About SecureCRT...

I've been working as tech support engineer for almost five years and I've used many Telnet/SSH client applications. So far, the best that I've used is the SecureCRT by VanDyke Software.


You can get more information on this software from the VanDyke Software page.

One of its features that I really like, in particular, is the option to log your session to a text file (similar to the Capture Text option in Hyperterminal, bundled in most Microsoft Windows applications). As tech support/network engineer, it is imperative that you log all sessions for future reference and proper documentation. This seems to be a basic requirement but unfortunately not all client applications are able to do this. Or at least not with the same ease that SecureCRT provides.

Plus, with all the rage about tabbed browsing ("rage", yeah right! lol), SecureCRT provides tabbed sessions. For network engineers in particular, if the issue is involves two devices (such asconfiguring a Site-to-Site VPN tunnel), it is almost always necessary to access both devices.

Just a note: the above features are not necessary; you don't need them to do your work, but it just makes your job a lot easier and simpler. No further need to click and drag to capture the text. No more need to Alt-TAB between multiple applications already running on your desktop.

Those are the good sides. Now the bad side: it's not free. :( You have to pay for it. In my previous company, we have this installed. In my new company, however, we're stuck with the basic Putty. It's not an easy job and not having SecureCRT just made it worse. I just hope my new company gets this software soon.