The Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service (NetTcpPortSharing) provides the ability for multiple user processes to share TCP ports over the net.tcp protocol. This service allows a net.tcp port to be shared and secured, similar to how HTTP traffic uses port 80.

The Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service is available on all operating systems that support .NET Framework 3.0, but the service is not enabled by default. As a security precaution, an administrator must manually enable the Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service prior to first use. Although the Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service provides a layer of processing between applications and the network, applications that use port sharing should be secured as if they were listening on the network directly. Specifically, applications that use port sharing should evaluate the process privileges under which they run. When possible, run your application by using the built-in Network Service account, which runs with the minimal set of process privileges required for network communication.

This service is installed by default with Windows 7, and its startup type is Disabled. When the Net.Tcp Listener Adapter service is installed it modifies the startup type of this service to Manual and started. It is also available for installation as role service for the Application Server role on Windows Server 2008 R2.

This service is not dependent upon any other system components.

The following system component is dependent upon the Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service:

• Net.Tcp Listener Adapter