plink

PuTTY command-line SSH connection tool

TLDR

Connect to SSH server

$ plink [user]@[host]

Execute remote command

$ plink [user]@[host] [command]

Use specific port

$ plink -P [port] [user]@[host]

Use private key

$ plink -i [key.ppk] [user]@[host]

SSH tunnel

$ plink -L [local_port]:[remote_host]:[remote_port] [user]@[host]

SYNOPSIS

plink [options] [user@]host [command]

plink is the command-line SSH connection tool from the PuTTY suite. It provides non-interactive SSH access for executing remote commands, port forwarding, and scripted SSH operations.Unlike the interactive PuTTY terminal, plink is designed for automation and batch operations. It supports SSH key authentication using PuTTY's .ppk key format. The -batch flag disables all interactive prompts, making it suitable for scripts and cron jobs.

PARAMETERS

HOST

Remote host (optionally prefixed with user@).

-ssh, -telnet, -rlogin, -raw, -serial

Force use of a specific protocol.

-P PORT

Connect to the specified port.

-l USER

Login username.

-pw PASSWORD

Login with the given password (insecure; prefer -pwfile).

-pwfile FILE

Read password from file.

-i KEY

Private key file for authentication (.ppk format).

-load SESSION

Load settings from a saved PuTTY session.

-L [bindaddr:]port:host:hostport

Forward local port to remote destination.

-R [bindaddr:]port:host:hostport

Forward remote port to local destination.

-D [bindaddr:]port

Dynamic SOCKS-based local port forwarding.

-N

Don't start a shell or command (SSH-2 only).

-T, -t

Disable/enable pseudo-terminal allocation.

-A, -a

Enable/disable agent forwarding.

-X, -x

Enable/disable X11 forwarding.

-m FILE

Read remote command(s) from file.

-batch

Disable all interactive prompts.

-v

Verbose output.

--help

Display help.

CAVEATS

Part of PuTTY. Uses PPK key format. Windows/Unix versions.

HISTORY

Plink is part of PuTTY for command-line SSH operations.