garycutri,
Because you have presented a solution to your own problem which may be helpful to future searches, this question is now PAQed and your points have been refunded.
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I am currently documenting all the Nessus Server/Client preferences we are allowed to use, the different settings for each and the effects of changing each setting. I have completed all of them except 3 which I can't seem to find any decent info on. If possible can anyone describe these preferences for me?
host_expansion
ntp_keep_communication_ali
ntp_opt_show_end
I have been able find most Nessus preferences here http://www.edgeos.com/ness
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by: garycutriPosted on 2006-01-26 at 11:09:16ID: 15798276
To Answer my own question (if anyone else has anything further to add please let me know):
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host_expansion
This is how Nessus will seek for victims. Several options are possible :
· "none" : means that only the primary host will be tested
· "dns" : means that a AXFR request will be made to the DNS which is in charge of the domain name of the victim.
· "nfs" : means that Nessus will do a 'showmount' on every host tested, and will test the hosts that can mount the file systems exported.
· "ip" : means that Nessus will test the entire subnet of a host.
It's possible to combine the last three options by putting a ';' between the options : 'dns;ip' is a valid option, as well as 'dns;nfs;ip'. 'none;dns;nfs;ip' is a NONSENSE. The server will send a PREFERENCES_ERRORS message with this one, and a good client should first test such nonsense before sending them to the server.
ntp_keep_communication_ali
(NTP: Nessus Transfer Protocol)
If this option is set to yes, the server will not close the communication after the test
ntp_opt_show_end
NTP: Nessus Transfer Protocol)
This option is used when you require the server to send the message SERVER <|> FINISHED <|> hostname <|> SERVER each time the scan of a single host is complete.