PuTTy.exe

PuTTY is an open-source terminal emulator, serial console, and network file transfer application. It supports several network protocols, including SSH, Telnet, SCP, and SFTP, making it a versatile tool for remote administration of systems. Below is a detailed exploration of PuTTY, including its functionalities, usage examples, common file paths, and behaviors.

Overview

• Executable Path: Typically, PuTTY.exe is located in the directory where it was installed or downloaded, often directly accessed by the user rather than being installed in a system directory.

  • If installed, its likely in the C:\Program Files folder.

• Parent Process: As a standalone application, the parent process is usually explorer.exe or a command shell from which it was launched.

• Number of Instances: There can be multiple instances running simultaneously, each managing a separate connection.

• User Account: Runs under the context of the user who initiated the application.

• Start Time: Starts when the user initiates an SSH or another protocol connection.

• Description: PuTTY provides a user interface to remotely access computers over various network protocols. It is widely used for secure shell access to Unix and Linux systems.

Key Functions

• SSH Connections: Secure Shell (SSH) for secure access to remote servers.

• Telnet Connections: Telnet for unencrypted communication with remote servers.

• SCP/SFTP: Secure file transfer protocols used for secure file transfers between systems.

• Serial Console Access: Provides serial port connections for devices like routers and switches.

Command Line Examples

PuTTY's versatility is partly due to its support for various command-line arguments that allow users to initiate connections with specific parameters directly.

• SSH Connection connects to hostname as username over SSH on port 22.:

putty.exe -ssh username@hostname -p 22 

• Telnet Connection initiates a Telnet connection to hostname on port 23:

putty.exe -telnet hostname 23

• Serial Connection connects to a serial device on COM1 with the specified serial configuration:

putty.exe -serial COM1 -sercfg 9600,8,n,1,X

• Loading a Saved Session loads a pre-configured session with all its settings:

putty.exe -load "session name"

• SSH with Key Authentication uses a private key for SSH authentication:

putty.exe -ssh username@hostname -i "C:\Windows\Users\Admin\private_key.ppk"

Common File Paths

• Configuration Storage: PuTTY does not require installation and stores its configuration data in the Windows Registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY.

• Portable Use: Often found on USB drives for portable applications, with configurations stored within the same directory or the user's profile directory.

• Log Files: Users can configure PuTTY to save session logs to a specified path, commonly within the user’s document folder or a designated logs directory.

Behavior

• Session Management: PuTTY allows users to save session configurations for quick access to frequently used connections.

• Security: Provides robust encryption for data transmitted over network connections, ensuring secure communication.

• Interoperability: Compatible with a wide range of SSH servers and supports various encryption algorithms and authentication methods.