When I'm using the internet I notice in my firewall traffic log that
the local ports used usually only go from 3000-5000. Then when they
get to 5000 it starts at 3000 again. I notice that other peoples go up
to 50000+.
How can I get mine to go higher? Why do they only go to 5000? Is that
a security measure?
Mike,
There are three ranges of port numbers:
The Well Known Ports are those from 0 through 1023.
The Registered Ports are those from 1024 through 49151.
The Dynamic and/or Private Ports are those from 49152 through 65535.
Different services or programs will use ports in different ranges,
according to their design and needs. Some programs use (listen on) a
given port (Well Known or Registered) so other computers know what
port number to send initial transmissions, or replies, to. Other
programs ask the system for an open port number, then pass that port
number out.
If you want to know more about what ports are used by the various
programs, get a port mapper like Port Explorer (free) from
<
http://www.diamondcs.com.au/portexplorer/index.php?page=home>. It
will show each port in use, and the process id of the program using
it.
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
