Connect to Linux Server from Windows

Hello Dev, in this article, we are going to discuss how to connect to a Linux server from a Windows machine. This is a common task for developers who use both operating systems in their daily work. We will cover various methods for connecting to a Linux server, including using SSH, PuTTY, and Remote Desktop Connection. Let’s dive in!

Method 1: SSH

SSH, or Secure Shell, is a protocol for securely connecting to a remote computer. It is widely used by system administrators and developers to access Linux servers. To connect to a Linux server using SSH, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install an SSH Client

In order to connect to a Linux server using SSH, you will need an SSH client. There are many SSH clients available for Windows, but one of the most popular is PuTTY. You can download PuTTY from the official website: https://www.putty.org/.

Step 2: Open PuTTY

Once you have installed PuTTY, you can open it from the Start menu or by double-clicking the executable file. The main PuTTY window will appear.

Step 3: Enter Server Details

In the PuTTY window, you will see a “Host Name” field. Enter the IP address or hostname of the Linux server you want to connect to. You can also specify a port number if the SSH server is running on a different port.

Next, ensure that the “Connection type” is set to “SSH”.

Step 4: Connect to the Server

Click the “Open” button to initiate the SSH connection. You may see a warning message about the authenticity of the server you are connecting to. This is normal, and you can safely click “Yes” to continue.

You will be prompted to enter your username and password for the Linux server. Once you have entered your credentials, you will be logged in to the server.

Step 5: Use the Server

Once you are logged in to the Linux server via SSH, you can use the command line to perform various tasks. You can run commands, edit files, and more.

Method 2: PuTTY

PuTTY is a popular SSH client for Windows, but it can also be used to connect to Linux servers using other protocols. To connect to a Linux server using PuTTY, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install PuTTY

If you have not already installed PuTTY, you can download it from the official website: https://www.putty.org/.

Step 2: Open PuTTY

Once you have installed PuTTY, you can open it from the Start menu or by double-clicking the executable file. The session configuration window will appear.

Step 3: Enter Server Details

In the session configuration window, enter the IP address or hostname of the Linux server you want to connect to. You can also specify a port number if the server is running on a different port.

Next, select the protocol you want to use to connect to the server. In this case, we will use SSH.

Step 4: Save the Session

Once you have entered the server details, you can save the session for future use. To do this, enter a name for the session in the “Saved Sessions” field, and click the “Save” button.

Step 5: Connect to the Server

Click the “Open” button to initiate the connection. You may see a warning message about the authenticity of the server you are connecting to. This is normal, and you can safely click “Yes” to continue.

You will be prompted to enter your username and password for the Linux server. Once you have entered your credentials, you will be logged in to the server.

Step 6: Use the Server

Once you are logged in to the Linux server via PuTTY, you can use the command line to perform various tasks. You can run commands, edit files, and more.

Method 3: Remote Desktop Connection

Remote Desktop Connection is a built-in feature of Windows that allows you to connect to a remote computer using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). This method is useful if you need to access a graphical user interface (GUI) on the Linux server. To connect to a Linux server using Remote Desktop Connection, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install an RDP Client

In order to connect to a Linux server using Remote Desktop Connection, you will need an RDP client. One popular RDP client for Windows is Microsoft’s Remote Desktop client, which is included with Windows. You can also download other RDP clients from the internet.

Step 2: Configure the Linux Server

Before you can connect to the Linux server using Remote Desktop Connection, you must configure the server to allow RDP connections. This typically involves installing a remote desktop server on the Linux server, such as xrdp.

Step 3: Connect to the Server

Open the Remote Desktop client and enter the IP address or hostname of the Linux server you want to connect to. You may need to specify a username and password, depending on how the server is configured.

Step 4: Use the Server

Once you are connected to the Linux server via Remote Desktop Connection, you can use the GUI to perform various tasks. You can open applications, browse the internet, and more.

FAQ

1. How do I know if SSH is installed on my Linux server?

You can check if SSH is installed on your Linux server by running the command “which sshd” in the terminal. If SSH is installed, you will see the path to the SSH daemon executable.

2. Can I use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to a Linux server that does not have a GUI installed?

No, Remote Desktop Connection requires a graphical user interface (GUI) to be installed and running on the server. If you want to connect to a Linux server without a GUI, you will need to use a command-line interface such as SSH.

3. Can I use PuTTY to connect to a Linux server over the internet?

Yes, you can use PuTTY to connect to a Linux server over the internet. However, you will need to ensure that the server is configured to allow SSH connections from outside the network.

Conclusion

Connecting to a Linux server from a Windows machine is a common task for developers and system administrators. In this article, we covered three methods for connecting to a Linux server from Windows: SSH, PuTTY, and Remote Desktop Connection. We hope this article has been helpful in showing you how to connect to a Linux server from Windows.