PSFTP

PSFTP, short for PuTTY Secure File Transfer Protocol client, is a command-line SFTP client distributed with the PuTTY suite. It provides a secure means to transfer files between a local computer and a remote SSH server using the SFTP protocol. PSFTP runs on Windows and is part of the official PuTTY distribution, though the underlying SSH technology is cross-platform.

PSFTP uses SSH for encryption and supports standard authentication methods such as password and public-key authentication (including Pageant for managing keys). It offers an interactive command-line interface and implements common SFTP operations for file management, including uploading and downloading files, listing and changing directories, and manipulating remote and local files and directories. It can perform recursive transfers when needed.

To use PSFTP, connect to a server with a command like psftp user@host. Once connected, the prompt accepts commands such as get, put, ls, cd, lcd, pwd, mkdir, rmdir, rm, and quit. The tool emphasizes reliability and security, making it a common choice for administrators who work with remote servers over SSH.

PSFTP is typically used as part of routine file administration, scripting and automation workflows, and in environments where PuTTY is a standard toolset. Its design emphasizes portability within Windows environments while interoperating with SSH-enabled servers across various platforms.

See also PuTTY, SSH, SFTP.