Top 9 Best Telnet and SSH Clients for Windows PCs
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ZOC Terminal
Transfer information via Secure Shell or Telnet and establish multiple host connections simultaneously using this powerful application.
Data communication is done through a variety of methods nowadays as there are numerous ways in which two devices can be interconnected. The client-server architecture is perhaps the most well known and widespread as it involves linking to a remote host in order to send or receive data.
Such connections may be familiar to most users as they are similar in many ways to the file download and upload operations they know so well, as well as in the situation in which controlling remotely a workstation is necessary.
ZOC Terminal is an application that facilitates multiple connections and a wide variety of tasks that can be carried out on compatible hosts.
Access all the features from a clean, multi-tabbed interface
Mainly a terminal emulator, but carrying loads of functions for Telnet and SSH connections as well, this program comes with a well organized GUI which hosts all the necessary commands for establishing and controlling connections, transfers and more.
The fact that it supports several tabs to be opened and functional in the same time, makes ZOC Terminal able to handle different shells in the same session. An important mention that has to be made pertains also to the ease of use, more precisely to the right-click menu which inside this program gives users immediate access to all the functions of the application.
Advanced emulation and automation capabilities
This software solution is well provided when it comes to Secure Shell (SSH) and Telnet support, as it can emulate a wide variety of devices and environments. It can handle several communication protocols and file transfers can take place securely.
A scripting language and support for creating macros completes the features set of ZOC Terminal. It is able to log every command and keystroke, while those who need to remap the keyboard and reassign the functions of each key can do so using the dedicated feature.
A solid terminal emulator for full control of remote hosts
All in all, ZOC Terminal is well prepared and suitable for lots of activities and the extensive abilities it has in emulating devices and automating tasks make it one of the top choices in its software category.
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SecureCRT
Provides terminal emulation for computing professionals, raising productivity with advanced session management and a host of ways to save time and streamline repetitive tasks.
Designed for professionals, SecureCRT provides a robust terminal emulator and Telnet client with support for various protocols. Thanks to its generous feature set, this application can deliver a reliable remote access tool to successfully replace Telnet or Terminal. Aside from secure transfers, SecureCRT delivers various session management tools and advanced scripting capabilities to automate repetitive tasks, just to name a few of its capabilities.
Strong multi-protocol security features
Some might wonder why choose a paid Telnet client when there are cost-free alternatives out there? Well, there are a few pluses that SecureCRT brings to the table.
First, it comes with enhanced security features. The support for the SSH1 and SSH2 protocols allows the login information and the entire session data to be encrypted. Furthermore, SecureCRT uses OpenSSH certificates, X.509 and smart cards (PIV/CAC), a feature that allows two-factor authentication with additional options to choose the certificate to use. With flexible authentication options, encryption ciphers, passphrase caching and port forwarding, SecureCRT is one of the most secure remote access utilities out there.
Session management and automation scripting
Another major plus of SecureCRT is related to its built-in session management tools. Thanks to its key mappings, color schemes, a generous scrollback buffer, importing and exporting options and its support for multiple concurrent sessions, customizing and managing large numbers of sessions is easier.
Additionally, SecureCRT allows you to work with tabbed sessions and group tabs together, check the connection status at a glance and quickly connect to a new remote host. Integration with SecureFX allows high-speed file transfers with drag and drop support, providing compatibility with the TFTP, FTO and SCP protocols.
Having productivity in mind, SecureCRT features scripting, ensuring compatibility with several ActiveX languages such as VBScript, JScript, Python and PerlScript. It also includes a script recorder that allows you to automate routines much easier.
Secure and powerful terminal emulator for professionals
In the proper hands, SecureCRT is definitely a powerful tool. Thanks to its reliable session management options, the user-friendly terminal interface and the scripting support, working with this terminal emulator is comfortable. What’s more, the advanced security features allow you to initiate concurrent sessions and transfer your data with peace of mind.
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Download Hubs
SecureCRT is part of these download collections: SSH Clients, Telnet Client
SSHFS-Win Manager
Improve the way you handle your SSH connections by relying on this Electron-based, modern-looking, and user-friendly client for SSHFS-Win.
Shipped by almost all major Linux distributions, SSHFS has a long history. SSHFS can be best described as a filesystem client that allows users to mount and interact with directories and files located on both a remote server and a workstation over an SSH connection.
