add Advanced Support for access to phone, community and chat support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Try Tenable Nessus Expert free Free for 7 days.Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Already have Tenable Nessus Professional? Upgrade to Nessus Expert free for 7 days. Buy Tenable Nessus Expert Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Learn How Tenable Helps Achieve SLCGP Cybersecurity Plan Requirements Tenable solutions help fulfill all SLCGP requirements. Connect with a Tenable representative to learn more. Get a demo of Tenable Patch Management Interested in streamlining security and IT collaboration and shortening the mean time to remediate with automation? Try Tenable Patch Management.

Install Tenable Nessus (Tenable Nessus 10.5)

Our latest web application scanning offering designed for modern applications as part of the Tenable One Exposure Management platform. Safely scan your entire online portfolio for vulnerabilities with a high degree of accuracy without heavy manual effort or disruption to critical web applications. Sign up now. Your Tenable Web App Scanning trial also includes Tenable Vulnerability Management. Buy Tenable Web App Scanning Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today. Request a demo of Tenable Security Center Please fill out this form with your contact information.A sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. * Field is required Request a demo of Tenable OT Security Get the Operational Technology security you need.Reduce the risk you don’t. Request a demo Don’t wait for an attack--eliminate risks before they’re exploited. Uncover hidden weaknesses Stop threats before they strike Simplify security Secure hybrid environments Request a demo of Tenable Cloud Security Exceptional unified cloud security awaits you! We’ll show you exactly how Tenable Cloud Security helps you deliver multi-cloud asset discovery, prioritized risk assessments and automated compliance/audit reports. See Tenable One in action Exposure management for the modern attack surface. See Tenable Attack Surface Management in action Know the exposure of every asset on any platform. Get a demo of Tenable Enclave Security Please fill out the form with your contact information and a sales representative will contact you shortly to schedule a demo. Thank You Thank you for your interest in Tenable Enclave Security. A representative will be in touch soon. Try Tenable Nessus Professional free Free for 7 daysTenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. NEW - Tenable Nessus Expert now available Nessus Expert adds even more features, including external attack surface scanning, and the ability to add domains and scan cloud infrastructure. Click here to Try Nessus Expert. Fill out the form below to continue with a Nessus Pro trial. Buy Tenable Nessus Professional Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. Tenable Nessus Professional will help automate the vulnerability scanning process, save time in your compliance cycles and allow you to engage your IT team. Buy a multi-year license and save. Add Advanced Support for access to phone, community and chat support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Try Tenable Nessus Expert free Free for 7 days.Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Already have Tenable Nessus Professional? Upgrade to Nessus Expert free for 7 days. Buy Tenable Nessus Expert Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud. Learn How Tenable Helps Achieve SLCGP Cybersecurity Plan Requirements Tenable solutions help fulfill all SLCGP requirements. Connect with a Tenable representative to learn more.

Activate a Tenable Nessus Professional or Tenable Nessus

Consider the following when deploying Tenable Security Center in an air-gapped (offline) environment. Architecture You must deploy a Tenable Security Center and a set of scanners within each air-gapped network. If you want to consolidate data from other networks with the data generated in your air-gapped network, you can use offline repositories to export data from your air-gapped Tenable Security Center to your other instance of Tenable Security Center. This supports both consolidated and federated reporting structures. Upgrades and Updates Tenable recommends performing Tenable Security Center upgrades at least once a year (quarterly preferred) and plugin/feed updates at least once a month. After you perform a plugin update, run comprehensive scans to take advantage of the new vulnerability data and generate current scan results. Note: A few plugins require internet access and cannot run in an air-gapped environment. For example, Tenable Nessus plugin 52669 checks to see if a host is part of a botnet. After you perform a plugin update or feed update, verify the files as described in the knowledge base article. To perform a Tenable Security Center upgrade or a plugin/feed update offline: Tip: You can use the API to automate some Tenable Security Center upgrade and plugin update process. Download the files in a browser or via the API. Verify the integrity of the files.Tenable Security Center upgrade: Compare the download checksum with the checksum on the Tenable downloads pagePlugin/feed update: Download and compare the checksums. Move the files to your Tenable Security Center instance. Upload the files to Tenable Security Center.Tenable Security Center upgrade: via the CLI.Plugin/feed update: in a browser or via the API. Tenable Nessus Agents If you deployed Tenable Nessus Manager to manage Tenable Nessus Agents in an air-gapped environment, perform an offline software update (nessus-agent-updates-X.X.X.tar.gz on the Tenable Downloads site) on your Tenable Nessus Manager. Tenable Nessus Manager pushes the update to the managed Tenable Nessus Agents. For more information, see the knowledge base article.. Nessus Documentation for Tenable Nessus Essentials, Tenable Nessus Expert, Tenable Nessus Professional, Tenable Nessus Manager, and more. Caution: If you install a Tenable Nessus Agent, Tenable Nessus Manager, or Tenable Nessus scanner on a system with an existing Tenable Nessus Agent, Tenable Nessus Manager, Download Tenable Nessus from the Tenable Downloads site. Start Tenable Nessus Installation. Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the Tenable Nessus installer.

