Telnet is a rather old (By today's standards) protocol which is used for remote host access. Basically, its like that host was right in front of you. You are able to do anything on as if you had physical access. Running programs, Maintenance, Configuration, and the like. It is fairly common that the host is a Unix Type enviornment, and the host may have POP3 usage (Email server), or even host a MUD of some sort. I also might add that Telnet is a great way to access BBSs, or Bulletin board system.

     Telnet is being phased out mostly because of its lack of security. Many modern day hosts use SSH or Secure Shell which are using secure communications so they can't be as easily penatrated. Telnet isn't a secure protocol, and because of that has many flaws. However, telnet traffic isn't necessarily traffic that would want to be sniffed.

     As for usage, telnet is usually accessed through your Command Line, Terminal, or Console. When using Windows 95/98, the built in program doesn't display color. There are programs out there, like Putty,that will handle color, and don't require you to understand how to use a command line.

     In Windows, you can access Telnet via "Start -- > Run", and the typing "telnet:Sometelnetsite.com:XXXX" Where "XXXX" is the port number.

     In Linux / Unix, you can use this command: "telnet [-8] [-E] [-L] [-c] [-d] [-r] [ -e escape_char ] [ -l user ] [-n file ] [ host [ port ] ]", which is explained here.

     In Mac Os, you can access Telnet via " System --> Applications --> Utilities", than type "Login UserName@SomeSiteyoucantelnet.com", but later versions of Mac OS have a built in client.

     I used telnet to gotto a MUD just to see if it worked properly. The image below is from the command line, while the one under was accessed from Putty. As you can see, third-party clients work much better.

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