In short, it allows users to mount a remote filesystem using SFTP (the SSH File Transfer Protocol). SSHFS has been ported to Windows a while ago under the name of SSHFS-Win, and it uses Cygwin for the POSIX environment and WinFSP for the FUSE part of its kit.
Even though the system may be considered relatively easy to work with for most experienced Linux users who naturally have the proper know-how to operate it via command line, the easiest way to use SSHFS-Win is with the help of a proper GUI app.
Dubbed SSHFS-Win Manager, it promises to allow just about anyone to get the most out of what SSHFS has to offer on Windows via a modern-looking and quite practical GUI. Of course, it’s worth noting that in order to work with this app on Windows, users must first install both SSHFS-Win on their computers, and follow a small set of installation instructions.
Make the most of SSHFS-Win with the help of this modern app
SSHFS-Win Manager is in fact an Electron-based application (a web technology engine that’s found a lot of popularity as of late). The app itself is quite user-friendly and it offers commodities such as a start-up on system start and a close-to-system-tray-like feature.
In addition, users are provided with various authentication methods via a password or via a private key (the latter does not require a password). The app’s main window is comprised out of a Server List on the main left side and a series of useful tools organized in a small panel on the right. From this panel, users can add connections, edit already existing ones, and delete them altogether. There’s also a Settings section that allows them to locate the SSHFS-Win file path (the SSHFS-Win binary file), and that’s really all there is to it.
The best GUI app for SSHFS-Win
In conclusion, SSHFS-Win Manager is a very efficient interface tool that should allow any developer regardless of his or her skill level to make absolute most of what SSHFS-Win has to offer. It’s easy to install, simple to work with, and it also looks right at home on modern iterations of Windows thanks to its sleek, grey-themed GUI.
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WinSSHTerm
Simple-to-use GUI for PuTTY or KiTTY that makes it easier to manage multiple SSH sessions and offers support for file transfers and X applications.
PuTTY and KiTTY are powerful SSH clients that enable users to connect to remote computers. However, these applications are not particularly intuitive, and they lack certain useful features, such as the ability to easily manage multiple sessions.
WinSSHTerm is a lightweight program designed to function as a user-friendly interface for both PuTTY and KiTTY. It allows you to open sessions in multiple tabs and provides you with an intuitive GUI, while also supporting X applications and file transfers.
Features a relatively simple installation procedure
Of course, given that WinSSHTerm is meant to act as a more accessible frontend, the required software should already be available when you attempt to run the application.
Thankfully, if that is not the case, the program can download the necessary components automatically, so things should go quite smoothly. Aside from PuTTY or KiTTY, you also have the option of installing WinSCP and X-Server.
Handy utility that can help you work more efficiently
Once everything has been set up, you can launch WinSSHTerm and take advantage of the new features placed at your disposal. The application allows you to manage sessions and navigate between tabs using simple keyboard shortcuts, and all your connections can be organized into folders.
It is even possible to open multiple sessions in a single window, making it much easier to monitor several connections at the same time.
Moreover, if the required software is available, you can perform file transfers and run X applications.
Lightweight application that features a minimalistic UI
The user interface features a simplistic design meant to minimize eye strain, and it even supports a small degree of customization.
Overall, WinSSHTerm is an easy-to-use program that provides you with a more accessible PuTTY and KiTTY interface. It supports file transfers and X applications, while featuring a novice-friendly, minimalistic interface.
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Xshell
A powerful SSH, TELNET and RLOGIN terminal emulator for connecting to any remote workstation in order to perform various maintenance operations.
Xshell is a multilingual emulation program that supports protocols such as SSH, SFTP, TELNET, RLOGIN and SERIAL, offering you a command line shell to easily and securely gain access to Unix/Linux hosts directly from your Windows PC.
The emulator adopts the standard shell appearance and integrates seamlessly with other Windows applications. Local commands, file management features and tunneling are just some of the advantages that it brings you.
When first running the program, you have to select the session you want to connect to or create a new one. Even though this process is not complicated, it does offer you the possibility to choose from a variety of options for establishing the connection. Furthermore, you can connect to a remote computer using the default session that Xshell provides, thus saving you the time to create a new one.
For each protocol type, you have the possibility to choose different preferences. You can optionally send “keep-alive” messages at predefined time intervals, as well as use ZLIB compression in order to enhance the performance in a slow network environment.
