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How to use telnet command on Windows and telnet command options

We had learned in previous lessons that TELNET is a client-server command-based protocol used to work on a remote compute’s terminal, as if sitting locally. We had also learned how to install TELNET server on Windows and Cisco operating systems. Previous lesson, we had learned how to install TELNET client on a Windows 10 computer. In this lesson, we will learn the telnet command options available in Windows TELNET client.

How to use telnet client on Windows

You need a TELNET server to practice this lesson. Please visit following link to learn how to install TELNET server on Windows Server or how to connect to TELNET server in Cisco Router.

Following are the requirements for using TELNET protocol.

  • Network connectivity to remote TELNET server is required.
  • TCP/IP protocol suite must be available and running in both TELNET client and server.
  • TELNET client software must be installed and running on client computer.
  • TELNET server services must be installed and running on remote TELNET server.
  • You need to know the IP address of the remote TELNET server.
  • You need to know the user login id and password at remote TELNET server.

You need to use the telnet command (TELNET client) on a Windows machine command prompt similar to below format.

telnet <Remote_IP_Address>

Step 1 - Just to view the options available on Windows TELNET client, without connecting to remote telnet server, use telnet command as shown below.

open-telnet-connection-to-remote-telnet-server.jpg

Step 2 - Once you are inside telnet command, type "?" to see the available help options, as shown below.

telnet-help-windows.jpg

Step 3 - You can see the available options, as shown below.

available-telnet-options-windows.jpg

Telnet client command-line arguments on Windows

 

Option Description
/a Used for automatic logon.
/e <EscapeChar> Escape character
/f <FileName> File name used for client side logging.
/l <UserName> used to specify the user login id
/t {vt100 | vt52 | ansi | vtnt} Terminal types
<Host> or <IP address> [<Port>] Hostname or IP address and the TCP port. Default TELNET server port number is TCP 23)
/? or /h Display help options

 

Telnet client commands on Windows

TELNET Client commands can be used with the control character. As you can see from above image, the default control character is "CTRL+]".

Command Description
c Close the current connection
d Display operating parameters
o Open connection
q quit telnet
set set options
u unset options

 

Related Tutorials
What is TELNET
TELNET modes of operation
TELNET NVT (Network Virtual Terminal)
What is IAC (Interpret as Command) in TELNET
TELNET Commands and Options
TELNET Negotiation
How to install TELNET server in Windows Server using Server Manager
How to install TELNET server in Windows Server using PowerShell
How to start TELNET service in Windows Server
How to connect to Cisco Router using TELNET
How to install TELNET Client in Windows 10
How to test ports using TELNET
Why TELNET is not secure