Primary TCP/IP Port Assignments and Descriptions
TCP/IP provides a total of 65,535 ports of which 1023 are considered to be well known ports. In reality the number of ports that are used by popular network clients and services comprises an even smaller subset of the well known group of ports. The following table lists the functions of this subset.
| Port | Assigment | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | FTP | File Transfer Protocol (Data) - The File Transfer protocol provides a mechanism for transferring specific files between network connected computer systems (usually a Linux or UNIX based system). Transfer is typically performed using the ftp client which provides a range of commands used to connect to a remote server for the purpose of uploading or downloading files. Most modern web browsers also have the ability to browse and download files located on a remote FTP server. FTP uses TCP (rather than UDP) to transfer files so is considered to be a highly reliable transport mechanism. FTP does not encrypt data and is not considered to be a secure file transfer protocol. The use of Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) and Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is strongly recommended in place of FTP. |
| 21 | FTP | File Transfer (Control) - Traditionally FTP has two ports assigned (port 20 and port 21). Port 20 was originally conisidered the data transfer port, while port 21 was assigned to communicate control information. In modern implementations port 20 is now rarely used, with all communication taking place on port 21. |
| 22 | SSH | Secure Shell - The Secure Shell is used to provide a secure, encypted, remote logon session to a remote host over a TCP/IP network. The original mechanism for remote access was the Telnet protocol. Because Telnet transmits data in plain text its use is now strongly discouraged in favor of the secure shell, which encrypts all communications, including log-in and password credentials. SSH also provides the mechanism by which files can be securely trandferred using the Secure Copy Protocol (SCP), and is also the basis for the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). SSH also replaces both the rsh and rlogin clients. |
| 23 | Telnet | Telnet - Telnet is a terminal emulation protocol that provides the ability to log into a remote system over a TCP/IP connection. The access is text based allowing the user to type into a command prompt on the remote host and text displayed by the remote host is displayed on the local Telnet client. Telnet encrypts neither the password nor the text communicated between the client and server. As such, the use of telnet is strongly discouragaed. Most modern systems will have port 23 closed and the telnet service disabled to prevent its use. SSH should be used in place of Telnet. |
| 25 | SMTP - Simple mail Transfer Protocol | |
| 53 | DNS - Domain Name Server | |
| 69 | TFTP | Trivial File Transfer Protocol - TFTP is a strpped down version of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). It has a reduced command-set and lacks authentication. The most significant feature of TFTP is that it uses UDP to transfer data. This results in extremely fast transfer speeds but, consequently, lacks data reliability. TFTP is typically used in network based booting for diskless workstations. |
| 80 | HTTP - Hypertext Text Transfer Protocol | |
| 110 | POP3 | Post Office Protocol - The POP3 protocol is a mechanism for storage and retrieval of incoming email messages from a server. In most corporate environments incoming email is stored on an email server and then downloaded to an email client running on the user's desktop or laptop when the user checks email. POP3 downloads all new messages to the client, and does not provide the user the option of choosing which messages to download, view headers, or download only parts of messages. It is for this reason the IMAP protocol is increasingly being used in place of POP3. |
| 119 | NNTP - Network News Transfer Protocol | |
| 123 | NTP | Network Time Protocol - A protocol designed to synchronize computer clocks with an external time source. Using this protocol an operating system or application can request the current time from a remote NTP server. The remote NTP server is usually based on the time provided by a nuclear clock. NTP is useful for ensuring that all systems in a network are set to the same, accurate time of day. This is of particular importance in security situations when, for example, the time a file was accessed or modified on a client or server is in question. |
| 143 | IMAP4 | Internet Message Access Protocol, Version 4 - IMAP4 is an advanced and secure email retrieval protocol. IMAP is similar to POP3 in that it provides a mechanism for users to access email messages stored on an email server, although IMAP includes many additional features such as the ability to selectively download messages, view message headers, search messages and download part of a message. IMAP4 uses authentication and fully supports Kerberos authentication. |
| 161 | SNMP | Simple Network Management Protocol - Provides a mechanism whereby network administrators are able to collect information about the devices (such as hubs, bridges, routers and switches) on a network. The SNMP protocol enables agents running on network devices to communicate their status to a central manager and, in turn, enables the manager to send new configuration parameters to the device agent. The agents can further be configured to notify the manager when certains events, known as traps, occur. SNMP uses UDP to send and receive data. |
| 443 | HTTPS - Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure | |
| 2049 | NFS | Network File System - Originally developed by Sun Microsystems and subsequently widely adopted throughout the industry, NFS allows a file system on a remote system to be accessed over the network by another system as if the file system were on a local disk drive. NFS is widely used on UNIX and LINUX based systems. Later versions of Microsoft Windows possess the ability to also access NFS shared file systems on UNIX and LINUX based systems. |