Xshell is capable of emulating multiple terminal types, including VT100, VT220, VT320, XTERM, LINUX, SCOANSI, and ANSI. Moreover, you can customize the initial configuration of the terminal. Using the compose bar allows you to send a string of text to multiple servers simultaneously, while setting frequently used strings eases your work.
The program offers you the possibility to connect to multiple sessions at the same time. You can use it to send and receive files or upload ASCII files, while monitoring the whole transfer process. Moreover, in order to do repetitive tasks automatically, Xshell offers you the possibility to use scripts.
Xshell combines ease of use with powerful features for its professional users, such as key mapping and scripting support, dynamic port forwarding, protocol tracing and advanced security options.
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Xshell is part of these download collections: SSH Clients, Telnet Client
Xshell Free
Powerful SSH, TELNET, SFTP, RLOGIN and SERIAL terminal emulator with strong security features, emulation customization, script support, and more.
Xshell Free provides users with comprehensive multilingual emulation and support for multiple protocols, such as SSH, TELNET, SFTP, SERIAL and RLOGIN. Its primary purpose is to replace unsecure TELNET clients, offering extensive terminal customization options.
Powerful terminal emulator
This is the free edition of Xshell and can only be used in home or educational environments. Users shouldn't undervalue the app because of this aspect though, since it bundles the complete feature set with all the advantages of the commercial version. A secure and powerful terminal emulator can be used to gain access to Unix/Linux hosts directly from a Windows PC.
Xshell Free is intuitive and includes advanced tools designed to meet the requirements of experts and beginners alike. Local commands, regular expression support, tunneling, dynamic port forwarding and file management are just a few of the highlights.
Apply strong security features
Security is one of the important features that a terminal emulator should consider. Xshell Free comes equipped with support for SSH1/SSH2 protocols, strong public key user authentication methods, as well as password protection and traffic encryption, all designed to prevent personal data from being intercepted by unauthorized third parties.
Configure emulation settings and load scripts
It can emulate various terminals, namely VT100, VT220, VT320, ANSI, XTERM, SCOANSI or LINUX, enabling users to fully customize the initial settings. Thanks to the multi-tabbed interface, it's possible to run multiple sessions at the same time, while the compose bar is made for sending a string of text to two or more servers.
Scripts can be created and activated to automate repetitive tasks and, thus make the user's work more efficient. Furthermore, files can be sent and received, while the transfer can be monitored. X11 and dynamic port forwarding, together with key mapping and protocol tracing let users perform remote tasks comfortably.
Conclusion
Taking into account its powerful and approachable features, Xshell Free proves to be a reliable and secure terminal emulation utility. The intuitive GUI can please beginners, while more advanced options help experienced users create a secure working environment. CPU and RAM consumption was minimal in our evaluation.
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KiTTY
This application is a fork from version 0.67 of the PuTTY SSH/ Telnet client, providing users with additional features and important enhancements.
KiTTY is a compact application designed to help you use the Telnet protocol in order to connect to a remote computer. The program uses the PuTTY core and aims to improve the experience by adding new features.
Telnet is a network connection protocol that allows users to send text commands to a remote system. Although it lost popularity due to security issues, the protocol is still used by the network administrators who need to gain access to remote computers and execute commands.
This tool allows you to connect to a workstation by specifying the IP address and the connection type. Besides Telnet, the program can use raw, SSH and serial connections. The user can configure multiple connections and save the parameters in order to quickly resume the connection later.
If you need to create a secure connection, the app is able to use a SOCKS or HTTP proxy server. By default, it uses AES encryption for SSH connections but also offers Blowfish and 3DES encryption algorithms.
The interface of application is easy to understand and provides quick access to all the parameters for the current session, terminal window and connection. You have the option to customize the terminal window by specifying its name, behavior and color.
The program includes the option to run in the background in order to quickly start a session or minimize the terminal windows. The terminal window supports hyperlinks and enables you to open a link by specifying the Internet browser in the Options window.
To save time, the application includes the option to automatically execute a set of commands when you connect to the server. You can specify a single command or load a script from an external file.
You can benefit from all these features on your computer or by running the app from a removable device if you download Portable KiTTY.
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KiTTY is part of these download collections: SSH Clients, PuTTY Clients, Telnet Client
Eric's TelNet98
Telent/SSH client that supports Windows Sockets-based ANSI and SCO-ANSI compatible terminal emulation, Pv4 and IPv6, ANSI color, built-in file transfer, line-printer emulation, and session logging.
