Port 996 VSINET
Port 996 is the IANA-assigned vsinet port for vsinet (TCP / UDP).
What is port 996 used for?
Port 996 is assigned to vsinet and uses TCP / UDP. The IANA registry describes the service as “vsinet”. 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 vsinet connects to port 996. 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 996 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.
Source: IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry. Registered assignee: [Rob_Juergens].
Check and block port 996
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 = :996'
sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :996'Check on Windows
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 996 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 996 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinueBlock with UFW
sudo ufw deny 996/tcp
sudo ufw deny 996/udpBlock with iptables
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 996 -j DROP
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 996 -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 996 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 996 is usually used
Most traffic on port 996 falls into these scenarios. The demo below is a safe way to confirm the listener before you change anything.
- Core infrastructure that clients expect to find at its default number.
- Firewall reviews that baseline which classic services are reachable.
- Troubleshooting connectivity when an application assumes the standard port.
Probe the port
Confirm something is listening before you debug the client. Replace 127.0.0.1 with the host you are testing.
nc -vz 127.0.0.1 996Common problems with port 996
Connection refused or timed out
Refused usually means the host is reachable but nothing is listening on port 996. 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 = :996' or sudo lsof -i :996. 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 996 at a glance
| Port number | 996 |
|---|---|
| Service name | vsinet |
| Transport protocol | TCP / UDP |
| Category | Core network services |
| Range | Well-known port (0–1023) |
| Risk level | Standard/Low |
| Registered assignee | [Rob_Juergens] |
| Registry description | vsinet |
| Source | IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry |
Frequently asked questions
What is port 996 used for?
Port 996 (VSINET) uses TCP / UDP. vsinet.
How do I check if port 996 is open?
On Linux run `sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :996'` and `sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :996'`. On Windows run `Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 996 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` and `Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 996 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` in PowerShell. If the port is open, the output shows a process listening on port 996; empty output usually means nothing is bound to it.
How do I block port 996?
With UFW run `sudo ufw deny 996/tcp` and `sudo ufw deny 996/udp`. With iptables run `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 996 -j DROP` and `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 996 -j DROP`. Persist the iptables rules with your distribution's netfilter-persistent or iptables-save tooling so they survive a reboot.
Is port 996 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