On Tue, 5 Dec 2006 21:39:00 +0000, Neil Bothwick wrote: > > Why is using screen so recommended? I never used it, but I'd like to > > know about. > > It's just so useful, give it a try.
To add a bit more to that, here's something I wrote on screen last year. A Quick Reference to: Screen Once you become comfortable with the Linux command line, you find yourself using terminals more and more, often several at once. A tabbed xterm is one way of keeping track of multiple terminal sessions, but this is not much use when working with a remote login or virtual console. Screen is a window manager for terminals, allowing you to run more than one session in the same terminal, but that's just the start. Type 'screen' in a terminal and all it appears to do is clear the window, but you are now in another terminal. Type 'ls -l' to list the current directory, then press 'Ctrl-a c' and it's gone. cd to another directory and ls again, now press 'Ctrl-a n' and you are back with the original listing. 'Ctrl-a c' created a new terminal leaving the other one intact, 'Ctrl-a n' switches between them. Now press 'Ctrl-a d' to exit screen and return to your original shell, open another xterm and type 'screen -r'. You are now back in your original screen session. Screen is not limited to local connections, it works well over SSH. For example, you could SSH into your home computer from work, start screen, download a new version of some software, begin compiling it and exit screen. Later, you can reconnect to your screen session with 'screen -r' either from work or when you get home, to check on its progress. Even if the SSH connection is terminated, the programs running in screen will continue. There a plenty more options, all detailed in the man page. You can split the current display with 'Ctrl-a S', switch to the new region with 'Ctrl-a TAB' and use 'Ctrl-a n' (or c) to display another screen terminal. You can split the screen as many times as space permits, allowing you to watch the progress of one command while using an interactive program in the other half. -- Neil Bothwick Welcome to the ninth dimension. Small, isn't it?
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