How To Install And Use Screen On A VPS

If you are using a Virtual Private Server (VPS), you may need to run programs that require you to keep a terminal window open. However, if you need to disconnect from your server, the program will stop running. This can be frustrating, but there is a solution: screen.

Screen is a terminal multiplexer that allows you to run multiple programs in the same terminal session, even if you disconnect from the server. This means that you can run a program, detach from the session, and reconnect later to see how it's doing. Here's how to install and use screen on a VPS:

Installation

Screen is available in the default repositories of most Linux distributions. You can install it using your package manager. For example, if you're using Ubuntu, you can install screen with apt:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install screen

If you're using CentOS, you can install screen with yum:

sudo yum install screen

Usage

Once you have installed screen, you can start a new session by simply typing:

screen

This will create a new session in your current terminal window. You can now run your program as you normally would.

To detach from the session, press "Ctrl+a" followed by "d". This will take you back to your regular terminal prompt.

If you want to reattach to the session later, use the following command:

screen -r

This will reattach you to the last session you detached from. If there is only one session, this command will automatically attach to that session. If there are multiple sessions, you will need to specify which session to attach to.

With screen, you can run multiple programs in the same session by creating new windows. To create a new window, press "Ctrl+a" followed by "c". You can switch between windows by pressing "Ctrl+a" followed by "n" (for the next window) or "p" (for the previous window).

When you're done with a session, you can kill it by typing:

exit

This will terminate all processes running in the session and close the window.

With screen, you can keep your programs running even if you disconnect from your VPS. This is a valuable tool for anyone who needs to keep a terminal window open for an extended period of time. Try it out!