Screen

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Screen - Screen Manager for Linux - Exceptionally Useful

Screen is a Window Manager for a Linux SSH Terminal. Similar to having Multiple Desktops and applications, screen provides just that for the Command Line Interface (CLI). As screen runs on the server, if you are downloading a file onto the server etc. or compiling a programme, and your net connection drops, your Screen "session" remains running inside screen, and your applications remain open and active. You can customise screen to provide a Time and Date, along with a Status bar of open applications. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone using a Linux server via the commandline.

Install Screen

apt-get install screen
//or download it manually from http://www.gnu.org/software/screen/#TOCdownloading

Basic Usage

mesg n //turn messaging off
screen
ctrl a c //copies and makes new screen
ctrl a w //view screens
ctrl a A //rename current screen
ctrl a d //detach all screens
screen -DR //open screen and atttach screens

Regions/ Multiple Windows in Screen

ctrl a S  //split current window. Leaves bottom screen empty
ctrl a <tab>   //tab between regions/split screens
ctrl a Q  //unsplit all windows from screen

Monitor Screens for Activity

ctrl a M  //toggles Monitoring on or off.

Nested/Multiple Screens

ctrl a a c  //copies a nested screen
ctrl a a w  //views screens
ctrl a a #  //go to screen number

Scroll Back in a Screen

ctrl a [

Copy and Paste & Search in a Screen

ctrl a [  //enters copy mode
/wordtofind  //finds word, same as in vi.
<enter> to start copy. Move arrow keys. Enter to stop copy.
ctrl a ]  //paste

Setting a Permanent Status Bar

vi $HOME/.screenrc
hardstatus on
hardstatus alwayslastline
hardstatus string "%w%=%m/%d %c"

LOCK SCREEN

ctrl a x  //locks the screen with the current linux password
//If the terminal is closed, and then the screen reattached - no password :(

Information Source:

http://www.bangmoney.org/presentations/screen.html

http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/Documentation/Gnu/screen-3.9.4/html_chapter/screen_toc.html