Network+ ports and protocols

22 protocols and their ports. Quiz yourself below, then look any one up.

Acronyms you know

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Exam

Which port does it use?

SFTP

All 22 protocols

22 protocols

FTP20 and 21In the objectives summary
File Transfer Protocol: 21 carries commands, 20 carries data in active mode. Sends logins in clear text.
TCP · File transfer
SFTP22 (over SSH)In the objectives summary
SSH File Transfer Protocol: file transfer inside an encrypted SSH session.
TCP · File transfer
SSH22In the objectives summary
Secure Shell: encrypted remote command-line access.
TCP · Remote access
Telnet23In the objectives summary
Unencrypted remote command-line access. Replace it with SSH.
TCP · Remote access
SMTP25In the objectives summary
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol: sends mail between servers. Clients submit mail on 587.
TCP · Email
DNS53In the objectives summary
Domain Name System: turns names into addresses. Zone transfers and large replies use TCP.
UDP and TCP · Network services
DHCP67 and 68In the objectives summary
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol: servers listen on 67, clients on 68.
UDP · Network services
TFTP69
Trivial File Transfer Protocol: simple, unauthenticated transfers, often of device images and configs.
UDP · File transfer
HTTP80In the objectives summary
Hypertext Transfer Protocol: unencrypted web traffic.
TCP · Web, voice and data
POP3110
Post Office Protocol 3: downloads mail from a server to one client.
TCP · Email
NTP123
Network Time Protocol: keeps device clocks in step.
UDP · Network services
IMAP143
Internet Message Access Protocol: reads mail kept on the server, from many devices.
TCP · Email
SNMP161 and 162In the objectives summary
Simple Network Management Protocol: managers poll agents on 161; agents send traps to 162.
UDP · Network services
LDAP389In the objectives summary
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol: queries a directory of users and devices.
TCP and UDP · Network services
HTTPS443In the objectives summary
HTTP over TLS: encrypted web traffic.
TCP · Web, voice and data
SMB445
Server Message Block: Windows file and printer sharing.
TCP · File transfer
SMTPS465
SMTP over TLS from the first byte (implicit TLS).
TCP · Email
Syslog514
Sends log messages from devices to a central log server.
UDP · Network services
LDAPS636
LDAP over TLS: encrypted directory queries.
TCP · Network services
SQL Server1433
Microsoft SQL Server database connections.
TCP · Web, voice and data
RDP3389In the objectives summary
Remote Desktop Protocol: a full graphical remote session on Windows.
TCP · Remote access
SIP5060 and 5061In the objectives summary
Session Initiation Protocol: sets up voice and video calls; 5061 is SIP over TLS.
TCP and UDP · Web, voice and data

Know the ports, then the questions

The free diagnostic has 15 questions across all five domains and takes 15 minutes. No account. You get your score in each domain and a short lesson on the one to fix first.

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Questions people ask

Which ports do you need to know for Network+?

The N10-009 objectives summary names FTP, SFTP, SSH, Telnet, SMTP, DNS, DHCP, HTTP, SNMP, LDAP, HTTPS, RDP, SIP. The table adds 9 more well-known ports that come up in network questions.

What is the difference between SFTP and FTP?

FTP uses TCP 20 and 21 and sends logins in clear text. SFTP runs inside SSH on TCP 22, so the whole session is encrypted.

Which ports does SNMP use?

Managers poll agents on UDP 161; agents send traps to the manager on UDP 162.

What is the best way to learn the ports?

A few minutes of recall every day. In the quiz, a port you miss comes back after 3 other cards, and one you know comes back after 1, 3, 7, 16 and 35 days.

Does the quiz need an account?

No. Your progress stays in this browser on this device.