How to Install and Use Screen on Linux (15 Practical Examples)

Screen is a handy tool that allows users to create multiple virtual terminal sessions in a single physical terminal window on Linux systems. This can be extremely useful for managing multiple tasks and keeping them organized. In this article, we will discuss how to install and use Screen on Linux with 15 practical examples.

  1. Installing Screen
    To install Screen on most Linux distributions, you can use the package manager specific to your system. For example, on Ubuntu, you can use the following command:

    sudo apt-get install screen
  2. Starting a New Screen Session
    To start a new Screen session, simply type the following command:

    screen

    This will create a new session that you can use for running various commands or programs.

  3. Detaching from a Screen Session
    To detach from a Screen session without closing it, press Ctrl + A followed by Ctrl + D.

  4. Reattaching to a Screen Session
    To reattach to a detached Screen session, simply type:

    screen -r
  5. Creating a Named Screen Session
    You can create a named Screen session so that it is easier to reattach to it later. For example:

    screen -S session_name
  6. Reattaching to a Named Screen Session
    To reattach to a named Screen session, type:

    screen -r session_name
  7. Splitting the Screen Vertically
    You can split the Screen vertically by pressing Ctrl + A followed by |.

  8. Splitting the Screen Horizontally
    To split the Screen horizontally, press Ctrl + A followed by S.

  9. Switching between Screen Windows
    You can switch between different Screen windows by pressing Ctrl + A followed by Ctrl + N for the next window or Ctrl + P for the previous window.

  10. Monitoring Screen Windows
    To monitor all Screen windows, press Ctrl + A followed by w.

  11. Scrolling in Screen
    To scroll through the output in a Screen window, press Ctrl + A followed by [. You can then use the arrow keys or Ctrl + U for scrolling.

  12. Renaming a Screen Window
    To rename a Screen window, press Ctrl + A followed by A and enter the new name.

  13. Killing a Screen Window
    To kill the current Screen window, press Ctrl + A followed by k.

  14. Detaching and Logging Out from a Screen Session
    To detach and log out from a Screen session, press Ctrl + A followed by Ctrl + \.

  15. Exiting and Killing a Screen Session
    To exit a Screen session and kill all windows, simply type exit or press Ctrl + A followed by : and then type quit.

In conclusion, Screen is a powerful tool for managing multiple terminal sessions on Linux systems. By following the above examples, you can effectively install and use Screen to improve your workflow and productivity.