Terminal multiplexers - Revision history

Ajshen at 03:35, 29 June 2026

2026-06-29T03:35:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:35, 29 June 2026
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			[[Category:Terminal and Command Line]]
			[[Category:Parallelization]]

	“Terminal Multiplexers”, like <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code>, are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the department servers. The primary reason to use them is so you can run a job on the server and not need to keep your connection with the server open (e.g. you can close your computer, go to sleep, etc. while your job runs). It’s often the case that your connection to the server might disconnect even if your computer just goes to sleep or disconnects from the internet for a minute.		“Terminal Multiplexers”, like <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code>, are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the department servers. The primary reason to use them is so you can run a job on the server and not need to keep your connection with the server open (e.g. you can close your computer, go to sleep, etc. while your job runs). It’s often the case that your connection to the server might disconnect even if your computer just goes to sleep or disconnects from the internet for a minute.

Areinhar: Formatting improvements

2025-10-24T15:13:58Z

Formatting improvements

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:13, 24 October 2025
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			“Terminal Multiplexers”, like <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code>, are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the department servers. The primary reason to use them is so you can run a job on the server and not need to keep your connection with the server open (e.g. you can close your computer, go to sleep, etc. while your job runs). It’s often the case that your connection to the server might disconnect even if your computer just goes to sleep or disconnects from the internet for a minute.

	~~= Terminal Multiplexers (Screen and Tmux) =~~		There are two major terminal multiplexer options: <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code>. The Internet recommends <code>tmux</code> (but some people in the department use <code>screen</code>).

	“Terminal Multiplexers”, like <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code> are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the department server. The primary reason to use them is so you can run a job on the server and not need to keep your connection with the server open (e.g. you can close your computer, go to sleep, etc. while your job runs). It’s often the case that your connection to the server might disconnect even if your computer just goes to sleep or disconnects from the internet for a minute.

	There are two major terminal multiplexer options: <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code>. The ~~internet~~ recommends <code>tmux</code> (but some people in the department use <code>screen</code>).

	In terms of usage, the most important commands 1. creating a new session 2. detaching but not closing as session 3. reattaching a session and 4. closing a session.		In terms of usage, the most important commands 1. creating a new session 2. detaching but not closing as session 3. reattaching a session and 4. closing a session.
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	#*preserves panels / windows even when you detach the session		#*preserves panels / windows even when you detach the session
	#*maybe a little safer in closing sessions (confirms request)		#*maybe a little safer in closing sessions (confirms request)


	#<code>screen</code>:		#<code>screen</code>:
	#*a stable tool (<code>tmux</code> is a little more in flux)		#*a stable tool (<code>tmux</code> is a little more in flux)


	== <code>screen</code> ==		== <code>screen</code> ==

Skipper: Created page with " = Terminal Multiplexers (Screen and Tmux) = “Terminal Multiplexers”, like `screen` and `tmux` are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the de..."

2024-03-29T23:58:40Z

Created page with " = Terminal Multiplexers (Screen and Tmux) = “Terminal Multiplexers”, like <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code> are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the de..."

New page

= Terminal Multiplexers (Screen and Tmux) =

“Terminal Multiplexers”, like <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code> are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the department server. The primary reason to use them is so you can run a job on the server and not need to keep your connection with the server open (e.g. you can close your computer, go to sleep, etc. while your job runs). It’s often the case that your connection to the server might disconnect even if your computer just goes to sleep or disconnects from the internet for a minute.

There are two major terminal multiplexer options: <code>screen</code> and <code>tmux</code>. The internet recommends <code>tmux</code> (but some people in the department use <code>screen</code>).

In terms of usage, the most important commands 1. creating a new session 2. detaching but not closing as session 3. reattaching a session and 4. closing a session.

With these four options you can start up a session (1), step away from a session / the server without killing a job you’re running (2), come back to the session you left (3) and close a session once you’re done with it (4). The rest of the commands are icing on the cake.

In the following sections below, we’ll present pros of both, then present sections on standard commands for both approaches. This article is currently more a place to remind yourself of what commands to use than a new introduction to the ideas. We recommend reading either of the introductions (at the end of either tool’s subsection) for get exposure to the power of these tools.

