Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 12:16:04 -0700 From: "Robert L Sowders" <rsowders@usgs.gov> To: Andrew Hesford <ajh3@chmod.ath.cx> Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG, lists <lists@vivdev.com>, owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Ports versus ports Message-ID: <OFBBC9930A.1FA5CC73-ON88256A2D.00692983@wr.usgs.gov>
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You might be able to grasp this better if you stop trying to associate the
term port with physical objects or things. The term "port" is used to
signify the place where you gain access or exit, the ausfart or einfart.
The term port can apply to all IO of a computer system be it software, or
hardware, or tcpip sockets.
When you port over a program to run on a particular operating system, you
are just providing the correct paths and hooks into the operating system
that are different from the old one.
Andrew Hesford <ajh3@chmod.ath.cx>
Sent by: owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG
04/13/2001 01:00 AM
To: lists <lists@vivdev.com>
cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject: Re: Ports versus ports
On Fri, Apr 13, 2001 at 03:33:54AM -0400, lists wrote:
> Well I am dilligently reading as much of the various discussions as time
> and vocabulary will allow, and I am happy to report that I am able to
> understand and follow more and more of what is being discussed. Which
> isn't to say I understand much. :-)
>
> Anyhow, I understand that there are ports - as in stuff that has been
> recompiled to work in a new environment (such as FreeBSD) from another
> environment (say, Linux).
>
> Then, there are ports - as in that to which a number is assigned by IANA
> for TCP and UDP.
>
> Having R(some of)TFM, I have a question or two.
>
> It isn't coincidence that these things have the same name is it?
> What precisely do these things have in common and what separates them?
Guess what! There is a third type of port, and it is a physical
connection point to your box, as in a serial port, printer port,
keyboard port, etc.
TCP/UDP ports are virtual access points, which all connect through the
physical ethernet port to your machine. These two ports (TCP and
physical) have a common backing concept... connection points between
equipment. However, you must remember that physical ports consist of
pins, sockets, and plugs... TCP ports are virtual.
As for software ports, I'm not really sure where the term came from...
However, these ports have nothing to do with physical ports or network
ports... if the name isn't a coincidence, at least there is no modern
connection between the two.
As I finish this, I think that you might be confused if your English
isn't great. Right now, I'm too tired to clarify this. Therefore, if you
need extra help deciphering this, just reply with "What the fuck?" and
I'll get to it when I'm less sleepy. :)
--
Andrew Hesford
ajh3@chmod.ath.cx
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