How to check tcp port

by: ping_itPosted on 2009-04-10 at 03:06:31ID: 24114342

The port to be in Listening state should have an application that "opens" it.

You can check them with netstat -a or netstat -no

If no program is really opening a port, the port is not on the NETSTAT output.

If you want to check whether a port is really blocked and so, even if an application tries to open a port, this port is not reachable from the outside, you can make some port check from the internet. --- The remote server will try to connect to a range of ports you want and it will check the status of the port.

Please let me know if it is clear enough

by: kapotPosted on 2009-04-10 at 05:12:37ID: 24114926

I know in theory how to test if a port is open or not ... by using TELNET.

For example to test if port 233 is open or not, I would start a cmd prompt and type:

telnet ipaddress 233

if it is open then you will not get connection refused :)

But the thing is that I dont know how to code this in Delphi :(

by: ping_itPosted on 2009-04-10 at 05:18:02ID: 24114960

No, if the port is open with telnet you get a "black screen" or something will be written, depending on the listening application.

If the port is not listening there will be: connection failed

The "connection refused" there will be if there is some firewall that refuses the connection.

Firewalls can "drop" or "reject" the connections, in the first case it is connection failed and in the second is refused.

by: kapotPosted on 2009-04-10 at 05:53:52ID: 24115158

Yes, thats what I want to tell you ... the black screen.

by: ping_itPosted on 2009-04-10 at 06:17:18ID: 24115304

I hope the code of a portscanner will help you: http://delphi.about.com/od/fullcodeprojects/Free_Source_Code_Delphi_Projects.htm

by: kapotPosted on 2009-04-10 at 06:46:26ID: 24115491

I just need a simple function.

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-04-10 at 08:29:16ID: 24116311

This uses ClientSocket but could be done with Indy as well.

It also uses the events OnConnect, OnDisconnect and OnError.

OnDisconnect it sets a true boolean value 'Done'.
OnConnect it sets a true boolean value of 'GoodPing'.
OnError it does the same but GoodPing := False.

A bit 'messy' but gets the job done. Now, I cut and pasted this from some code that I do use, so this exact snippet is not tested, but should work just fine. In any event it will point you in the right direction.

John

{Global var}
var
 Done, GoodPing : Boolean.
 
function IsPortOpen(HostIP, Port : String) : Boolean;
begin
 Result := False;
 if (StrToIntDef(Port, -1) > -1) and (StrToIntDef(Port, -1) < 65536) then
  begin
   ClientSocket1.Active := False;
   ClientSocket1.Address := HostIP;
   ClientSocket1.Port := StrToInt(Port);
   ClientSocket1.Open;
   repeat
     Application.ProcessMessages
       until
         Done;
  end;
 Result := GoodPing;
end;
 
procedure ClientSocket1Connect(Sender: TObject;
  Socket: TCustomWinSocket);
begin
 GoodPing := True;
 ClientSocket1.Close;
end;
 
procedure ClientSocket1Disconnect(Sender: TObject;
  Socket: TCustomWinSocket);
begin
 Done := True;
end;
 
procedure ClientSocket1Error(Sender: TObject;
  Socket: TCustomWinSocket; ErrorEvent: TErrorEvent;
  var ErrorCode: Integer);
begin
 ErrorCode := 0; // So no error is displayed
 GoodPing := False;
 ClientSocket1.Close;
 Done := True;
end;

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by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-04-10 at 08:30:24ID: 24116319

Should have been a bit more clear.

It also uses the events OnConnect, OnDisconnect and OnError of the TClientSocket component.

John

by: aikimarkPosted on 2009-04-10 at 16:53:16ID: 24120294

I think you actually need to open the port with a TCP/IP connection. In many corporate environments, ICMP (ping) is blocked.

Even then, there are two potential problems:
* firewalls prevent the opening of the port by the program
* the PC network configuration does not have a particular port in the active list.

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-04-10 at 17:43:55ID: 24120417

aikimark,

Not certain where the author was mentioning an ICMP ping. My code does not use ICMP other than the word GoodPing. The TCLientSocket is a TCP/IP component and attempts to make a successful TCP/IP connection with the selected port number.

However and of course, blocked ports would not allow any kind of a response and would show closed.

John

by: aikimarkPosted on 2009-04-10 at 19:38:42ID: 24120721

@John

The general question was about a port being 'open'. I interpreted some of the comments in this thread as indicating that any testing of the port might suffice. My comment was not really addressing any specific comment, rather stating that the specific protocol (assumed it would be TCP) would need to be used. I probably should have mentioned in my earlier comment that while a port might receive UDP packets, it might not accept TCP handshakes/sessions or packets.

IMHO:
I think it is somewhat misleading for you to have lines in your code snippet like:
GoodPing := False;
since you aren't really 'pinging' the port. I think the variable might be more self-documenting if it were something like IsPortOpen or PortIsAvailable. I'll certainly grant you that your code is probably the best solution posted to date and that a single variable name quibble is rather nit-picky on my part.

I can't say for certain that I thoroughly read your code before posting my comment and that I might have just seen the GoodPing value assignment and thought that you were actually pinging (when you really weren't). If I did, I appologize -- both your comment(s) and code deserve sufficient attention and consideration.

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-04-10 at 21:18:00ID: 24120860

@Aikimark,

Your thoughts and points are well taken and thanks for the response.

John

by: aikimarkPosted on 2009-04-11 at 02:41:52ID: 24121363

@John

If you are a fan of classic comedy albums:
"Sped reddin im-provs com-prenshun wun-der-full-e" :-)

by: JohnjcesPosted on 2009-04-13 at 12:10:32ID: 24132043

@kapot

Did any of this help you?

John

by: kapotPosted on 2009-04-20 at 23:45:51ID: 24191437

Hi John,

I am sorry for the late reply, but yes ... your solution is what I needed.

Very good and clear for learning purposes.

Thanks :)

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How to check tcp port

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