No, the word is PuTTY not putty. A PuTTY server has nothing to do with someone who brings you gobs of dough-like cement whenever you ask for it. It does, however, have something to do with giving you remote access to a computer whenever you want it.
Elsewhere at GoodHost.org we’ve talked about the Telnet (Telecommunication Network) and SSH (Secure Shell) protocols. PuTTY is one of the many programs that will allow you to utilize these protocols. The term “Putty server” is a bit of a misnomer in the sense that the program itself does not act as a server but is, rather, a universal client interface that will allow you interact with many different servers, each using different communications protocols. In each case, PuTTY emulates the type of terminal appropriate to the protocol being used.
Telnet and SSH are both protocols that allow you to connect remotely to a server and issue command line instructions to that server. Most computer users will not have a huge need for this kind of access. Most operating systems have other types of networking integrated into them. The main use for such protocols is to exercise remote access over servers that are hosting a website or other type Internet service. These networking protocols will allow users to exercise basic control of the fundamental environment settings of their servers.
Apart from that, Telnet, SSH and even PuTTY are a bit like the Internet equivalent of ham radio: they have been massively outclassed by most other communication methods but are still used for the amusement of many users and other obscure purposes. Telnet and SSH can still be used to log onto Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs) and MUDs (Multi User Dungeons). Such applications were popular in before the Internet became widespread and required dial-up connections and are still popular today among diehard fans and hobbyists. Developing the technical knowhow required to operate MUDs and BBSs has now become an end in itself.
The main difference between Telnet and SSH is that the later focuses on incorporating security features into the protocol, notably encryption methods that mean user names and passwords are transmitted as unreadable messages rather than plain text files that can be intercepted. Some of the main features of PuTTY include increased control over encryption mechanisms. The program will intermittently poll users for the correct encryption keys to ensure that the secure links are not compromised. The system also incorporates functionality for advanced encryption algorithms as well the ability to handle port-forwarding so that it can be used from behind a firewall.
Other features include the ability to activate connections using IPv6 (Internet Protocol version Six) which is slowly being setup to become the new dominant standard for Internet communication. While there is no such thing as a dedicated PuTTY server, you might still hear the phrase or even use it yourself. If you have to manage multiple servers you may find that PuTTY is your new best friend.
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