== Comparisons ==

#<code>tmux</code>:
#*more consistent syntax (but <code>screen</code> is still pretty good)
#*preserves panels / windows even when you detach the session
#*maybe a little safer in closing sessions (confirms request)

#<code>screen</code>:
#*a stable tool (<code>tmux</code> is a little more in flux)

== <code>screen</code> ==

=== Basic commands ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="37%" | Action
! width="33%" | Command
! width="29%" | Notes
|-
| '''Start new session [important]'''
| <code>screen</code>
|  
|-
| Starting a named session
| <code>screen -S _session_name_</code>
|  
|-
| List current sessions
| <code>screen -list</code>
|  
|-
| '''Detach session [important]'''
| <code>(Ctrl+a)+d</code>
|  
|-
| '''Attach/ reopen session [important]'''
| <code>screen -r _session_name_</code>
| If only one session is open you can just use <code>screen -r</code>
|-
| '''Close session [important]'''
| <code>Ctrl+d</code>
|  
|-
| '''Kill a session you are not currently in'''
| <code>screen -XS _session_name_ quit</code>
|  
|-
| enter scrollback/copy mode
| <code>Ctrl+a+[</code>
|  
|-
| end scrollback/paste buff
| <code>Ctrl+a+]</code>
|  
|}

=== Window/panel based commands ===

Having multiple panels / windows going in a single session at the same time.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="37%" | Action
! width="33%" | Command
! width="29%" | Notes
|-
| Create new window
| <code>(Ctrl+a)+c</code>
|  
|-
| split terminal horizontally, and create a new window
| <code>(Ctrl+a)+S</code>  +  <code>(Ctrl+a)+c</code>
| Note the capital S. 
|-
| split terminal vertically, and create a new window
| <code>(Ctrl+a)+| </code>+  <code>(Ctrl+a)+c</code>
| This only works if the screen is a high enough version.
|-
| move between windows
| <code>(Ctrl+a)+</code> …
|  
|-
| - next window
| <code>+n</code>
|  
|-
| - previous window
| <code>+p</code>
|  
|-
| - pick from list
| <code>+"</code>
|  
|-
| Move between splits
| <font face="monospace">(Ctrl+a)+ Tab</font>
|  
|}

=== External Links ===

*Introduction: [https://www.howtogeek.com/662422/how-to-use-linuxs-screen-command/ howtogeek.com], [https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-use-linux-screen/ linuxize.com]
*Cheat sheets: [http://www.pixelbeat.org/lkdb/screen.html pixelbeat.org].

== <code>tmux</code> ==

=== Basic commands ===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="37%" | Action
! width="33%" | Command
! width="29%" | Notes
|-
| '''Start session [important]'''
| <code>tmux</code>
|  
|-
| Start named session
| <code>tmux new -s _session_name_</code>
|  
|-
| Rename session
| <code>(Ctrl+b)+:</code> -> then <code>rename-session -t _current_name_ _new_name_</code>
| You don’t have to include <code>-t _current_name_</code> if you want to rename a session you are in.
|-
| '''Detach session [important]'''
| <code>(Ctrl+b)+d</code>
|  
|-
| '''Attach/ reopen session [important]'''
| <code>tmux attach-session -t _session_name_</code>
|  
|-
| '''Close session [important]'''
| <code>tmux kill-session -t _session_name_</code>
|  
|-
| List current sessions
| <code>tmux ls</code>
|  
|}

=== Window/panel based commands ===

Having multiple panels / windows going in a single session at the same time.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Action
! Command
! Notes
|-
| new window
| <code>(Ctrl+b)+c</code>
|  
|-
| see window numbering
| <code>(Ctrl+b)+q</code>
| flashes number of each panel open
|-
| close current window
| <code>(Ctrl+b)+&</code> -> then <code>y</code> close current window
|  
|-
| create panel splitting
| <code>(Ctrl+b)+</code> …
|  
|-
| - horizontal splitting
| <code>+”</code>
| this is capital<code>"</code>
|-
| - vertical splitting
| <code>+%</code>
| this is also a capital <code>%</code>
|-
| - move between panels
| <code>+</code> arrow keys
|  
|-
| move between windows
| <code>(Ctrl+b)+</code> …
|  
|-
| - next window
| <code>+n</code>
|  
|-
| - previous window
| <code>+p</code>
|  
|  
|}

=== External Links ===

*Introduction: [https://www.howtogeek.com/671422/how-to-use-tmux-on-linux-and-why-its-better-than-screen/ howtogeek.org]
*Cheat sheets: [https://www.howtogeek.com/671422/how-to-use-tmux-on-linux-and-why-its-better-than-screen/ howtogeek.org] (see the bottom of the article).

Terminal multiplexers - Revision history

Ajshen at 03:35, 29 June 2026

Areinhar: Formatting improvements

Skipper: Created page with " = Terminal Multiplexers (Screen and Tmux) = “Terminal Multiplexers”, like screen and tmux are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the de..."

Skipper: Created page with " = Terminal Multiplexers (Screen and Tmux) = “Terminal Multiplexers”, like `screen` and `tmux` are extremely useful tools for running jobs on the de..."