View source for Screen Tutorial

[[Category:SPO600]]
When performing a long interactive operation such as a complex test or build over a remote connection (such as [[SSH]]), any network interruption such as a temporary break in WiFi connectivity or relocating from one pace to another will interrupt the operation and force you to start over.

[https://www.gnu.org/software/screen/ GNU screen] is a utility which addresses this problem by enabling you to disconnect from a terminal session and reconnect from the same or a different location later. It also has a number of advanced features such as multiple sessions over a single connection and session sharing between multiple users. This tutorial covers the most basic and useful use-case.

# Connect to a system, either by logging in locally or logging in remotely via [[SSH]].
# Start screen: <code>screen -RaD</code>
#* The <code>-RaD</code> options tell screen to start a session if none exists, or take over an existing session is one does exist, and to detach any existing remote connections to that session.
# Perform whatever operations you desire.
# Disconnect by pressing '''Ctrl-A''' then '''D'''.
# You can now disconnect/close your local login or ssh connection.
# To resume from the same or other location, issue the command from step 2.

For additional details, see the manpage for screen.

=== Alternatives ===

An alternative to screen is [https://tmux.github.io/ tmux].

For a similar disconnect/reconnect capability for graphical applications, see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing VNC].