-\versionid $Id: faq.but,v 1.12 2001/11/25 19:22:47 simon Exp $
+\versionid $Id: faq.but,v 1.13 2001/12/04 19:12:04 simon Exp $
\A{faq} PuTTY FAQ
page}, and see if you can find the feature there. If it's on there,
it probably \e{hasn't} been implemented.
-\S{faq-ssh2}{question} Does PuTTY support SSH v2?
+\S{faq-ssh2}{Question} Does PuTTY support SSH v2?
Yes. SSH v2 support has been available in PuTTY since version 0.50.
However, currently the \e{default} SSH protocol is v1; to select SSH
Public key authentication (both RSA and DSA) in SSH v2 has been
added since version 0.51.
-\S{faq-ssh2-keyfmt}{question} Does PuTTY support reading OpenSSH or
+\S{faq-ssh2-keyfmt}{Question} Does PuTTY support reading OpenSSH or
\cw{ssh.com} SSHv2 private key files?
Not at present. OpenSSH and \cw{ssh.com} have totally different
pleasant, so PuTTY has its own. We do plan to write a converter at
some stage.
-\S{faq-ssh1}{question} Does PuTTY support SSH v1?
+\S{faq-ssh1}{Question} Does PuTTY support SSH v1?
Yes. SSH 1 support has always been available in PuTTY.
-\S{faq-localecho}{question} Does PuTTY support local echo?
+\S{faq-localecho}{Question} Does PuTTY support local echo?
Yes.
enabled or disabled as you choose. The controls are in the Terminal
panel, in the section marked \q{Line discipline options}.
-\S{faq-disksettings}{question} Does PuTTY support storing its
+\S{faq-disksettings}{Question} Does PuTTY support storing its
settings in a disk file?
Not at present, although \k{config-file} in the documentation gives
a method of achieving the same effect.
-\S{faq-fullscreen}{question} Does PuTTY support full-screen mode,
+\S{faq-fullscreen}{Question} Does PuTTY support full-screen mode,
like a DOS box?
Not in the 0.51 release, but it has been added since then.
-\S{faq-password}{question} Does PuTTY have the ability to remember
+\S{faq-password}{Question} Does PuTTY have the ability to remember
my password so I don't have to type it every time?
No, it doesn't.
\k{pubkey} in the documentation for a full discussion of public key
authentication.
-\S{faq-hostkeys}{question} Is there an option to turn off the
+\S{faq-hostkeys}{Question} Is there an option to turn off the
annoying host key prompts?
No, there isn't. And there won't be. Even if you write it yourself
ones will not. Adding an option to turn host key checking off
completely is the wrong solution and we will not do it.
-\S{faq-server}{question} Will you write an SSH server for the PuTTY
+\S{faq-server}{Question} Will you write an SSH server for the PuTTY
suite, to go with the client?
No. The only reason we might want to would be if we could easily
Mode is universal and shouldn't need to be specified once for each
platform.
-\S{faq-wince}{question} Will there be a port to Windows CE?
+\S{faq-wince}{Question} Will there be a port to Windows CE?
Probably not in the particularly near future. Despite sharing large
parts of the Windows API, in practice WinCE doesn't appear to be
However, PuTTY on portable devices would clearly be a useful thing,
so in the long term I hope there will be a WinCE port.
-\S{faq-mac}{question} Will there be a port to the Mac?
+\S{faq-mac}{Question} Will there be a port to the Mac?
A Mac port was started once and is half-finished, but development
has been static for some time and the main PuTTY code has moved on,
so it's not clear how quickly development would resume even if
developer effort were available.
-\S{faq-unix}{question} Will there be a port to Unix?
+\S{faq-unix}{Question} Will there be a port to Unix?
I hope so, if only so that I can have an \cw{xterm}-like program
that supports exactly the same terminal emulation as PuTTY. If and
it can be used like an \cw{xterm}, rather than only being usable as
a network utility.
-\S{faq-epoc}{question} Will there be a port to EPOC?
+\S{faq-epoc}{Question} Will there be a port to EPOC?
I hope so, but given that ports aren't really progressing very fast
even on systems the developers \e{do} already know how to program
\H{faq-embedding} Embedding PuTTY in other programs
-\S{faq-dll}{question} Is the SSH or Telnet code available as a DLL?
+\S{faq-dll}{Question} Is the SSH or Telnet code available as a DLL?
No, it isn't. It would take a reasonable amount of rewriting for
this to be possible, and since the PuTTY project itself doesn't
Most of the code cleanup work would be a good thing to happen in
general, so if anyone feels like helping, we wouldn't say no.
-\S{faq-vb}{question} Is the SSH or Telnet code available as a Visual
+\S{faq-vb}{Question} Is the SSH or Telnet code available as a Visual
Basic component?
No, it isn't. None of the PuTTY team uses Visual Basic, and none of
it, but unless that happens I can't see VB integration being
anywhere other than the very bottom of our priority list.
-\S{faq-ipc}{question} How can I use PuTTY to make an SSH connection
+\S{faq-ipc}{Question} How can I use PuTTY to make an SSH connection
from within another program?
