在浏览Internet时，您可能偶然发现了Telnet一词。有些人可能会取笑它，有些人可能会玩得开心，而另一些人可能仍在使用它，因为他们怀念和热爱过去的美好时光。对于那些不知道Telnet是什么以及它在现代(Telnet)Internet中的“相关性”的人，请阅读这篇文章。我们分享了一些Telnet历史、使用它的安全含义以及这个(security implication)Internet的老前辈的一些现代用途。
什么是 Telnet？
Telnet是一种简单的基于文本的网络协议(network protocol)，用于通过TCP/IP网络（如Internet ）访问远程计算机。Telnet 于 1969 年创建并推出，从历史上讲，您可以说它是第一个Internet。
在过去，您必须亲自走到服务器前才能访问其数据。这意味着，除其他外，您必须花费一些时间到达服务器的位置，然后您必须等待轮到您使用服务器。即使服务器具有同时执行多项操作的硬件能力(hardware power)，您也无法完全使用它，您必须等待其他人先完成他们的工作。在许多情况下，您甚至无法触摸实际的服务器。您必须将卡片叠(card stack)交给服务员，稍后再回来打印。
Telnet带来了非凡的变化。使用它意味着您可以同时将多个用户连接到单个服务器。为了连接到服务器，人们只需要访问一个终端，这可能是最简单、最便宜的计算机。这台电脑不需要强大的硬件，它只需要一个网络连接(network connection)和一个基于文本的界面。基本上(Basically)，他们的Telnet 客户端(Telnet Client)就像一个命令提示符(Command Prompt)，人们可以使用它来使用他们的服务器。这极大地提高了生产力。
什么是 Windows 的Telnet客户(Windows)端(Telnet Client)和Telnet 服务器(Telnet Server)？
在 Windows 中，您可以添加两个Telnet相关功能：
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Telnet 服务器(Telnet Server)- 如果您安装此功能，您将能够将 Windows 计算机配置为作为Telnet服务器运行。这意味着您的计算机将侦听传入连接并允许其他人使用它。如果您不在防火墙之下并且拥有公共 IP 地址，那么世界上任何人都可以使用Telnet 客户端(Telnet Client)远程控制您的计算机。
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Telnet 客户端(Telnet Client)- 这将使您能够通过Telnet连接到这种类型的任何服务器，只需使用命令提示符(Command Prompt)窗口。您将在本文中了解有关Telnet 客户端(Telnet Client)的更多信息：如何在 Windows 7 和 Windows 8.1 中安装和使用 Telnet 客户端。
您可以从本指南中了解有关可以添加或删除的所有Windows 功能(Windows Features)的更多信息：如何添加或删除(Remove)（取消）需要的Windows 功能(Windows Features)、程序或应用程序(Programs or Apps)。
使用Telnet的(Telnet)安全含义(Security Implications)是什么？
即使Telnet在发明时很棒，它彻底改变了技术的使用，但它确实存在一些缺陷。其中最糟糕的是它不安全！Telnet仅以明文形式发送和接收数据，没有任何类型的加密。这意味着每当您连接到Telnet服务器时，您的用户名和密码(username and password)等个人数据都将以明文形式传输。任何知道如何使用应用程序来嗅探网络连接的人都会看到正在传输的所有数据。
基本上，任何试图将Telnet用于传输有价值的(Telnet)信息或管理业务服务器(information or administering business servers)等严肃事情的人，简直就是疯了。
当这个协议被发明出来的时候，我们没有高带宽的互联网(Internet)，大量的黑客，恶意软件创建者等等。它首先由具有封闭网络的机构使用，这些机构通过Telnet对其服务器进行受控访问。那时，加密不在任何人的需求清单上。
但是今天，Telnet是可用于传输数据的最不安全的协议。
为什么你会在 2014 年使用 Telnet？
既然您了解了一些Telnet的历史，并且知道它是一个非常不安全的协议，那么让我们分享一些在 2014 年仍然适用于Telnet的实际用途：(Telnet)
Accessing old-school servers that insist on using this protocol for remote connections. We're sure that there are some old-school UNIX servers left in the wild. Someone might be using Telnet to work with them. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?
Some network devices like old-school Cisco routers, allow Telnet connections to them. With the help of a Telnet Client you can configure the way they work.
