Home » Products » Hosting » VPS & Dedicated Servers » How to Use PuTTY to Access Your Server
A Secure Shell (SSH) is a network that is often used to access the remote server from a local computer. PuTTY, on the other hand, is a free and open-source SSH client that SSH protocol can use to connect to a remote server. In this article, we will look at how to connect to the server over SSH using the PuTTY application.
What is a PuTTY SSH Client?
PuTTY is a collection of GUI tools that help manage and interact with other computers/servers securely using SSH. It comes with several easy-to-use tools, including one for managing SSH connections and another for opening a command-line interface to interact with remote systems.
How to Download the PuTTY Application on Your System?
Generally, PuTTY is used on Windows, but users with Linux and MacOS operating systems can also use it. Here is a detailed guide on how to download the PuTTY application based on your operating system.
Windows
- Go to the official PuTTY website and download the latest application version. You can choose between the 32-bit or 64-bit version based on your computer.
- Once the file is downloaded, double-click it to run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
Linux
- Open your terminal and update your package manager’s repository information. A package monitor repository is a central storage location for pre-compiled software; it contains all the files and metadata required to install and run software on your system successfully. You can update the repository using the code:
sudo apt install
openssh-client
- Once you have updated the package manager, it is time to install PuTTY. Use the command: sudo apt install putty. The package manager will acquire all the necessary files and install PuTTY on your server.
MacOS
Normally, macOS also includes a built-in SSH client. However, you can still install PuTTY if needed. Here is how to do it:
- Open the terminal on your Mac.
- Use one of the following commands to install PuTTY: brew install putty or port install putty.
Prerequisites to a Successful SSH Connection
Before establishing an SSH connection with PuTTY, make sure you have the following details:
- Server IP Address: The unique address of the server you want to connect to.
- SSH Port: The port number used for the SSH connection. It is usually 22, unless changed.
- SSH Username: The username you will use to log in to the server.
- SSH Password: The password associated with your SSH username.
You can find this information in your hosting control panel or cPanel. For BigRock users, you can navigate to the “Manage” option on your control panel. There, you will notice the “Access Details” option. Click on it to find all the information required to establish an SSH connection.
How to Use PuTTY to Connect to the Server
Once you have figured out how to install PuTTY and have all the SSH connection details, follow these simple steps to connect to your server using PuTTY:
- Step 1: Launch the PuTTY application on your computer
- Step 2: Enter your IP address. Always remember to save your session details for quicker access in future.
- Step 3: You will be directed to a terminal window. There, enter your username and password to log onto your server.
- Step 4: Once logged in, you are connected to your server. To see a list of available SSH commands, type “help” in the terminal.
What is PuTTYgen, and How to Use it
PuTTYgen is a key generator tool. The basic function of the tool is to create public and private key pairs for SSH sessions. PuTTYgen is used instead of a password for improved security. You can visit PuTTYgen’s website, download the application, or search for it in your PuTTY folder. When you open the application, you can click on the “Generate” option to generate public and private keys.
Summing Up
In conclusion, SSH connections are invaluable for securely accessing servers or hosting accounts remotely, and PuTTY stands out as a reliable SSH client for getting the job done. With its user-friendly interface and powerful features, PuTTY simplifies server management tasks, even for beginners. If you have any questions about how to use PuTTY, refer to our FAQs for more clarity!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
How do I open a session in PuTTY?
Here is a step-by-step guide on opening a PuTTY session:
- Double-click the PuTTY icon to start the application.
- Enter the server’s IP address in the “Host Name” field.
- Select the desired connection type.
- Click “Open”.
- Enter your username and press “Enter”.
- Type your password or right-click to paste it, then press “Enter”.
You have now logged into your server via SSH with PuTTY. Here, you can view what IP was last logged in, on what date, and all the details about that session.
-
How do I check my PuTTY access?
Here is how you can check your PuTTY access:
- Open PuTTY and enter your server’s SSH IP and port. Click “Open”.
- When prompted with “login as:”, enter your SSH username and press “Enter”.
- Type in your SSH password and press “Enter” again to confirm.
-
How do I keep my PuTTY session active?
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to keep your PuTTY sessions active:
- Launch PuTTY and load your saved session.
- Go to the “Connection” category in the settings menu.
- Under “Seconds between keepalives,” enter 240 to send null packets and keep the session active.
- Navigate back to Session, click “Save,” and connect to your server.
We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below!