Knowledge Base

What is Putty?

Putty is an open-source and free SSH (Secure Shell) and Telnet client, frequently used by system administrators, software developers, and server managers. Although popular on the Windows operating system, Linux and macOS versions are also available. Putty provides the ability to manage a remote server via the command line by establishing a secure connection.

The SSH protocol ensures security by using a strong encryption mechanism during data transmission. It is an indispensable tool, especially for users who want to connect to virtual or physical servers such as VPS and VDS.

What Does Putty Do?

The main functions of Putty are:

• Establishing a secure connection to a remote server with the SSH protocol

• Supporting Telnet, Rlogin, and Serial connections

• Performing terminal emulation on the server side

• Sending commands to the remote server and receiving output

• Using key files for automatic authentication

Thanks to these features, it simplifies server management, especially in VPS and VDS systems.

How to Download and Install Putty?

You can safely download Putty from its official website: https://www.putty.org/

Installation Steps:

1. Go to the website and download the version suitable for your operating system.

2. Run the EXE file.

3. Complete the installation by following the instructions during the installation.

4. You can start the application with the icon added to the desktop or Start menu.

Alternatively, you can run the portable version directly without installation.

Establishing an SSH Connection with Putty

1. Open Putty: The main screen will appear when the program is launched.

2. Enter Server Information:

   • Host Name (or IP address): The IP address of the server you want to connect to

   • Port: Usually 22 (default SSH port)

   • Connection type: Should be selected as SSH

3. Start the Connection: Start the connection by clicking the Open button.

4. Authentication:

   • The question "login as:" will appear in the console.

   • Enter your username (e.g., root).

   • Enter the password. (It will not appear on the screen while typing, but the password is being entered.)

5. If the Connection is Successful: You will now have access to the terminal on the remote server.

Putty Settings and Customization

Putty offers many customization options for advanced users:

• Appearance: Font and terminal color can be customized.

• Window > Translation: Turkish character problems can be solved by selecting UTF-8 character encoding.

• Data > Auto-login username: Auto-completion can be done to avoid entering a username every time.

• Session > Save: You can save the settings and easily use them in the next connection.

Key-Based SSH Connection with Putty

You can use an SSH key file instead of a password to take security one step further.

1. Generate Key with Puttygen:

   • Open Puttygen.exe that comes in the Putty folder.

   • Select RSA and click "Generate".

   • Add the generated Public Key to the server (to the authorized_keys file)

   • Save the Private Key (as .ppk extension)

2. Adding Key via Putty:

   • Show the .ppk file from the SSH > Auth menu

   • Save it with the information in the Session menu

Using Putty on Germany Location VPS

You can easily connect to the VPS servers we offer using Germany-based Hetzner Cloud infrastructure with Putty. Remote management becomes much more efficient with low ping, high speed, and high uptime ratio.

Using Putty on Turkey Location VPS Servers

Thanks to our Turkey-based VPS solutions, the latency is minimized. You can instantly connect to your server via SSH and securely perform your operations via Putty.

Management with Putty on Physical Servers with Graphics Cards

Physical servers with graphics cards are ideal solutions for AI, rendering, or 3D projects that require high performance. Operations such as remote installation, package installation, and system updates can be done seamlessly by connecting via SSH.

Putty Alternatives

Some SSH clients you can use other than Putty:

• MobaXterm: Graphical interface, multiple session management

• Bitvise SSH Client: Advanced GUI, SFTP support

• Termius: Mobile SSH connection support

• OpenSSH (Linux): Terminal-based, powerful structure

Frequently Encountered Problems and Solutions

• Connection Refused:

  • The SSH service may not be running on the server.

  • The IP or port may be incorrect.

• Network Error: Connection Timed Out:

  • A firewall may be blocking the connection.

  • The VPS or physical server may be down.

• Access Denied:

  • The password may have been entered incorrectly.

  • The username may be incorrect.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Putty is an indispensable SSH client for both beginners and professionals. It is a comprehensive tool with secure connection establishment, server management, and key-based connection support. Whether you use a Germany-based VPS, a Turkey-based VPS, or graphics card servers, you can seamlessly establish your SSH connection with Putty.

For more information and high-performance VPS and VDS solutions, you can visit our website.