PuTTYs

PuTTY, commonly referred to as PuTTY, is a free and open-source terminal emulator, serial console, and network connection client. It is most widely used on Microsoft Windows to establish remote connections to other computers, devices, or network equipment. The term PuTTY can also refer to the PuTTY family of tools, a suite that includes PuTTY (the terminal emulator), PuTTYgen (key generator for SSH keys), Pageant (SSH authentication agent), PSCP and PSFTP (secure file copy programs), Plink (command-line connection tool), and PuTTYtel (Telnet client).

Originating with Simon Tatham, PuTTY has been maintained by him and an active community since its first release in 1999. It is distributed as free, open-source software and has become a de facto standard SSH client for Windows due to its small footprint and straightforward interface. The suite is designed to be lightweight, portable, and easy to configure, with optional portable mode that stores settings in files rather than the Windows registry.

Key features include support for multiple protocols, notably SSH, Telnet, Rlogin, and raw socket connections. SSH authentication can use passwords or public/private keys generated by PuTTYgen. PuTTY offers port forwarding (local, remote, and dynamic/SOCKS), X11 forwarding when used with an X server, and a configurable terminal emulator that emulates common terminals such as vt100 variants. Saved sessions, logging options, and customizable appearance enhance usability. The accompanying tools enable secure file transfer (PSCP, PSFTP) and automated or scripted connections (Plink).

Availability: PuTTY is downloadable from its official website and is widely packaged for various operating systems. While primarily a Windows tool, there are third-party ports and builds for other platforms, though development concentrates on Windows.