Overview
This lecture explains network ports, their role in directing traffic to correct applications, how they are represented, and their numerical range in computer networking.
The Role of Network Ports
- Network ports allow multiple services to run on a single system by directing network traffic to specific applications.
- An IP address identifies a device, while a port number specifies the intended application or service on that device.
- The analogy: a computer is like an apartment building (IP), and ports are the apartment numbers for applications.
Technical Structure of Ports
- Network ports are represented as 16-bit binary numbers.
- In decimal, port numbers range from 0 to 65,535 (2^16 possible values).
- Port numbers start at 0, not 1, due to binary counting conventions.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Network port — A logical access point on a computer for directing incoming/outgoing traffic to a specific application or service.
- IP address — A unique identifier for a device on a network.
- 16-bit number — A binary number with 16 digits, allowing for 65,536 unique values (0–65,535).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the structure and function of ports and IP addresses in networking.
- Ensure understanding of the analogy between apartment numbers and network ports.
- Prepare to identify common port numbers and their associated services in future lessons.