Putty
 

What kind of server would I need to use Putty? I would like to have the server set up, so I never actually have to do anything with the physical machine. I would like to just Putty in and do everything from anywhere. Is it a telnet server I need?

The server is a SSH server. It comes preinstalled with any Linux Distro. It allows for secure server administration. Its a good idea to change your SSH server port to a non standard port. That will stop many hack attempts on the server. Never enable telnet, it is a insecure service. If anyone intercepts your connection, they could see every command and password you put into the server.

I use CentOS. Do I run a command to start the SSH server, or does it start automatically?

Its should run automatically, if not type "setup" in the command prompt and go under services and set it to start when the server starts up. And then reboot your server. Thats the easy way of doing it. :p

What is the hard way of doing it? :)

And why would one choose the hard way if there is this easier way? ;)
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vapir oxygen

SSHD is scheduled to run on start up. Is that what I need?

Yes, now make sure your server has a static IP on your LAN. Once thats set up, log in to your server through putty on your windows machine. I can help you get a static LAN IP set up. If you do not know how.

I have no idea. I have to set it up so that the router never changes the server's IP? I use Yahoo! DSL and the 2Wire router, if that makes a difference.

That works too as long as your servers IP doesn't change on the LAN. You are going to be set. Have you tried to use putty on your Windows machine to ssh into your server?