Telnet
Telnet
Telnet
The BBS Corner
结论
我们希望您喜欢阅读有关Telnet的文章——这个协议就像活生生的恐龙一样，生活在一个自诞生以来发生了很大变化的世界中。我们确实喜欢更多地了解它，玩弄它并写下它。
如果您知道Telnet(Telnet)在当今互联网(Internet)上的其他用途，请不要犹豫与我们分享。我们很想知道为什么有些人在 2014 年仍在使用它。
Simple Questions: What Is Telnet & What Can It Still Be Used For?
While surfing the Internet yoυ mаy have stυmbled on the tеrm Telnet. Some people might have made fun of it, others may have had fun with it while others may still use it because they are nostalgic and the love the good-old-days. For those of you who don't know what Telnet is and its "relevance" in the modern Internet, read this article. We share a bit of Telnet history, the security implication of using it and some modern-day uses for this old-timer of the Internet.
What Is Telnet?
Telnet is a simple, text-based network protocol that is used for accessing remote computers over TCP/IP networks like the Internet. Telnet was created and launched in 1969 and, historically speaking, you can say that it was the first Internet.
In the old days, you had to physically walk to a server in order to access its data. This meant, among other things, that you had to spend some time arriving at the server's location and then you had to wait for your turn to work with the server. Even if the server had the hardware power to do multiple things at the same time, you were blocked from using it at its full and you had to wait for others to finish their work first. In many circumstances you couldn't even touch the actual server. You had to hand your card stack to an attendant and come back later for your printout.
Telnet brought extraordinary change. Using it meant you could simultaneously connect multiple users to a single server. In order to connect to the server, people only needed access to a terminal, which could be the simplest and cheapest computer available. This computer didn't need to have powerful hardware, it only needed a network connection and a text based interface. Basically, their Telnet Client was like a Command Prompt that people could use in order to work with their servers. This brought a huge boost in productivity.
What are the Telnet Client & the Telnet Server from Windows?
In Windows, you can add two Telnet related features:
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Telnet Server - if you install this feature, you will be able to configure your Windows computer to run as a Telnet server. This means that your computer will listen for incoming connections and allow others to use it. If you're not beneath a firewall and you have a public IP address, anyone in the world will be able to remote control your computer using a Telnet Client.
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Telnet Client - this will enable you to connect through Telnet to any server of this type, using just a Command Prompt window. You will learn more about the Telnet Client in this article: How to Install & Use the Telnet Client in Windows 7 & Windows 8.1.
You can learn more about all the Windows Features that can be added or removed, from this guide: How to Add or Remove (Un)Wanted Windows Features, Programs or Apps.
What Are The Security Implications Of Using Telnet?
Even if Telnet was great when it was invented and it revolutionized the use of technology, it does have some flaws. The worst of them is that it is not secure! Telnet sends and receives data only in plaintext, without any kind of encryption. This means that whenever you connect to a Telnet server, your personal data like your username and password will be transmitted as clear text. Anyone who knows how to use an application for sniffing network connections, will see all the data being transmitted.
Basically, anyone trying to use Telnet for serious things like transferring valuable information or administering business servers, is just plain crazy.
When this protocol was invented, we did not have high-bandwidth Internet, lots of hackers, malware creators and so on. It was first used by institutions with closed networks which were giving controlled access via Telnet to their servers. At that time, encryption was not on the list of anyone's needs.
But today, Telnet is the most insecure protocol that you can use for transferring data.
Why Would You Use Telnet in 2014?
Now that you know a bit of history about Telnet and you know that it is a very insecure protocol, let's share some real-life uses that are still valid for Telnet in 2014:
Accessing old-school servers that insist on using this protocol for remote connections. We're sure that there are some old-school UNIX servers left in the wild. Someone might be using Telnet to work with them. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?
Some network devices like old-school Cisco routers, allow Telnet connections to them. With the help of a Telnet Client you can configure the way they work.
Telnet
Telnet
5 Fun & Geeky Things You Can Do With the Telnet Client
Telnet
The BBS Corner
Conclusion
We hope that you have enjoyed reading about Telnet - this protocol that's like living dinosaur in a world that has changed a lot since its birth. We did enjoy learning more about it, playing with it and writing about it.
If you know other uses for Telnet, in today's Internet, don't hesitate to share them with us. We're curious to learn why some people still use it in 2014.