Probably your best bet is to use Plink, the command-line connection
\H{faq-details} Details of PuTTY's operation
-\S{faq-term}{question} What terminal type does PuTTY use?
+\S{faq-term}{Question} What terminal type does PuTTY use?
For most purposes, PuTTY can be considered to be an \cw{xterm}
terminal, although full support for some of \cw{xterm}'s features,
\c{xterm}. If you have a problem with this, you can reconfigure it
to say something else; \c{vt220} might help if you have trouble.
-\S{faq-settings}{question} Where does PuTTY store its data?
+\S{faq-settings}{Question} Where does PuTTY store its data?
PuTTY stores most of its data (saved sessions, SSH host keys) in the
Registry. The precise location is
\H{faq-howto} HOWTO questions
-\S{faq-startmax}{question} How can I make PuTTY start up maximised?
+\S{faq-startmax}{Question} How can I make PuTTY start up maximised?
Create a Windows shortcut to start PuTTY from, and set it as \q{Run
Maximized}.
-\S{faq-startsess}{question} How can I create a Windows shortcut to
+\S{faq-startsess}{Question} How can I create a Windows shortcut to
start a particular saved session directly?
To run a PuTTY session saved under the name \q{\cw{mysession}},
\c \path\name\to\putty.exe @mysession
-\S{faq-startssh}{question} How can I start an SSH session straight
+\S{faq-startssh}{Question} How can I start an SSH session straight
from the command line?
Use the command line \c{putty -ssh host.name}. Alternatively, create
a saved session that specifies the SSH protocol, and start the saved
session as shown in \k{faq-startsess}.
-\S{faq-cutpaste}{question} How do I copy and paste between PuTTY and
+\S{faq-cutpaste}{Question} How do I copy and paste between PuTTY and
other Windows applications?
Copy and paste works similarly to the X Window System. You use the
You can also paste by pressing Shift-Ins.
-\S{faq-tunnels}{question} How do I use X forwarding and port
+\S{faq-tunnels}{Question} How do I use X forwarding and port
forwarding? I can't find the Tunnels panel.
If you're looking in the 0.51 release or earlier, the Tunnels panel
isn't there. It was added in the development snapshots after 0.51,
and releases 0.52 and onwards will contain it.
-\S{faq-options}{question} How do I use all PuTTY's features (public
+\S{faq-options}{Question} How do I use all PuTTY's features (public
keys, port forwarding, SSH v2, etc.) in PSCP, PSFTP and Plink?
The command-line tools are currently rather short of command line
hostname. This works for PSCP, PSFTP and Plink (but don't expect
port forwarding in the file transfer applications!).
-\S{faq-pscp}{question} How do I use PSCP.EXE? When I double-click it
+\S{faq-pscp}{Question} How do I use PSCP.EXE? When I double-click it
gives me a command prompt window which then closes instantly.
PSCP is a command-line application, not a GUI application. If you
To use PSCP properly, run it from a Command Prompt window. See
\k{pscp} in the documentation for more details.
-\S{faq-pscp-spaces}{question} How do I use PSCP to copy a file whose
+\S{faq-pscp-spaces}{Question} How do I use PSCP to copy a file whose
name has spaces in?
If PSCP is using the traditional SCP protocol, this is confusing. If
\H{faq-trouble} Troubleshooting
-\S{faq-mac}{question} Why do I see \q{Incorrect MAC received on
+\S{faq-mac}{Question} Why do I see \q{Incorrect MAC received on
packet}?
This is due to a bug in old SSH 2 servers distributed by
cryptographic term, and it has nothing at all to do with Ethernet
MAC (Media Access Control) addresses.
-\S{faq-colours}{question} I clicked on a colour in the Colours
+\S{faq-colours}{Question} I clicked on a colour in the Colours
panel, and the colour didn't change in my terminal.
That isn't how you're supposed to use the Colours panel.
only allow you to adjust the \e{shade} of green used when PuTTY is
instructed by the server to display green text.
-\S{faq-winsock2}{question} Plink on Windows 95 says it can't find
+\S{faq-winsock2}{Question} Plink on Windows 95 says it can't find
\cw{WS2_32.DLL}.
Plink requires the extended Windows network library, WinSock version
\c http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/wuadmintools/
\c s_wunetworkingtools/w95sockets2/
-\S{faq-rekey}{question} My PuTTY sessions close after an hour and
+\S{faq-rekey}{Question} My PuTTY sessions close after an hour and
tell me \q{Server failed host key check}.
This is a bug in all versions of PuTTY up to and including 0.51. SSH
The bug has been fixed since version 0.51, so upgrading to a later
version or snapshot should solve the problem.
-\S{faq-outofmem}{question} After trying to establish an SSH 2
+\S{faq-outofmem}{Question} After trying to establish an SSH 2
connection, PuTTY says \q{Out of memory} and dies.
If this happens just while the connection is starting up, this often
server instead); but it doesn't necessarily mean you've actually run
out of memory.
-\S{faq-bce}{question} When I run full-colour applications, I see
+\S{faq-bce}{Question} When I run full-colour applications, I see
areas of black space where colour ought to be.
