Master SSH connections from Windows with putty

The main interface of this program is basically a kind of settings menu. On the left side we will find all the options that the program offers us, while on the right the different related sections.

Therefore, at first we only have to move through the sections that are shown in this panel to access the different configuration parameters that the application presents us with. As we told you before, all this is carried out from a single window that acts as the main interface of Putty. The section that interests us to start working with the app is that of sessions. From it will be from where we are going to connect to a remote server.

This means that those who do not want to complicate their lives with complex configuration parameters can go directly to this section to make the remote connections that we are talking about.

How to connect to a server

Basically what we need to connect remotely to a server is to know its IP, the port that we are going to use and the protocol that we want to use. If we change the protocol, the port will automatically change to the one used by that protocol by default. But we can change it by hand in case we need other functions.

Below the connection data we will find the sessions section. Here we will be able to save our most common connections to return to them with a couple of clicks at any time. Very useful when we usually work with many protocols at the same time.

Finally, we will be able to choose what we want to appear when we close the remote connection, whether the main PuTTY screen or whether we want to close the service.

Once the connection data is filled in, we click on “Open” and we can see the terminal. We will introduce the username and password and we will be able to start remotely controlling the PC.

putty terminal options

Once connected to a remote terminal, the only thing we will see is the terminal to enter the corresponding commands. However, the putty window hides a simple menu of options that will allow us to control the session. To open this menu, we simply have to click on the icon at the top left of the window.

It is worth mentioning that all the functions that we find in this section are suitable both for new users in these issues, as well as for the most experienced when it comes to carrying out these secure connections. All this is achieved to a large extent thanks to the intuitive interface proposed and the good arrangement of the parameters that we can use.

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The main options that we are going to find while we are connected to the machine are:

  • Special Command: It allows us to directly execute a series of common commands on the machine in which we are working. This option may or may not appear, depending on the machine to which we connect.
  • EventLog: We can see a record that details all the processes and data that are generated in the connection.
  • new session: Allows you to return to the main screen of the program to create a new connection to the same or to another server with different parameters.
  • Subtract Session: Closes the session that we have open and restarts it to start working with it from the login.
  • Duplicate Session: It will create a duplicate of the session we are doing.
  • Saved Sessions: Here we have a direct access to the sessions that we have saved in the program, along with their preferences.
  • Change Settings: It allows us to change some of the configuration parameters of the session that we are using.
  • Copy All to Clipboard: Copies all the contents of the program buffer to the Windows clipboard.
  • Clear Scrollback: Equivalent to using the CLS or clear function. It clears the screen so that the above commands don’t bother us, but it doesn’t clear the buffer.
  • terminal reset: Completely restarts the session, starting from scratch. Clears the screen and the buffer.
  • fullscreen: Converts the console to full screen, and pressing Alt+Enter returns it to its normal state.

putty tricks for working with ssh

This program may seem very simple and complicated. However, its use is extremely simple if we know what are the main tricks that we can find for this program.

copy text

One of the best features of this program is the ease with which we can copy text into the program. For this we only have to select the text that we want to copy from the remote SSH console. We don’t have to press any keys. Just by selecting it, it will go to the clipboard.

save sessions

Having to enter the same IP, the same port and the same protocol all the time is counterproductive. For this reason, putty allows us to save the sessions that we use most often in the program. Thus, we will be able to always have them on hand to be able to resort to them when we need it. Of course, it will only save the session data, that is, the IP, the type of connection and the port, nothing more. It will never save the login username or password, so our servers will always be secure.

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Sign off

If we want to close an open session, we can either choose to directly close the terminal window that we have started, or more quickly, use the keyboard shortcut Alt + F4 to close it. After disconnection, the session will also be closed on the remote server.

Download Putty in Spanish

This program is completely free, so we will be able to download it from your website without paying anything. We will be able to download this software for Windows, both 32-bit and 64-bit, as well as for Linux. In the case of Windows, we will download an MSI installer that will allow us to leave the program ready to use.

In addition, if we prefer, we can also download the .exe executable from this website that will allow us to run the program in a portable way, without having to install anything on the computer. In any case, if we are going to save data (such as settings or credentials) in the program, we recommend using the installable version of it, for convenience.

Putty is in English only; We will not be able to download it in Spanish.

Worth?

It is a free application, so it is already a point in favor to consider as an option to take into account. In addition, it is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions, so we won’t have any problem getting the most out of it in Windows 11. It includes a large number of options to connect to SSH servers, functions that are not available in other similar apps. The only negative point of this application is that it is only available in English and that it has been updated for several years. Except for these two things, the application is worth it if we don’t want to pay for an alternative that probably doesn’t include the same options that PuTTy offers us.

puttytray, a more visual derivative

We have already told you before that when we refer to the putty software, we actually find ourselves with one of the most widely used SSH clients in the world on Windows-based computers. Although at first it seems like simple software, it is not at all, and this is something that has been proven over the years. But we must also take into account that we are dealing with open source software, as we have told you, which is why some derivative versions of this application have appeared over time.

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In fact, we can find some of these versions that we told you about that improve certain characteristics of the original program. This is precisely the case that we want to talk about now with puttytray. This is a similar proposal whose mode of operation is almost the same but with some important improvements. Perhaps the most important thing here is everything that refers to the graphic aspect of the application. In the first place we find a much more elaborate Windows icon. At the same time we will have the possibility to configure the transparency of the execution window. Other improvements are focused on the conversion of URLs into links or being able to maintain the program always in the foreground.

It is also worth noting the automatic reconnection from sleep mode or reconnection when there are problems with the program.

Alternatives to Putty

Despite the fact that Putty is a very interesting and free program on the Internet, we can find some tools that we can use as alternatives and that we should know about:

  • SmartTTY. This software stands out for the possibility of transferring files or directories to the server to which it is connected, being able to enjoy graphic applications thanks to Xming. The program will allow us communications in hexadecimal mode through the serial port. We can download it from .
  • mRemoteNG. It allows us to initiate multiple remote connections and organize them efficiently by opening multiple tabs. In addition, it incorporates comprehensive Help contents, thus ensuring that both beginners and highly experienced people can use it to its full potential. We can download mRemoteNG from .
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