Telnet tool: definition, how it works, principal commands

Telnet is a protocol used for emulating a remote terminal. Telnet tool is an implementation of the Telnet protocol, which translates the protocol specifications into a programming language to create a program that can emulate a terminal. It operates in a client/server environment, meaning that the remote machine is configured as a server and consequently waits for the client to request a service from it.

What are the protocols?

Telnet is a protocol: a set of rules and procedures defined to standardize Telnet communication. For this reason, Telnet tool has been implemented across numerous platforms based on the specifications of this protocol.

How to run Telnet tool?

Telnet can be used in UNIX, Windows, and Linux.

The command to initiate a Telnet session is usually:

telnet server_name

server_name represents the name or IP address of the remote machine that the user wants to connect to. You can also give its IP address, for example:

telnet 125.64.124.77

Finally, you can also specify the port number after the IP address or server name:

telnet 125.64.124.77 80

What are standard commands in Telnet?

Once you are connected to the remote machine, for security reasons, you will be asked to provide a login and password to keep access restricted to authorized individuals only. Indeed, Telnet is such a powerful protocol because it allows commands to be run remotely. The commands that can be run in a Telnet session are defined by the network administrator. They tend to be UNIX commands, as most Telnet servers run UNIX. The standard commands are: