PuTTY Portable

PuTTY Portable is a free implementation of Telnet and SSH for Windows and Unix platforms, along with an xterm terminal emulator. It is written and maintained primarily by Simon Tatham.

These protocols are all used to run a remote session on a computer, over a network. PuTTY Portable for PC implements the client end of that session: the end at which the session is displayed, rather than the end at which it runs.

In really simple terms: you run PuTTY Portable on a Windows machine and tell it to connect to (for example) a Unix machine. The app opens a window. Then, anything you type into that window is sent straight to the Unix machine, and everything the Unix machine sends back is displayed in the window. So you can work on the Unix machine as if you were sitting at its console, while actually sitting somewhere else.

Main Features

Portability: PuTTY Portable is designed to be lightweight and self-contained, allowing you to carry it on a portable storage device and run it on any Windows computer without the need for installation. This makes it ideal for on-the-go IT professionals or anyone who needs to access remote systems from multiple locations.

SSH and Telnet Support: It  primarily supports SSH (Secure Shell) and Telnet protocols, making it a versatile tool for connecting to a wide range of remote systems, including Linux servers, network devices, routers, and switches.

Session Management: Like the regular PuTTY software, it allows you to save and manage multiple connection profiles, including host names, IP addresses, and port numbers. This feature simplifies the process of connecting to frequently accessed remote systems.

Terminal Emulation: It provides a terminal emulator that supports various terminal types and customization options, allowing you to tailor the appearance and behavior of the terminal window to your preferences.

Encryption and Security: It offers strong encryption protocols for secure communication, ensuring that your data is protected during remote sessions. It supports SSH protocol versions 1 and 2, as well as various authentication methods.

Port Forwarding: You can configure port forwarding settings within the tool, allowing you to tunnel specific ports over your SSH connection for secure access to services running on remote servers.

X11 Forwarding: For Linux and Unix systems, it supports X11 forwarding, which allows you to run graphical applications remotely and display them on your local Windows machine.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: While PuTTY Portable itself is designed for Windows, PuTTY itself is available for various platforms, allowing you to connect to remote systems regardless of the operating system they are running.

Open Source: PuTTY and PuTTY Portable are open-source software, which means they are free to use and can be modified and distributed under certain licenses.

This download includes the following tools

• PuTTY (the Telnet and SSH client itself)
• PSCP (an SCP client, i.e. command-line secure file copy)
• PSFTP (an SFTP client, i.e. general file transfer sessions much like FTP)
• PuTTYtel (a Telnet-only client)
• Plink (a command-line interface to the PuTTY back ends)
• Pageant (an SSH authentication agent for PuTTY, PSCP, and Plink)
• PuTTYgen (an RSA and DSA key generation utility).

PROS

• Free and open-source.
• Secure SSH and Telnet connections.
• Lightweight and resource-efficient.
• Cross-platform compatibility.
• Active community and regular updates.
• Versatile with scripting and automation capabilities.

CONS

• Basic user interface without advanced features.
• Limited to terminal emulation and network connections.
• May require additional tools for file transfers and other tasks.

In summary, PuTTY Portable is a portable and versatile terminal emulator that provides secure access to remote systems using SSH and Telnet protocols. Its portability and ease of use make it a valuable tool for IT professionals and system administrators who need to manage and troubleshoot remote servers and network devices from different locations.

Also Available: Download PuTTY for Mac