OpenVAS is an open source vulnerability scanning and management framework consisting of various interconnected modules. It uses a client-server architecture where scanners perform network vulnerability tests that are stored and managed through the central OpenVAS manager. OpenVAS provides a free vulnerability assessment solution and is one of the most widely used open source scanning tools.

2. OpenVAS (Open Vulnerability Assessment System,
the name of the fork originally known as GNessUs) is
a framework of several services and tools offering a
vulnerability scanning and vulnerability management
solution. All OpenVAS products are Free Software.
Most components are licensed under the GPL.

4. In technical terms, the basis of OpenVAS is a service-
oriented client-server architecture: The OpenVAS
framework consists of various modules, each with a
clearly defined task. These communicate via well
established protocols. The communication is
consistently SSL-secured.
The Open Vulnerability Assessment System
(OpenVAS) is the most widespread Open Source
solution for vulnerability scanning and vulnerability
management. It is used and improved world wide by
people ranging from security experts to private users.

6. The Manager is the central service that consolidates plain
vulnerability scanning into a full vulnerability management
system. It controls one or more Scanners as well as other
Managers when in master-slave mode. Furthermore, the
Manager controls the internal central SQL database where all
scan results and configurations are stored
The Scanner very efficiently executes the actual Network
Vulnerability Tests (NVTs) which are updated daily via the
Feed. This core of the scan engine is controlled by the
OpenVAS Manager.

7. The Greenbone Security Assistant is a lean web service
designed with security in mind. It implements the full
functionality offered by OpenVAS Manager.
This module primarily contains the command line tool
"omp". It allows a user to build batch processes to control the
OpenVAS Manger.