Open Port Checker

An open port allows packets sharing the same port number to travel in and out of your local area network. This is important because your hardware is constantly managing multiple tasks and activities at the same time, many of which require network access. This can pose a problem because devices typically only have one network interface. Luckily, with functioning ports, this doesn’t have to be a concern. Ports allow multiple activities and processes to access a shared network interface, meaning they can all occur simultaneously.

Ports configured to accept packets are referred to as “open ports.” The opposite of open ports are “closed ports,” which are ports either ignoring all the packets directed at them or rejecting connections.

It’s important you know what ports are open not only so your network can function efficiently and effectively, but also to reduce your cybersecurity risk. Open ports can pose a security hazard because they can easily be exploited by bad actors. You can think of ports as gates into your hardware. They’re critical for letting the connections you want in, but if you aren’t careful, bad actors can sneak in as well. To reduce the risk of a hacker getting in, it’s critical you stay on top of which ports are open and closed. The best way to do this is by using an open port checker.

While it’s possible to manually test if a port is open, the best way to check if a port is open is by using an open port check tool designed to automatically scan a server for all its open ports.

If you want to take the manual approach to testing if a port is open, you’ll need to use the Command Prompt. There are two series of commands you can follow to determine if a port is open or not. In one command, you can see a list of active ports accompanied by the name of the processes using them. This can be useful, but if you’re looking to determine what specific service or application is tying up a port you need to use for a different application, this approach may not be right for you. The second command option lets you see a list of active ports alongside their process identifier numbers. From there, you can use those numbers to look up the processes in Task Manager.

This manual open port check may only be helpful if you’re looking to determine what application is using a port you now need for a different application. If you’re looking to check for open ports to gain a deeper understanding of your network, your hardware, or your cybersecurity, a manual check is unlikely to provide you with sufficient, useful insight to take action. That’s why you need to use an IP open port checker tool if you want to test effectively for open ports.

An open port checker is a software application program designed to scan your server and tests for open ports. It checks your external IP address and detects any open ports on your connection. The port checker tool works by attempting to connect to either all ports or a predefined set of ports on a system providing application or network access.

Open port checking can help enhance your cybersecurity and give you a better understanding of your network as a whole.

One of the primary benefits of an open port checker is it can help you troubleshoot connection issues. In some cases, connection issues can be the result of the required port being blocked by an ISP or firewall. An open port check tool can help you diagnose this issue, so you can take the proper steps to remedy the issue.

Another benefit of open port checking is it helps you map your company’s network perimeter, which can have major cybersecurity implications. It lets you detect TCP services and live hosts exposed to the internet. In addition, it helps you identify what hardware is old and needs replacing to prevent it from being exploited by attackers.

Like outdated hardware, old and unused software can also pose a risk to your cybersecurity. Open ports can make you vulnerable by allowing hackers to exploit past versions of software not in use. Hackers can also use open ports to access key information about your network, such as what operating system you’re using, potentially putting your server in danger.

By checking your open ports, you can make sure you’re aware of all the ports you have open and only have necessary ports open. You can also stay on top of what applications are connecting to your open ports and watch out for any seemingly suspicious connections. With an IP open port checker, you can better differentiate which ports need to remain open and which ones can be safely closed. This way you can reduce your vulnerability to cyber threats without worrying about compromising the functionality of your network.

An open port checker is a tool designed to check the accessibility of a remote computer or device from the internet. In particular, it goes further by searching the network and finding commonly forwarded ports.

A port checker is particularly useful for letting you identify which open ports might be putting you at risk. From there, the open port check tool can help you determine which ports you can close safely, and which ports need to remain open so the server can be reached.

SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset offers a robust open port checker (open port scanner) as part of a suite of more than 60 tools.

Beyond testing open ports, the ETS open port checker can conduct a full recon of your entire network. This can help you identify potential security risks and troubleshoot issues.

This goes beyond what you get with a typical open port checker or scanner, where you might gain only a small and limited picture of your system, network, and processes. By combining the IP network browser included in ETS with its open port checker, you can fully sweep IP ranges to identify UDP and TCP services and devices. This can help you gain visibility into what devices are connected to the network and which services can be reached.

ETS’s open port checker can also easily be combined with various tools to enhance your understanding of and visibility into the network. For example, you can combine the tool with the neighbor map and route viewer tools, which can give you better insight into the way your network is routing.

Beyond its basic functionality, ETS is also a great open port checker thanks to its intelligent and intuitive design including an easily navigable layout and dynamic dashboards.

SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset includes more than 60 critical network tools. Tools particularly useful when combined with the open port scanner include:

• IP Network Browser
• SNMP MIB browser
• Config download, viewer, compare, and uploader
• Network Sonar
• IP Address Manager
• DHCP Scope Monitor
• DNS Analyzer
• Switch Port Mapper

Some tools included in Engineer’s Toolset are:

• Bandwidth usage meters
• Configuration management tools
• CPU gauges
• CPU load monitor
• CPU monitor
• MAC address scanner
• Memory monitor
• NetFlow real-time tool
• Ping monitor tools
• Ping sweep tool
• Traceroute tool