Configure Tenable Nessus (Tenable Nessus 10.8)

14 Integers >7 Detect Duplicate Agents detect_duplicates Regardless of this setting, the agent automatically checks if it is a duplicate agent by comparing its current list of MAC addresses to the MAC addresses the agent had at link time. For agents linked to Tenable Vulnerability Management or Tenable Nessus Manager 8.11.1 and later, the manager performs the same check to identify duplicate agents. When disabled, the agent automatically logs duplicates in backend.log, but no action is taken. When enabled, if either the agent or the manager detects a duplicate agent, the agent automatically unlinks and regenerates its identifying information (for example, the UUID) so that it can be linked again. This event is logged in backend.log. You must manually relink the agent. no yes or no Disable Core Updates disable_core_updates When set to yes, the agent does not request automatic core updates. You can still upgrade software versions manually. The agent can still receive plugin updates. no yes or no Log File Maximum Files logfile_max_files Determines the maximum number of nessusd.messages files that Tenable Nessus Agent keeps on the disk. If the number of nessusd.messages log files exceeds the specified value, Tenable Nessus Agent deletes the oldest log files. Tenable Nessus — 100 Tenable Nessus Agent — 2 Integers 1-1000 Log File Maximum Size logfile_max_size Determines the maximum size of the nessusd.messages file in MB. If the file size exceeds the maximum size, Tenable Nessus Agent creates a new messages log file. Tenable Nessus —512 Tenable Nessus Agent — 10 Integers 1-2048 Log File Rotation Time logfile_rotation_time Determines how often Tenable Nessus Agent messages log files are rotated in days. 1 Integers 1-365 Log File Rotation logfile_rot Determines whether Tenable Nessus Agent rotates messages log files based on maximum rotation size or rotation time. size size — Tenable Nessus Agent rotates log files based on size, as specified in logfile_max_size. time — Tenable Nessus Agent rotates log files based on time, as specified in logfile_rotation_time. Long Term Upload Interval Seconds long_term_upload_interval_seconds (Tenable Vulnerability Management-linked agents only) Determines the number of seconds the agent waits between attempting to upload smart scan results. 180 Integers >59 Maximum Ports in Scan Reports report.max_ports The maximum number of allowable ports. If there are more ports in the scan results than this value, Tenable Nessus discards the port scan results. This limit helps guard against fake targets that may have thousands of reported ports, but can also result in the deletion of valid results from the scan results database, so you may want to increase the default if this is a problem. 1024 Integers Maximum Ports Reported by Portscanner Plugins portscanner.max_ports The maximum number of ports that the Tenable Nessus port-scanning plugins can mark as open. This includes the port scanners proper and any plugin that calls NASL function scanner_add_port(). 1024 Integers 0-65535 Maximum Scans Per Day maximum_scans_per_day Determines the maximum number of scans an agent can run per day. 10 Integers 1-48 Minimum Metadata Update Interval min_metadata_update_interval (Tenable Vulnerability Management-linked agents only) Determines the