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The open port checker is a tool you can use to check your external IP address and detect open ports on your connection. This tool is useful for finding out if your port forwarding is setup correctly or if your server applications are being blocked by a firewall. This tool may also be used as a port scanner to scan your network for ports that are commonly forwarded. It is important to note that some ports, such as port 25, are often blocked at the ISP level in an attempt to prevent malicious activity.This is a free utility for remotely verifying if a port is open or closed. It is useful to users who wish to verify port forwarding and check to see if a server is running or a firewall or ISP is blocking certain ports.

Port Forwarding

Port forwarding or port mapping allows remote computers to connect to a specific computer or service on a private network. This allows you to run a web server, game server or a service of your choosing from behind a router.

In a typical network the router has the public IP address and computers/servers obtain a private IP address from the router that is not addressable from outside the network. When you forward a specific port on your router, you are telling your router where to direct traffic for that port. This utility can verify the success of that process.

Please refer to your routers manual or manufacturer for assistance in setting up port forwarding.

Blocked Ports

Most residential ISP's block ports to combat viruses and spam. The most commonly blocked ports are port 80 and port 25.

Port 80 is the default port for http traffic. With blocked port 80 you will need to run your web server on a non-standard port.

Port 25 is the default port for sending and receiving mail. ISPs block this port to reduce the amount of spam generated by worms on infected machines within their network.