Port 68 BOOTPC
Port 68 is the IANA-assigned bootpc port for Bootstrap Protocol Client (TCP / UDP).
What is port 68 used for?
Port 68 is assigned to bootpc and uses TCP / UDP. The IANA registry describes the service as “Bootstrap Protocol Client”. It sits in the well-known range, which operating systems reserve for core network services, so software expects it at this number by default.
Ports are the transport-layer address a service listens on. A client that wants to reach bootpc connects to port 68. A TCP connection is refused when nothing is listening, while a UDP request simply goes unanswered. That is why a port conflict appears whenever two processes try to bind the same number.
Use the commands below to confirm whether port 68 is actually in use before you change firewall rules. Blocking the port stops new inbound traffic at the firewall, but it does not stop a local process from listening, and it does not remove the service from the machine.
Browse all Networking and proxies ports
Source: IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry. Registered assignee: [Bill_Croft].
Check and block port 68
Copy-ready commands for the protocols assigned to this port. Run the check first, then block only what should not be reachable.
Check on Linux
sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :68'
sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :68'Check on Windows
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 68 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 68 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinueBlock with UFW
sudo ufw deny 68/tcp
sudo ufw deny 68/udpBlock with iptables
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 68 -j DROP
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 68 -j DROPThese commands are examples for a typical host. Check the listener before you change firewall rules, and persist iptables rules with iptables-save or netfilter-persistent. On Windows, use Windows Defender Firewall or New-NetFirewallRule for persistent blocks. The iptables rules here cover IPv4; mirror them with ip6tables if IPv6 is enabled.
Is port 68 safe to expose?
This port is not on our curated list of services with a widely exploited profile. Exposure is only safe when the listening service is intended, patched and protected by a firewall. Keep the listening service patched and remove it if unused. A default-deny firewall policy with explicit allow rules is still the safest baseline.
Where port 68 is usually used
Most traffic on port 68 falls into these scenarios. The demo below is a safe way to confirm the listener before you change anything.
- Routers, switches and proxies exchanging routing or session information.
- Clients sending traffic through a forward or reverse proxy on port 68.
- Troubleshooting path selection, NAT or proxy rules during an outage.
Check the DHCP client socket
DHCP clients use UDP 68 while acquiring a lease. Inspect the client socket and lease state instead of probing TCP.
sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :68'Common problems with port 68
Connection refused or timed out
Refused usually means the host is reachable but nothing is listening on port 68. A timeout more often means a firewall drop, a wrong host or a service bound to a different interface.
Port already in use
Find the process holding the port with sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :68' or sudo lsof -i :68. Stop that process or configure it to bind another port; killing it without identifying it can take down a production service.
Firewall rule did not survive a reboot
UFW and Windows Firewall keep rules across restarts. Raw iptables rules do not: save them with iptables-save or the netfilter-persistent package, and re-apply after upgrades that reset the ruleset.
The port is blocked but still reachable
A firewall rule filters inbound traffic; it does not close the listener. Confirm with the check command above and bind the service to 127.0.0.1 when only local clients need it.
Port 68 at a glance
| Port number | 68 |
|---|---|
| Service name | bootpc |
| Transport protocol | TCP / UDP |
| Category | Networking and proxies |
| Range | Well-known port (0–1023) |
| Risk level | Standard/Low |
| Registered assignee | [Bill_Croft] |
| Registry description | Bootstrap Protocol Client |
| Source | IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry |
Frequently asked questions
What is port 68 used for?
Port 68 (BOOTPC) uses TCP / UDP. Bootstrap Protocol Client.
How do I check if port 68 is open?
On Linux run `sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :68'` and `sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :68'`. On Windows run `Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 68 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` and `Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 68 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` in PowerShell. If the port is open, the output shows a process listening on port 68; empty output usually means nothing is bound to it.
How do I block port 68?
With UFW run `sudo ufw deny 68/tcp` and `sudo ufw deny 68/udp`. With iptables run `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 68 -j DROP` and `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 68 -j DROP`. Persist the iptables rules with your distribution's netfilter-persistent or iptables-save tooling so they survive a reboot.
Is port 68 safe to expose?
This port is not on our curated list of services with a widely exploited profile. Exposure is only safe when the listening service is intended, patched and protected by a firewall. Nevertheless, keep the listening service patched and remove it if unused. A default-deny firewall policy with explicit allow rules is still the safest baseline.
Related ports
Primary data: IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry.
Last reviewed 2026-10-30 · Methodology · About · Privacy