You almost certainly need to enable the \q{Use background colour to
this in mid-session, it won't take effect until you reset the
terminal (see \k{faq-resetterm}).
-\S{faq-resetterm}{question} When I change some terminal settings,
+\S{faq-resetterm}{Question} When I change some terminal settings,
nothing happens.
Some of the terminal options (notably Auto Wrap and
session, you will find that the change does not immediately take
effect. It will only take effect once you reset the terminal.
-\S{faq-altgr}{question} I can't type characters that require the
+\S{faq-altgr}{Question} I can't type characters that require the
AltGr key.
In PuTTY version 0.51, the AltGr key was broken. The bug has been
fixed since then.
-\S{faq-idleout}{question} My PuTTY sessions unexpectedly close after
+\S{faq-idleout}{Question} My PuTTY sessions unexpectedly close after
they are idle for a while.
Some types of firewall, and almost any router doing Network Address
\k{config-keepalive} in the documentation for more discussion of
this.
-\S{faq-timeout}{question} PuTTY's network connections time out too
+\S{faq-timeout}{Question} PuTTY's network connections time out too
quickly when network connectivity is temporarily lost.
This is a Windows problem, not a PuTTY problem. The timeout value
Set the key's value to something like 10. This will cause Windows to
try harder to keep connections alive instead of abandoning them.
-\S{faq-puttyputty}{question} When I \cw{cat} a binary file, I get
+\S{faq-puttyputty}{Question} When I \cw{cat} a binary file, I get
`PuTTYPuTTYPuTTY' on my command line.
Don't do that, then.
your terminal is likely to cause various other unpleasant behaviour,
so this is only a small remedy.
-\S{faq-puttyputty}{question} When I \cw{cat} a binary file, my
+\S{faq-puttyputty}{Question} When I \cw{cat} a binary file, my
window title changes to a nonsense string.
Don't do that, then.
accident, and cause unexpected changes in the window title. Don't do
it.
-\S{faq-password}{question} My keyboard stops working once PuTTY
+\S{faq-password}{Question} My keyboard stops working once PuTTY
displays the password prompt.
No, it doesn't. PuTTY just doesn't display the password you type, so
\H{faq-secure} Security questions
-\S{faq-publicpc}{question} Is it safe for me to download PuTTY and
+\S{faq-publicpc}{Question} Is it safe for me to download PuTTY and
use it on a public PC?
It depends on whether you trust that PC. If you don't trust the
be tampered with, so it would be better to carry PuTTY with you on a
floppy).
-\S{faq-cleanup}{question} What does PuTTY leave on a system? How can
+\S{faq-cleanup}{Question} What does PuTTY leave on a system? How can
I clean up after it?
PuTTY will leave some Registry entries, and a random seed file, on
leave. You can do that automatically, by running the command
\c{putty -cleanup}.
-\S{faq-dsa}{question} How come PuTTY now supports DSA, when the
+\S{faq-dsa}{Question} How come PuTTY now supports DSA, when the
website used to say how insecure it was?
DSA has a major weakness \e{if badly implemented}: it relies on a
\H{faq-admin} Administrative questions
-\S{faq-domain}{question} Would you like me to register you a nicer
+\S{faq-domain}{Question} Would you like me to register you a nicer
domain name?
No, thank you. Even if you can find one (most of them seem to have
strange things. Having it registered for us by a third party who we
don't even know is not the best way to achieve this.
-\S{faq-webhosting}{question} Would you like free web hosting for the
+\S{faq-webhosting}{Question} Would you like free web hosting for the
PuTTY web site?
We already have some, thanks.
-\S{faq-sourceforge}{question} Why don't you move PuTTY to
+\S{faq-sourceforge}{Question} Why don't you move PuTTY to
SourceForge?
Partly, because we don't want to move the web site location (see
they're not ideal for everyone, and in particular they're not ideal
for us.
-\S{faq-mailinglist1}{question} Why can't I subscribe to the
+\S{faq-mailinglist1}{Question} Why can't I subscribe to the
putty-bugs mailing list?
Because you're not a member of the PuTTY core development team. The
overwhelmed by the volume of traffic. It's hard enough to keep up
with the list as it is.
-\S{faq-mailinglist2}{question} If putty-bugs isn't a
+\S{faq-mailinglist2}{Question} If putty-bugs isn't a
general-subscription mailing list, what is?
There isn't one, that we know of.
better to use the established newsgroup \cw{comp.security.ssh} for
this purpose.
-\S{faq-donations}{question} How can I donate to PuTTY development?
+\S{faq-donations}{Question} How can I donate to PuTTY development?
Please, \e{please} don't feel you have to. PuTTY is completely free
software, and not shareware. We think it's very important that
something worthwhile, ask us first. If you don't like these terms,
feel perfectly free not to donate. We don't mind.
-\S{faq-pronounce}{question} How do I pronounce PuTTY?
+\S{faq-pronounce}{Question} How do I pronounce PuTTY?
Exactly like the normal word \q{putty}. Just like the stuff you put
on window frames. (One of the reasons it's called PuTTY is because
~mdw / sgt / putty / commitdiff