---
title: "What does \"8 independent sockets\" mean?"
url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/forum/13592"
markdown_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/forum/13592/md"
type: "Forum topic"
category: "Ethernet Chips"
author: "MChelik"
created: "2019-12-03T17:52:26+09:00"
last_activity: "2019-12-04T06:27:33+09:00"
language: "en"
views: 791
replies: 2
source: "WIZnet Makers forum (https://maker.wiznet.io/forum/)"
---

# What does "8 independent sockets" mean?

## Question

Asked by MChelik on 2019-12-03 in Ethernet Chips.

Hello,
The datasheet says “Supports 8 independent sockets simultaneously”. What exactly this mean? Does it mean that I can only have 8 TCP/IP connections simultaneously? Can you elaborate the mentioned sentence please?
Thank you,
Regards

## Replies

### Reply 1 by Mxyxixptlick, 2019-12-03

That’s exactly what it means. On the bright side, the hardware manages the SYN/ACK process on listening sockets to establish a connection without software intervention, but on the down side you’re limited to 8 simultaneous network connections (TCP and/or UDP).

### Reply 2 by irina, 2019-12-04

Hi
"Supports 8 independent sockets simultaneously” mean you can use 8 kinds of application.

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Source: https://maker.wiznet.io/forum/13592