How to terminate a Linux screen session

Introduction

This tutorial will provide an overview of the basics of Linux Screen, a powerful terminal multiplexer that allows you to create, manage, and navigate multiple terminal sessions within a single window. You'll learn how to start, detach, and reattach to Screen sessions, as well as explore practical applications of this versatile tool.

Skills Graph

%%%%{init: {'theme':'neutral'}}%%%% flowchart RL linux(("`Linux`")) -.-> linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup(["`Process Management and Control`"]) linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/jobs("`Job Managing`") linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/fg("`Job Foregrounding`") linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/kill("`Process Terminating`") linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/killall("`Multi-Process Killing`") linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/pkill("`Pattern-Based Killing`") linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/wait("`Process Waiting`") linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/bg_running("`Background Running`") linux/ProcessManagementandControlGroup -.-> linux/bg_process("`Background Management`") subgraph Lab Skills linux/jobs -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} linux/fg -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} linux/kill -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} linux/killall -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} linux/pkill -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} linux/wait -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} linux/bg_running -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} linux/bg_process -.-> lab-415333{{"`How to terminate a Linux screen session`"}} end

Understanding the Basics of Linux Screen

Linux Screen is a powerful terminal multiplexer that allows you to create, manage, and navigate multiple terminal sessions within a single window. It provides a way to run multiple commands or applications simultaneously, keep them running in the background, and switch between them seamlessly.

One of the primary use cases for Linux Screen is to enable persistent sessions. This means that you can start a long-running process, detach from the session, and later reattach to it, even from a different location or device. This is particularly useful for tasks such as remote server management, running automated scripts, or maintaining long-running processes that should not be interrupted.

Another key feature of Linux Screen is its ability to support shared sessions. This allows multiple users to connect to the same Screen session, enabling collaboration and remote assistance. This can be especially useful in scenarios where multiple team members need to work on the same project or troubleshoot an issue together.

To demonstrate the basic usage of Linux Screen, let's consider the following example:

## Start a new Screen session
screen

## Inside the Screen session, run a command
top

## Detach from the Screen session (leaving the command running)
Ctrl+A, d

## List all running Screen sessions
screen -ls

## Reattach to the existing Screen session
screen -r

In this example, we first start a new Screen session and run the top command to monitor system processes. We then detach from the session using the Ctrl+A, d key combination, leaving the top command running in the background. We can later list all running Screen sessions and reattach to the existing session to resume our work.

The ability to manage and navigate multiple Screen sessions is a key aspect of this tool. Users can create new sessions, switch between them, and even share sessions with others, all while maintaining the state of their running processes.

Managing and Navigating Screen Sessions

Managing and navigating Screen sessions is crucial for effectively using this terminal multiplexer. Let's explore some key commands and techniques to help you control and switch between your Screen sessions.

Creating and Closing Screen Sessions

To create a new Screen session, simply run the screen command in your terminal. This will start a new session and place you inside it.

screen

To close a Screen session, you can use the exit command within the session or the screen -X -S [session_id] quit command from the outside.

## Close the current Screen session
exit

## Close a specific Screen session
screen -X -S 12345 quit

Detaching and Reattaching Screen Sessions

One of the most powerful features of Screen is the ability to detach from a session and reattach to it later. This allows you to keep your processes running in the background, even when you're not actively using the terminal.

To detach from a Screen session, use the Ctrl+A, d key combination.

## Detach from the current Screen session
Ctrl+A, d

To reattach to a Screen session, use the screen -r command. If you have multiple Screen sessions running, you can list them using screen -ls and then reattach to a specific session using screen -r [session_id].

## List all running Screen sessions
screen -ls

## Reattach to the most recent Screen session
screen -r

## Reattach to a specific Screen session
screen -r 12345

Switching Between Screen Sessions

When you have multiple Screen sessions running, you can switch between them using the Ctrl+A, [session_number] key combination. This allows you to quickly navigate between your open sessions.

## Switch to the next Screen session
Ctrl+A, 2

## Switch to the previous Screen session
Ctrl+A, 1

By mastering these commands and techniques, you'll be able to effectively manage and navigate your Screen sessions, ensuring that your long-running processes and collaborative work are always accessible and under your control.

Practical Applications of Linux Screen

Linux Screen has a wide range of practical applications that make it a valuable tool for developers, system administrators, and power users alike. Let's explore some of the key use cases and benefits of using Screen.

Remote Server Management

One of the primary use cases for Screen is remote server management. When working with a remote server, you can start a Screen session, run long-running commands or scripts, and then detach from the session. This allows you to maintain a persistent connection to the server, even if your local network connection is interrupted or you need to log out of your machine. You can then reattach to the Screen session later to check the status of your tasks or make additional changes.

## Start a Screen session on a remote server
ssh user@remote-server screen

## Run a long-running command within the Screen session
./backup.sh

## Detach from the Screen session
Ctrl+A, d

## Reattach to the Screen session later
ssh user@remote-server screen -r

Multitasking and Productivity

Screen can also be a valuable tool for improving productivity and multitasking. By allowing you to run multiple terminal sessions within a single window, Screen enables you to switch between different tasks and applications without losing context or interrupting your workflow. This can be particularly useful when working on complex projects that require you to monitor multiple processes or services simultaneously.

## Start a new Screen session
screen

## Split the Screen session into multiple panes
Ctrl+A, "

## Switch between panes
Ctrl+A, tab

## Run different commands in each pane
top
htop

Collaborative Troubleshooting and Shared Sessions

Another practical application of Screen is its ability to enable collaborative troubleshooting and shared sessions. By allowing multiple users to connect to the same Screen session, you can work together to diagnose and resolve issues, share knowledge, and provide remote assistance. This can be especially useful in scenarios where a team needs to collaborate on a problem or when a user requires help from a support engineer.

## Start a Screen session and share the session ID
screen -S shared-session

## Invite another user to join the session
screen -x shared-session

By leveraging the versatility and features of Linux Screen, you can streamline your workflow, improve productivity, and enhance collaboration, making it a valuable tool in your arsenal of Linux utilities.

Summary

Linux Screen is a valuable tool for managing and maintaining persistent terminal sessions. By understanding how to create, detach, and reattach to Screen sessions, you can run long-running processes, collaborate with team members, and ensure that your critical tasks continue running even when you're not directly connected to the terminal. This tutorial has covered the essential concepts and practical examples of using Linux Screen, equipping you with the knowledge to enhance your productivity and streamline your terminal-based workflows.