A Step-by-Step Guide to get Terminal Access for Windows Servers

A Step-by-Step Guide to get Terminal Access for Windows Servers
A Step-by-Step Guide to get Terminal Access for Windows Servers
Ali Akthar

Middleware Practice Lead

December 14, 2023

What is Remote Server Management?

Remote server management is best defined as monitoring and administering servers from a remote location or device. It involves IT tools professionals use to manage servers’ performance, health, and utilization across various networks. Remote server management had become particularly important for businesses during the Covid-19 when much of the workforce was operating remotely. The ability to remotely access and manage machines is crucial in today’s interconnected world as it plays a vital role in:

  • Building operational resilience to ensure business continuity.
  • Cost efficiency by running servers remotely instead of an on-prem infrastructure.
  • Strengthening global IT operations by allowing collaboration across countries.
  • Improving instant scalability by meeting increasing server demands automatically.
  • Improved sustainability efforts for businesses that want to reduce the carbon footprint of on-prem infrastructure.

Remote Server Management on Windows

This blog will take you through installing the OpenSSH Server on a Windows server machine. Furthermore, we will explore leveraging OpenSSH Server with PuTTY, a free and open-source terminal emulator, to execute commands on a remote server as if you were working locally.

Phase 1: Installing OpenSSH Server on Windows

Download OpenSSH:

Begin by accessing the official GitHub repository for Win32-OpenSSH releases. Navigate to the link and download the necessary files.

Step 1: Extract and Move:

Extract the downloaded ZIP file and move the extracted folder to your preferred location. This guide demonstrates placing it in [C:\Program Files].
Installing OpenSSH Server

Step 2: Update Environment Variables:

Open the System Properties and navigate to the Environment Variables section. Edit the Path variable in the System variables section by adding the path to the OpenSSH folder.
Installing OpenSSH Server on Windows
Installing OpenSSH Server

Step 3: Install OpenSSH Server:

Launch PowerShell, navigate to the OpenSSH folder, and execute the command ‘.\install-sshd.ps1’ to install the sshd service. Confirm successful installation by checking for the corresponding message.

Installing OpenSSH Server on Windows

Step 4: Start OpenSSH Service:

Open the Services application and start the OpenSSH SSH Server service.

Installing OpenSSH Server

Step 5: Configure Windows Firewall:

Add port 22/TCP to allow SSH connections if the Windows Firewall is active.

Step 6: Connect with PuTTY

Open PuTTY, enter the host name and port number and click Open. Provide a valid username and password to run commands on the remote machine.

Phase 2: Installing Telnet on Windows

Telnet is not included by default in Windows. Follow these steps to install and configure Telnet:

Step 1: Access Windows Features:

Click Start, go to Control Panel, and select Programs and Features. Click on Turn Windows features on or off.

Step 2: Add Telnet Server:

In the Server Manager, click Manage and Add Roles and Features. Navigate through the wizard, select Telnet Server in the Features window, and complete the setup.

Step 3: Firewall Configuration:

Add port 23/TCP to allow Telnet connections if the Windows Firewall is active.

Step 4: Start Telnet Service:

Open the Services application and start the Telnet service.

Step 5: Connect with PuTTY (Telnet):

Open PuTTY, enter the host name port number, and select Connection Type as Other (Telnet). Click Open, provide valid credentials, and execute commands on the remote machine.

Conclusion:

With OpenSSH Server and Telnet installed on your Windows server, you now have the flexibility to manage and execute commands on remote machines seamlessly. This blog, coupled with PuTTY, empowers you to work efficiently and securely, bridging the gap between local and remote server management. Middleware plays a vital role in remote server management, such as facilitating the integration of server management tools, logging systems, or automation scripts. To learn which middleware tools can help advance your enterprise remote server management needs, contact us at [email protected] or our website, www.royalcyber.com.
Author

Priya George

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