Following a customer support enquiry about OpenSSH (Opensource SSH server for Windows) we decided to see what could be done using the built-in Microsoft Telnet server also. Microsoft have been including a Telnet server for Windows for a little while now.

The following information does not apply to all versions of Windows. Testing was done using Windows XP Service Pack 2.

• Create a local Windows Group called TelnetClients which is a special group name detected by the Telnet service according to Microsoft.
• Create a windows local user account for CatTools to use called telnet or similar and make this a member of the above group.
• Start the Windows service called Telnet and adjust to Automatic start up to ensure the Telnet service starts after a reboot and without needing anyone to physically login before accessing via Telnet.
• Open a command prompt and enter the following command;
  tlntadmn config mode=stream
• Now you are ready to test a login from a telnet client to confirm the telnet server is working.

Note: Using the text style Microsoft supplied telnet client can be confusing. It will try to login automatically using NTLM based authentication with your current windows login, rather than the account created for CatTools.

• Create a new device called WindowsBox using the Cisco.Router.noenable device type. Type WindowsXP or similar into the Model drop-down list.
• Select Telnet for the Method, and Port 23 unless another port was configured for your Telnet server.
• Enter the Windows Username & password as created for CatTools.
• Create a new Device.ConnectivityTest.Login activity for your new device to confirm that you are ready to use other activities.

Tip: The Hostname will most likely be detected as "C:\Documents..." which could become confusing if you intend to manage a large number of Windows machines. The following steps

• Edit the file C:\Windows\System32\login.cmd to include the following prompt command;

prompt %computername%$G

This will present future Telnet sessions command prompts as PCNAME> which looks much more like a Cisco IOS prompt also.

Download and install OpenSSH for Windows from the following website;

http://sshwindows.sourceforge.net

Once installed and tested with a SSH Client, try the following steps;

• Create a windows local user account for CatTools to use called sshcattools or similar.
• Create a new device called WindowsSSHusing the Cisco.Router.noenable device type. Type WindowsXP or similar into the model drop-down list.
• Select SSH2 for the Method, and Port 22 unless another port was configured for your SSH server.
• Enter the Windows Username & password as created for CatTools.
• Create a new Device.ConnectivityTest.Login activity for your new device to confirm that you are ready to use other activities.