Ports & Protocols with Mnemonics

Question 1

Port Number: 20/21
Protocol: File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
Mnemonic: Imagine a Nose (20) sniffing a Net (21) pulling in files from two computers.

Answer 1

Transfers files between systems; port 21 = control channel, and port 20 =is data transfer.
Visualize two computers throwing file folders across a net, catching them on the other side.

Question 2

Port Number: 22
Protocol: Secure Shell (SSH)
Mnemonic: Imagine a Nun (22) inside a protective shell, sitting securely at a computer.

Answer 2

Provides encrypted remote login and command execution.

Picture the Nun typing commands into a computer, and her shell protects the data, showing the encryption.

Question 3

Port Number: 23
Protocol: Telnet

Picture typing a Name (23) into an unsecured Telnet terminal.

Answer 3

Allows remote login but is unencrypted.

Imagine logging into a dangerous, open portal, where anyone can spy on what’s being typed.

Question 4

Port Number: 25
Protocol: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

Picture Nailing (25) an envelope to send an email.

Answer 4

Used to send emails between mail servers.

Imagine emails flying through the air, attached to giant nails, hitting different servers.

Question 5

Port 53
Protocol DNS

Answer 5

Resolves domain names to IP address

Lambs Do Not Sleep (Domain Name System)

Question 6

UDP Port 67/68 - DHCP Protocol

Answer 6

A shark (67) in a chef’s hat (68) cooks up and delivers IP addresses to devices on the network, just like DHCP assigns them automatically.