Introduction

This is a short guide to Section 2.0 Networking for the CompTIA A+ 1101 exam. This
lesson goes over the various ports you need to know for the exam.

The Difference Between TCP & UDP

TCP and UDP are both protocols that are used to send data over the internet, but the
way they do so is different.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

TCP is connection-oriented, meaning it establishes a connection between the sender

and receiver before transmitting data. To do this, it completes a three-way handshake,
also known as SYN, SYN-ACK, and ACK (send, send-acknowledge, acknowledge).

Since TCP is connection-oriented, it is slower than UDP but more reliable. The packets
maintain order and if a packet gets lost or damaged in transport, TCP ensures
retransmission to obtain the packet.

TCP is used when the data accuracy is critical, such as displaying someone’s bank
account information. Examples of ports that use TCP are ports 22 (SSH) and 443
(HTTPS).

UDP (User Datagram Protocol)

On the other hand, UDP is a connectionless protocol, meaning it does not establish a
direct connection between sender and receiver before transmitting data. It does not
wait for a connection, but instead, sends data whether the receiver is ready or not.

Since UDP does not guarantee that the packets will get to the destination, it is
unreliable and the packets do not maintain strict order. This means that if a packet is
damaged or lost along the way, UDP does not retransmit those packets. This makes
UDP faster than TCP.

UDP is predominantly favored in scenarios prioritizing speed over data accuracy, such
as in real-time video streaming or online gaming. In these instances, the immediate
delivery of data takes precedence over ensuring perfect sequence order, an aspect that
TCP guarantees. After all, a jumbled sequence of data packets would disrupt the
experience in activities like gaming or streaming. Examples of ports that use UDP are
67/68 (DHCP) and 69 (TFTP).

Keyword Summary of TCP and UDP

TCP: connection-oriented, reliable, ordered delivery, but slower.

UDP: connectionless, unreliable, delivery is not strictly ordered, but faster.

All the Ports You Need to Know for the Exam

Here is a complete list of all the network ports you need to know for the CompTIA A+
1101 exam according to the exam objectives.

20/21 — File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: FTP facilitates file transfers between computers on a network. It

works like a digital courier service, allowing users to upload or download files
from a remote server. For instance, it’s commonly used by website developers to
upload files to web servers or by individuals to download software from online
repositories.

22 — Secure Shell (SSH)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: SSH is like a secure tunnel granting access to a computer or server

from a remote location. It’s widely used by system administrators to securely
manage servers or devices. For example, IT professionals use SSH to remotely
access and control servers for maintenance tasks or troubleshooting.

23 — Telnet

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: Telnet is a tool that permits remote access to devices, but it’s
considered less secure than SSH. Historically, it was used for remote terminal
access and configuration of network devices or servers. However, due to security
vulnerabilities, its usage has decreased in favor of more secure alternatives like
SSH.

25 — Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: SMTP is the protocol responsible for sending emails across the
internet. It’s like the postal service for emails, ensuring that your emails reach
the intended recipient’s mailbox. For example, when you send an email from
your email client (like Outlook or Gmail), SMTP is used to deliver it to the
recipient’s mail server.

53 — Domain Name System (DNS)

• Protocol: UDP (sometimes TCP)

 • Summary: DNS acts like a phone book for the internet, translating domain
names (like google.com) into IP addresses that computers use to communicate.
Whenever you visit a website or send an email, DNS is used to translate the
domain name into the corresponding IP address.

67/68 — Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

• Protocol: UDP (sometimes TCP)

• Summary: DHCP is like a dynamic address allocator for devices on a network,

assigning IP addresses automatically. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network and
your device gets an IP address without you manually configuring it, DHCP is at
work.

80 — Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: HTTP is the foundation of the World Wide Web, enabling

communication between web servers and web browsers. It’s what allows you to
browse websites and access web pages. Every time you open a webpage in your
browser, you’re using HTTP.

110 — Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: POP3 retrieves emails from a server to your local device. It’s like
fetching your physical mail from a mailbox. When you use an email client (like
Outlook or Thunderbird) to download emails from a server to your computer, it
often uses POP3.

137/139 — Network Basic Input/Output System (NetBIOS)/NetBIOS over TCP/IP

(NetBT)

• Protocol: TCP and UDP

• Summary: NetBIOS provides services related to sharing resources and

communication between computers in a local network. For example, it’s used for
file and printer sharing among Windows computers in a network.

143 — Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: IMAP manages and retrieves emails stored on a server. It’s like having
access to your mailbox in multiple locations; changes made to emails (read,
delete, move) are reflected across devices.
161/162 — Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

• Protocol: TCP and UDP

• SNMP monitors and manages devices on a network. It’s used by network

administrators to collect information and control network devices like routers,
switches, and servers.

389 — Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: LDAP provides a way to access and manage directory information,

such as user profiles and permissions. It’s used in centralized authentication
systems like corporate networks to store and retrieve user data.

443 — Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP, encrypting data between web

servers and browsers. It’s used for secure online transactions, such as online
banking or shopping, ensuring that sensitive information remains private and
protected.

445 — Server Message Block (SMB)/Common Internet File System (CIFS)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: SMB/CIFS allows shared access to files, printers, and other resources
on a network. It’s used for network file sharing between computers running
Windows operating systems.

3389 — Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

• Protocol: TCP

• Summary: RDP allows remote access and control of a computer or server from a
different location. It’s like having a virtual window into another computer’s
desktop, commonly used for remote technical support or accessing work
computers from home.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this article. More CompTIA A+ exam guides are coming soon. If
you have a question or see anything that is wrong in this article, leave a comment below.
Good luck studying and on your test!