Ports and Its Types Assignment
Ports and Its Types Assignment
Ports:-
In computer systems, ports are interfaces or points of interaction between the computer and
other devices or networks.
Ports are essential for communication and data exchange, whether within the internal
components of a computer or between external devices and the computer. This assignment
explores the concept of ports in computers, their different types, and their significance in
various contexts.
1. Physical Ports
Physical ports refers to tangible connection interfaces found on computer hardware. These
ports are used for connecting peripherals such as keyboards, mouse, printers, and external
drives.
i. Serial ports:
Serial ports are oldest ports.
Transmits 1 bit at time.
It is 9 pin port used to connect mouse and external modem etc, on older computers.
Not typically found on modern computers.
It’s often called as com ports (com1,com2 ETC).
It has been mostly replaced by USB ports.
Data transfer over a serial port at 115 kbps.
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Many newer computers use USB ports for keyboard and mouse rather than older
ps/2 ports.
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1. Network(logical) port:-
Concepts:
a. Definition of Network Ports: A network port is a virtual doorway through
which data enters or leaves a device in a network.
b.Port Numbers:
i. Range: 0 to 65535.
ii. Categories:
1. Well-known ports (0–1023): Reserved for standard services (e.g.,
HTTP: port 80, HTTPS: port 443).
2. Registered ports (1024–49151): Assigned to specific applications.
3. Dynamic/private ports (49152–65535): Used temporarily for client-side
connections.
c. Purpose of Ports: Ports help differentiate traffic meant for different services or
applications running on the same device. For instance:
i. Port 80 handles web traffic (HTTP).
ii. Port 22 is used for secure shell connections (SSH).
e.Types of Protocols:
i. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol):
1. Reliable and connection-oriented.
2. Used in applications requiring data integrity, such as web browsing or email.
ii. UDP (User Datagram Protocol):
1. Lightweight and connectionless.
2. Used for real-time applications, such as gaming or video streaming.
f. Commonly Used Ports:
Service/Protocol Port Number Protocol
HTTP 80 TCP
HTTPS 443 TCP
FTP 21 TCP
DNS 53 UDP/TCP
SSH 22 TCP
SMTP 25 TCP
g.Port Security:
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i. Open ports can be a security risk if not properly managed.
ii. Firewalls and intrusion detection systems can restrict access.
iii. Unused ports should be closed to reduce vulnerabilities.
Practical Example:
when a user access a website;
The browser sends a request to the servers IP address on port 80(HTTP) or 443(HTTPS).
The server listens on the requested port and responds with the webpage data.
The browser displays the received information to the user.
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