How to Fix PuTTY Connection Refused Issue in Windows?

PuTTY is a popular open-source terminal emulator that allows for secure remote connections to servers via protocols such as SSH, Telnet, and others. However, when attempting to connect to a server, users may receive the "Connection Refused" error, indicating the failure to establish a connection. This article provides methods to resolve the "Connection Refused" issue with PuTTY on Windows.

The "Connection Refused" error in PuTTY typically indicates that PuTTY is unable to establish a connection to the server on the specified port. Here are some step to resolve this:

Verify SSH Service:

Make sure that the SSH service is active on the server. If necessary, restart the SSH service.

Check Hostname and Port:

In PuTTY, double-check the hostname or IP address and port number. Check that they are correct.

Verify Firewall Settings:

If you have a firewall, ensure that it enables outgoing connections from your machine as well as incoming connections to the server.

Check Security Group Rules (AWS):

Check the security group rules if you're using a cloud provider like AWS. Check that the inbound rules permit SSH traffic.

Server Network Configuration:

Check the server's network configuration. Verify that it has a valid IP address and that network connectivity is working properly.

Review Server Logs:

Check the server logs for any SSH or connection attempt error messages. On Linux systems, logs are frequently stored in /var/log/auth.log or /var/log/secure.

Temporary Disable Firewall:

As a first step in troubleshooting, briefly disable the firewall on your client or server and see whether the problem continues.

PuTTY update:

Check that you are using the most recent version of PuTTY. Older versions may contain issues that have been fixed in latest versions.

By addressing these factors systematically, users can resolve the causes of the "Connection Refused" error in PuTTY, ensuring successful and secure connections to remote servers.