The screen command

・ Screen User’s Manual

screen [-opts] [cmd [args]]

Options:

  • -a: It force all capabilities into each window’s termcap.
  • -A -[r|R]: It adapt all windows to the new display width & height.
  • -c file: It read configuration file instead of ‘.screenrc’.
  • -d (-r): It detach the elsewhere running screen (and reattach here).
  • -dmS name: It start as daemon**: Screen session in detached mode.
  • -D (-r): It detach and logout remote (and reattach here).
  • -D -RR: It do whatever is needed to get a screen session.
  • -e xy: It change the command characters.
  • -f: It make the flow control on, -fn = off, -fa = auto.
  • -h lines: It set the size of the scrollback history buffer.
  • -i: It interrupt output sooner when flow control is on.
  • -l: It make the login mode on (update /var/run/utmp), -ln = off.
  • -ls [match]: It display all the attached screens.
  • -L: It turn on output logging.
  • -m: It ignore $STY variable, do create a new screen session.
  • -O: It choose optimal output rather than exact vt100 emulation.
  • -p window: It preselect the named window if it exists.
  • -q: It quiet startup. Exits with non-zero return code if unsuccessful.
  • -Q: It commands will send the response to the stdout of the querying process.
  • -r [session]: It reattach to a detached screen process.
  • -R: It reattach if possible, otherwise start a new session.
  • -S sockname: It name this session .sockname instead of …
  • -t title: It set title. (window’s name).
  • -T term: It use term as $TERM for windows, rather than “screen”.
  • -U: It tell screen to use UTF-8 encoding.
  • -v: It print “Screen version 4.06.02 (GNU) 23-Oct-17”.
  • -x: It attach to a not detached screen. (Multi display mode).
  • -X: It execute as a screen command in the specified session.

Shortcut keys Options:

  • Ctrl-a + c: It create a new windows.
  • Ctrl-a + w: It display the list of all the windows currently opened.
  • Ctrl-a + A: It rename the current windows. The name will appear when you will list the list of windows opened with Ctrl-a + w.
  • Ctrl-a + n: It go to the next windows.
  • Ctrl-a + p: It go to the previous windows.
  • Ctrl-a + Ctrl-a: It back to the last windows used.
  • Ctrl-a + k: It close the current windows (kill).
  • Ctrl-a + S: It split the current windows horizontally. To switch between the windows, do Ctrl-a + Tab.
  • Ctrl-a + |: It split the current windows vertically.
  • Ctrl-a + X: Close active Split window
  • Ctrl-a + Q: Close all Split windows
  • Ctrl-a + d: It detach a screen session without stopping it.
  • Ctrl-a + r: It reattach a detached screen session.
  • Ctrl-a + [: It start the copy mode.
  • Ctrl-a + ]: It paste the copied text.
  • Ctrl-a + t: Show system information.

Examples:

# install screen
sudo dnf install -y screen

# list session
screen -ls

# detach session
screen -d <session-pid>

# atach session
screen -r <session-pid>

# Determines whether you are in a screen session
echo $STY