Top Network Ports Every IT Pro Should Remember
Learn the most important and commonly used network ports with this easy-to-understand guide. Perfect for IT pros, beginners, and tech enthusiasts.
Network ports are like digital doorways used by applications to communicate over the internet or internal networks. Whether you’re managing servers, troubleshooting issues, or learning networking, knowing the right ports can save time and avoid headaches. Let’s walk through a complete, list of the most important and commonly used network ports.
What Are Network Ports?
A port is a number assigned to a specific process or service. For example, when you visit a website, your browser connects to port 80 or 443 behind the scenes.
Most Common and Important Network Ports
| Port | Protocol/Service | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | FTP (Data) | File Transfer Protocol (data transfer) |
| 21 | FTP (Control) | File management and login |
| 22 | SSH | Secure remote login |
| 23 | Telnet | Unsecured remote access (not recommended) |
| 25 | SMTP | Sending emails |
| 53 | DNS | Domain name resolution |
| 67/68 | DHCP | Assigning IP addresses automatically |
| 69 | TFTP | Trivial file transfers (no security) |
| 80 | HTTP | Standard web traffic (insecure) |
| 110 | POP3 | Email receiving (basic) |
| 123 | NTP | Time synchronization |
| 135 | RPC | Remote procedure call for Windows services |
| 137-139 | NetBIOS | Windows file sharing and printer services |
| 143 | IMAP | Advanced email retrieval |
| 161/162 | SNMP | Network monitoring and alerts |
| 179 | BGP | Border Gateway Protocol for routers |
| 389 | LDAP | Directory services (Active Directory, etc.) |
| 443 | HTTPS | Secure web traffic |
| 445 | SMB | File sharing (Windows) |
| 465 | SMTPS | Secure email sending |
| 514 | Syslog | System logging |
| 587 | SMTP (Submission) | Sending email with authentication |
| 636 | LDAPS | Secure LDAP |
| 989/990 | FTPS | Secure FTP |
| 993 | IMAPS | Secure IMAP |
| 995 | POP3S | Secure POP3 |
Database Ports
| Port | Database | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1433 | Microsoft SQL Server | Database connections |
| 1521 | Oracle Database | Oracle listener service |
| 3306 | MySQL/MariaDB | MySQL database access |
| 5432 | PostgreSQL | PostgreSQL access |
| 27017 | MongoDB | MongoDB default port |
Remote Access & Tools
| Port | Service | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 3389 | RDP | Remote Desktop Protocol (Windows) |
| 5800/5900 | VNC | Virtual desktop control |
| 8000 | Common Dev Port | Used for web servers during testing |
| 8080 | HTTP Alternate | Common for proxy/web applications |
| 8443 | HTTPS Alternate | Secure version of 8080 |
Security & Monitoring
| Port | Tool/Service | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 514 | Syslog | Remote logging |
| 5601 | Kibana | Elasticsearch interface |
| 9200 | Elasticsearch REST API | Data search and analytics |
| 15672 | RabbitMQ Management | Message queue monitoring |
| 9090 | Prometheus | Metrics collection |
| 3000 | Grafana | Dashboard and visualization |
Tips to Keep in Mind
- Secure the defaults: If you’re using common ports, make sure services are properly secured (e.g., SSL/TLS).
- Don’t leave open ports exposed: Close or firewall unused ports to prevent unauthorized access.
- Use port scanning tools: Tools like
nmaphelp you check which ports are open on a server.
Conclusion
You don’t need to memorize every port, but keeping a list like this handy can really help with server setup, debugging, and network design. Whether you’re a sysadmin or an aspiring dev, understanding ports will level up your IT skills.
Written by
