This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
Linux Screen
Apr 2020
Overview
When using Linux via SSH, if you get disconnected then you cannot rejoin that session. So if you were doing something like downloading a large file, then you can not reconnect to see the progress (the download would have stopped anyway once you disconnected).
This guide is based around CentOS7 (or RedHat).
Screen is a 'Terminal Multiplexer' which means you can start Screen and then open terminal windows. These windows will stay open if you disconnect and you can reconnect with them when you next join.
Check for Screen
Sounds great, do I have Screen?
From a terminal in Linux, enter the following:
screen --version
If you see a version number in the format Screen version 4.01.00devel (GNU) 2-May-06, you are good to go, check out the section Using Screen. if you see the message screen: command not found then you will need to install screen.
Installing Screen
To install screen, open a terminal window and use the following command:
sudo yum install screen -y
You will see something very similar to the following:
sudo yum install screen -y Loaded plugins: fastestmirror Determining fastest mirrors epel/x86_64/metalink | 8.3 kB 00:00:00 * base: centos.mirroring.pulsant.co.uk * epel: ftp.nluug.nl * extras: mirror.mhd.uk.as44574.net * updates: mirror.vorboss.net base | 3.6 kB 00:00:00 epel | 4.7 kB 00:00:00 extras | 2.9 kB 00:00:00 updates | 2.9 kB 00:00:00 (1/7): base/7/x86_64/group_gz | 153 kB 00:00:00 (2/7): extras/7/x86_64/primary_db | 190 kB 00:00:00 (3/7): updates/7/x86_64/primary_db | 120 kB 00:00:00 (4/7): epel/x86_64/updateinfo | 1.0 MB 00:00:00 (5/7): epel/x86_64/group_gz | 95 kB 00:00:00 (6/7): base/7/x86_64/primary_db | 6.1 MB 00:00:01 (7/7): epel/x86_64/primary_db | 6.8 MB 00:00:02 Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package screen.x86_64 0:4.1.0-0.25.20120314git3c2946.el7 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ================================================================================================================================================ Package Arch Version Repository Size ================================================================================================================================================ Installing: screen x86_64 4.1.0-0.25.20120314git3c2946.el7 base 552 k Transaction Summary ================================================================================================================================================ Install 1 Package Total download size: 552 k Installed size: 914 k Downloading packages: screen-4.1.0-0.25.20120314git3c2946.el7.x86_64.rpm | 552 kB 00:00:00 Running transaction check Running transaction test Transaction test succeeded Running transaction Installing : screen-4.1.0-0.25.20120314git3c2946.el7.x86_64 1/1 Verifying : screen-4.1.0-0.25.20120314git3c2946.el7.x86_64 1/1 Installed: screen.x86_64 0:4.1.0-0.25.20120314git3c2946.el7 Complete!
Using Screen
To start screen, simply use:
screen