CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

Which elements are part of an IPv4 socket?

1. Server IP address, protocol, and client IP address

2. Server IP address, protocol, and server application port number

3. Client IP address, protocol, and destination MAC address

4. Client application port number and protocol

The correct answer is: Server IP address, protocol, and server application port number

The correct choice identifies the essential components that make up an IPv4 socket—specifically, the server's IP address, the protocol being used (such as TCP or UDP), and the port number associated with the server application. An IPv4 socket consists of a combination of an IP address and a port number, which allows for the precise identification of a specific process or service running on a server. The server IP address locates the server on the network, while the server application port number directs incoming data to the appropriate application on that server. The protocol indicates whether the communication will be conducted using connection-oriented methods (like TCP) or connectionless methods (like UDP), which affects how data is transmitted over the network. The other options do not encapsulate all necessary elements of an IPv4 socket. For example, while client information and MAC addresses are relevant in networking, they do not form part of the basic definition of a socket in IPv4 context, which is primarily concerned with server-side details in the connection process. Thus, the focus remains on the combination of the server specifics and protocol for defining a functioning IPv4 socket.