Linux Networking: Open Ports / Listening Services
Understanding the open ports and listening services on your Linux system is a critical part of network management and security. Open ports can reveal which applications are actively communicating or awaiting connections, but they can also expose your system to potential vulnerabilities if left unchecked.
Introduction
The netstat
command is a powerful network utility available on Linux that provides a variety of network-related information. With this tool you are able to display open ports and listening services on Linux Systems. The netstat
command is essential for network administrators and users who need to monitor and troubleshoot network connections.
With the right tools and commands, you can quickly identify open ports and their associated processes. Whether you’re troubleshooting network connectivity, optimizing system performance, or strengthening your security posture, this information is invaluable.
In this article, we’ll explore how to display open ports and listening services using powerful Linux commands like netstat
, ss
, and lsof
, helping you gain better control over your system’s network
Display Active Connections
netstat
Display Open Ports
netstat -l

This command lists all listening ports. For a detailed view, including TCP and UDP ports, use:
netstat -ltu

Viewing Listening Services
netstat -tuln

This command lists all the listening services along with their respective ports in numeric form.