See system, and also perl script to open vi editor and Open Vieditor using perl/perl cgi script.

Please stop posting and reposting what amounts to a single question. You have many answers. Learn from them.

If you're truly interested in learning Perl (which is what this site is about; emphasis on learning, please register and get a handle to distinguish youself from other Anonymonks (good, bad and indifferent), trolls, and leeches.

And, not just BTW, please read On asking for help, How do I post a question effectively?, I know what I mean. Why don't you? and (because you'll need it when you start posting questions about the code you're trying to write) Markup in the Monastery. Those are generally short, sweet and to-the-point.

But, unless there is an API for puTTY, it buys you nothing over using the command line.

Now, the X question -- "Why do you want to do this?"

Both vi and putty are not designed to be used as part of a Unix Tool pipeline (at least not easily). They are standalone tools, and bundling them into your application is not a trivial exercise. It sounds to me like a way to give your application user access to tools that have the potential to cause Major Drechlikeit. Have you talked this over in depth with your system and security admins? Do it today.

Handing a running chainsaw to Joe-Random-User-from-off-the-Web is a recipe for a lot of Grief and Pain. Don't do it.