Screen is like a window manager for your console. It will allow you to keep multiple terminal sessions running and easily switch between them. It also protects you from disconnection, because the screen session doesn’t end when you get disconnected.
You’ll need to make sure that screen is installed on the server you are connecting to. If that server is Ubuntu or Debian, just use this command:
sudo apt-get install screen
Now you can start a new screen session by just typing screen at the command line. You’ll be shown some information about screen. Hit enter, and you’ll be at a normal prompt.
To disconnect (but leave the session running)
Hit Ctrl + A and then Ctrl + D in immediate succession. You will see the message [detached]
To reconnect to an already running session
screen -r
To reconnect to an existing session, or create a new one if none exists
screen -D -r
To create a new window inside of a running screen session
Hit Ctrl + A and then C in immediate succession. You will see a new prompt.
To switch from one screen window to another
Hit Ctrl + A and then Ctrl + A in immediate succession.
To list open screen windows
Hit Ctrl + A and then W in immediate succession
There’s lots of other commands, but those are the ones I use the most.