Erics TelNet98 is a Telnet/SSH client that comes with support for Windows Sockets-based ANSI and SCO-ANSI terminal emulation features. It integrates built-in file transfer options, supports both IPv4 and IPv6, and lets you log sessions and activate automatic connections.
User interface
At the end of the installation process you are faced with the configuration panel where you can input the parameters for activating a new session. The tool offers support for a multi-tabbed layout in order to keep track of different sessions at the same time.
You can view details about each session, such as host name, session name, login data and TCP port.
Managing sessions
The application lets you import sessions from ETX or ETN file format, save current settings as you default ones, print the information from the session window, activate the full screen mode, and disconnect the current session.
File transfer options
You can force lowercase remote names, enter commands to prepare the host for file transfer or reset the host after file transfer, as well as write commands for receiving and sending uuencoded data.
Session configuration settings
Erics TelNet98 gives you the possibility to enter the host name, choose between several profiles (e.g. Linux, SCO, Xterm or a custom one), enter a name for the session, pick the protocol (Telnet, SSH1, SSH2), add the TCP port, set up proxy parameters, send keep-alive messages at a custom time, clear screen on reconnect, close window on hang-up, and play a sound notification when connected.
Other handy configuration options
The tool lets you configure key codes and even input/output key mapping, define key codes and labels, as well as activate the line-printer emulation mode (choose a fixed font, set up the orientation and margins, specify the lines and characters per inch, enter the page length).
What’s more, you can tweak several parameters related to appearance, such as underline or block cursor, make the cursor blink, switch between a Windows or console style, and alter the text in terms of color.
You can enable the logging process and save data on the desktop or user-defined folder, set up permissions for file transfer, context menu and window closing options, and send environment data to the host and autorun scripts. What’s more, you can reply on ENQ (ASCII 5) to the host with a custom answer and send login and password request from host.
Bottom line
All in all, Erics TelNet98 proves to be a reliable Telent/SSH client that comes with a decent feature pack. Unfortunately, there’s no support for a help manual that could help rookies learn more about the program’s features.
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Eric's TelNet98 is part of these download collections: Telnet Client
SuperPuTTY
PuTTY graphical interface (GUI) that supports SSH, SSH2, Telnet, Rlogin, Raw, Serial, Cygerm, Mintty and SCP, along with numerous configuration settings.
SuperPuTTY aims to enhance the capabilities of the PuTTY SSH and Telnet client by allowing you to launch it in multiple tabs. It offers you the possibility to easily manage multiple sessions of PuTTY using a single, comprehensive graphical environment (GUI).
Intuitive and tabbed GUI for PuTTY
Aside from this significant feature, the application comes with all the advantages and tools brought by PuTTY. It features support for multiple connection types and protocols, including Raw, Telnet, SCP, Rlogin, SSH, SSH2, Serial, KiTTY and local shell via Cygterm and Mintty.
It relies on .NET Framework to function, so it’s best to first make sure it’s on your PC, even though modern Windows iterations come with it as a default feature. While you're checking, make sure to look for PuTTY too since it's necessary to specify its full path when configuring SuperPuTTY.
The tab-based interface enables you to personalize your workspace and organize all the running PuTTY sessions. You can easily launch many sessions and keep them opened to easily navigate different projects you are working on. The xterm terminal emulator is intended for advanced users, while the comprehensive configuration panel of PuTTY enables you to change the connection options.
Protocol switching and network management
Various general settings are available for customization and the application enables you to configure line discipline and remote-controlled printing. Also, you can set keyboard controls, notifications and alarms, as well as tweak the behavior of the terminal screen, TCP connections, login and terminal details, environment variables, proxy settings and a few settings specific to each protocol type.
Sessions can be imported and exported and layouts can be saved for later use. The main window of SuperPuTTY allows quick switching between used protocols, hosts and sessions, as well as one-click configuration selection and command sending.
SuperPuTTY enables you to link your machine to multiple computers and control all the workstations using a GUI. Aside from running multiple sessions, it tries to enhance the power of PuTTY even more, with advanced support for data encryption, reliable command-line SCP and SFTP clients for file uploading, port forwarding and private key-based authentication.
In conclusion
All things considered, we can state that SuperPuTTY is a powerful solution for SSH and Telnet client management, coming as a neat enhancement to PuTTY, supporting various popular protocols and interface customization to make it suit your style.
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SuperPuTTY is part of these download collections: SSH Clients
