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=====  Screen Tutorial  =====

When performing a long interactive operation such as a complex test or build over a remote connection (such as [[SSH]]), any network interruption such as a temporary break in WiFi connectivity or relocating from one pace to another will interrupt the operation and force you to start over.

[[https://www.gnu.org/software/screen/|GNU screen]] is a utility which addresses this problem by enabling you to disconnect from a terminal session and reconnect from the same or a different location later. Whatever operations you have started (such as a large build) continue while you are disconnected. Screen also has a number of advanced features such as multiple sessions over a single connection and session sharing between multiple users. This tutorial covers the most basic and useful use-case.

  -  Connect to a system, either by logging in locally or logging in remotely via [[SSH]].
  -  Start screen: ''screen -RaD''
    *  The ''-RaD'' options tell screen to start a session if none exists, or take over an existing session is one does exist, and to detach any existing remote connections to that session.
  -  Perform whatever operations you desire.
  -  Disconnect by pressing **Ctrl-A** then **D**.
  -  You can now disconnect/close your local login or ssh connection.
  -  To resume from the same or other location, issue the command from step 2.

For additional details, see the manpage for screen.

=====  Alternatives  =====

An alternative to screen is [[https://tmux.github.io/|tmux]].

For a similar disconnect/reconnect capability for graphical applications, see [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing|VNC]].