PuTTY is a free and open-source SSH client for Windows that allows you to connect to a remote server securely. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to connect to a remote server with PuTTY.
Step 1: Download PuTTY The first step is to download PuTTY from the official website (https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/). Choose the appropriate version for your operating system (32-bit or 64-bit) and download the installer.
Step 2: Install PuTTY After downloading the installer, run it and follow the on-screen instructions to install PuTTY on your local machine.
Step 3: Obtain the Server IP Address and SSH Credentials Before you can connect to a remote server with PuTTY, you will need to obtain the server IP address and your SSH credentials (username and password).
You can obtain this information from your server administrator or by logging into your server control panel.
Step 4: Open PuTTY After obtaining the server IP address and SSH credentials, open PuTTY on your local machine. You can do this by clicking the Windows Start button and searching for “PuTTY” in the search bar.
Step 5: Configure PuTTY Session In the PuTTY configuration window, enter the server IP address in the “Host Name” field. Make sure that the “SSH” protocol is selected.
In the “Saved Sessions” field, enter a name for your PuTTY session and click the “Save” button to save the session.
Step 6: Configure PuTTY Connection Settings In the PuTTY configuration window, click the “Connection” category in the left-hand pane. Here, you can configure the connection settings for your PuTTY session.
Enter your SSH username in the “Auto-login username” field. If you want to save your SSH password for future sessions, you can enter it in the “Password” field and select “Store password in memory.”
Under the “SSH” category, make sure that “2” is selected for the “Preferred SSH protocol version.”
Step 7: Connect to the Remote Server After configuring the PuTTY session and connection settings, click the “Open” button to initiate the SSH connection to the remote server.
If this is your first time connecting to the server, you may be prompted to accept the server’s SSH key. Click “Yes” to accept the key.
Enter your SSH password (if you did not save it in memory) and press Enter to log in to the remote server.
Step 8: Use the Remote Server Once you are connected to the remote server with PuTTY, you can use it as if you were working on the local machine. You can run commands in the terminal window and navigate the server’s file system.
Step 9: Close the PuTTY Session When you are finished using the remote server, you can close the PuTTY session by typing “exit” in the terminal window and pressing Enter. You can also click the “X” button in the top-right corner of the PuTTY window to close the session.
In conclusion, connecting to a remote server with PuTTY is a straightforward process that requires obtaining the server IP address and SSH credentials, configuring PuTTY session and connection settings, and initiating the SSH connection to the remote server. With PuTTY, you can securely connect to a remote server and perform tasks as if you were working on the local machine.
