Telnet

What Does Telnet Mean?

Telnet (TN) is a networking protocol and software program used to access remote computers and terminals over the Internet or a TCP/IP computer network. Telnet was conceived in 1969 and standardized as one of the first Internet standards by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

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Techopedia Explains Telnet

Designed for remote server access, management and client/server architectures, Telnet works through a purpose-built program that provides connectivity between a remote computer/server and host computer. Upon providing correct login and sign-in credentials, a user may access a remote system’s privileged functionality. Additionally, Telnet’s commands may be executed on a supported client or server device.

Telnet sends all messages in clear text and has no specific security mechanisms. Thus, in many applications and services, Telnet has been replaced by Secure Shell (SSH).

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…