Install PuTTY on the PC

Introduction:

PuTTY is just about the best Telnet/SSH Client and, what's more it's free. This allows you open a shell prompt to the Linux server from your PC.

And why would you want to do this?

The complete setup I am aiming at is one that looks very much like what I use at work. The Linux / UNIX servers are tucked away in the server room and everyone gets a networked PC. The first thing I do when starting a new contract is to install my favorite toolset. Right at the top of that list, if it is not already installed, is PuTTY.

If you find a better client, please tell me.

Aim:

Install and configure PuTTY.

Requirements:

A home network up and running.

Procedure:

• Get the software:
• Go here and download putty.exe for your OS.
• Run the executable.
• That takes you here:
  

• Enter connection details:
• Host name: lisa
• Port: 22
• Protocol: SSH
• [Open]
• At this point, the server's host key is stored. This is a one-time event and ensures that PuTTY is connected to the server it ought to be. This looks something like this (Actually, this shot is what you get if you reinstall the server and it generates new keys, but you get the idea.):
  

• Click [Yes]
• The client screen starts (click this image to see it properly):
  

• There's a couple of things I don't like about the default config; I like normal test to be green, and that blue colour for directories is WAY too dark. You'd spend all day squinting at it!
• Hover your mouse over the top of the PuTTY window and right-click.
• Change normal test colour:
  
• -Change Settings...-
• -Colours-
• -Default Foreground-
• [Modify]
• I use pure green - #00FF00
• Lighten up that blue:
• -ANSI Blue-
• [Modify]
• I grab the vertical slider on the right and drag it to about 3/4 of the way to the top.
• That's better:
  

Now, not only do you have PuTTY installed and configured, you've also tested ssh on the server. Well done.