Preface
When managing long-running processes in a Linux environment, maintaining persistent terminal sessions becomes essential—especially when working over SSH connections. Accidental disconnections can interrupt tasks, terminate important jobs, and disrupt your workflow. This is where the screen command proves invaluable. It allows users to create detachable terminal sessions that continue running even after the connection is closed.
Introduction
screen is a terminal multiplexer commonly used in Linux systems. It enables multiple shell sessions to run within a single terminal window. More importantly, it provides the ability to detach from a session without stopping the underlying processes, and later reattach to it seamlessly.
Basic Operations
Install the Screen Command
sudo apt install screen # for Debian/Ubuntu
Start a New Naming Screen Session for Organization
screen -S mytask
Custom names make it easier to identify and manage tasks later.
List Existing Sessions
screen -ls
Detach from a Session
screen -d <session_id>
Or press the shortcut key:
Ctrl + A then D
The session continues running in the background.
Reattach to a Session
screen -r <session_id>
This restores the terminal view of a running session.
Terminating a Screen Session
When finished, exit the shell within the session:
exit
This closes the associated screen window.
Conclusion
The screen command is a lightweight yet powerful tool for maintaining persistence on remote servers and managing multiple shell sessions efficiently.
If you frequently work with SSH or run processes that must not be interrupted, integrating screen into your daily toolbox is highly recommended.