Port 2179 VMRDP
Port 2179 is the IANA-assigned vmrdp port for Microsoft RDP for virtual machines (TCP / UDP).
What is port 2179 used for?
Port 2179 is assigned to vmrdp and uses TCP / UDP. The IANA registry describes the service as “Microsoft RDP for virtual machines”. It sits in the registered range, the block used by databases, application servers and developer tooling. Port conflicts here are common when several local services start at once.
Ports are the transport-layer address a service listens on. A client that wants to reach vmrdp connects to port 2179. 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 2179 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 Remote access ports
Source: IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry. Registered assignee: [Brian_Henry].
Check and block port 2179
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 = :2179'
sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :2179'Check on Windows
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 2179 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 2179 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinueBlock with UFW
sudo ufw deny 2179/tcp
sudo ufw deny 2179/udpBlock with iptables
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 2179 -j DROP
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 2179 -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 2179 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 2179 is usually used
Most traffic on port 2179 falls into these scenarios. The demo below is a safe way to confirm the listener before you change anything.
- Administrators connecting through a bastion host or VPN to manage a machine.
- Automation and CI jobs opening short-lived sessions to run commands.
- Port forwarding that keeps an internal service off the public network.
Test the listener
A TCP probe shows whether the remote-access service is reachable; the protocol client may still reject the session later.
nc -vz 127.0.0.1 2179
Common problems with port 2179
Connection refused or timed out
Refused usually means the host is reachable but nothing is listening on port 2179. 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 = :2179' or sudo lsof -i :2179. 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 2179 at a glance
| Port number | 2179 |
|---|---|
| Service name | vmrdp |
| Transport protocol | TCP / UDP |
| Category | Remote access |
| Range | Registered port (1024–10000) |
| Risk level | Standard/Low |
| Registered assignee | [Brian_Henry] |
| Registry description | Microsoft RDP for virtual machines |
| Source | IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry |
Frequently asked questions
What is port 2179 used for?
Port 2179 (VMRDP) uses TCP / UDP. Microsoft RDP for virtual machines.
How do I check if port 2179 is open?
On Linux run `sudo ss -tlpn 'sport = :2179'` and `sudo ss -ulpn 'sport = :2179'`. On Windows run `Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 2179 -State Listen -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` and `Get-NetUDPEndpoint -LocalPort 2179 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue` in PowerShell. If the port is open, the output shows a process listening on port 2179; empty output usually means nothing is bound to it.
How do I block port 2179?
With UFW run `sudo ufw deny 2179/tcp` and `sudo ufw deny 2179/udp`. With iptables run `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 2179 -j DROP` and `sudo iptables -A INPUT -p udp --dport 2179 -j DROP`. Persist the iptables rules with your distribution's netfilter-persistent or iptables-save tooling so they survive a reboot.
Is port 2179 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.
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Primary data: IANA Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry.
Last reviewed 2026-10-30 · Methodology · About · Privacy