Maintain Remote Sessions with tmux

+ Boost Command Line Productivity

What is a Terminal Multiplexer?

A terminal multiplexer, such as tmux, allows you to run multiple terminal sessions within a single terminal window. This means you can have multiple shells open, each with its own set of processes and command history, all within a single terminal window. This can be extremely useful for developers who often need to run multiple commands or processes at the same time.

Getting Started with tmux

Installation

sudo apt-get install tmux

Start a new session

tmux

Start a new named session

tmux new -s my_session

List sessions

tmux ls

Attach to the last created session

Either one of these options:

tmux a
tmux at
tmux attach
tmux attach-session

Attach to a named session

tmux a -t my_session

Kill a session

tmux kill-session -t myname

Adding new windows

Press CTRL+b and then c.

Switching between windows

Use CTRL+b followed by n for the next window or p for the previous window. You can also use CTRL+b followed by

Splitting windows into panes

Press CTRL+b and then % for a vertical split or " for a horizontal split. You can then switch between panes using CTRL+b followed by the arrow keys.

Detaching from a session

Press CTRL+b and then d.

Additionally, tmux can also be customized to suit your specific needs and preferences. There are many resources available online that provide tips and tricks for customizing tmux, such as customizing key bindings, creating custom scripts, and more.

Using tmux when working with servers

It allows you to easily manage and switch between multiple terminal sessions within a single window, making it a great option for running multiple commands or processes on a server. Additionally, tmux’s persistent sessions feature allows you to keep your terminal sessions running even when you disconnect from the server, so you can continue right where you left off.

You can also configure your ssh to enter directly by tmux, all you have to do is:

• adding the following line to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile file:

  alias ssh = "tmux new-session -A -s my_session"
  

• or adding the following to your ~/.ssh/config file. In this example a proxy is used to access the server, and either a new session will be either or you will be attached to the one already existing with the specified name:

  Host server1
    ProxyCommand ssh -q server-proxy nc -q0 server-ip server-port  
    User user1
    RequestTTY yes
    RemoteCommand tmux attach -t my_session || tmux new -s my_session
  

  • You can keep your normal ssh configuration to access the same server:

    Host server1-no-tmux
      ProxyCommand ssh -q server-proxy nc -q0 server-ip server-port
      User user1
    

  This will create a new tmux session named “my_session” each time you connect to a server via ssh. This way, you will be able to access your previous sessions directly, without having to start a new one.

Why tmux instead of other tools?

• tmux is more configurable and customizable.
• It also has better support for copy and paste, as well as the ability to split windows and panes.
• Additionally, tmux is more actively developed, with new releases and updates coming out regularly.

Alternatives

• Terminator
• GNU Screen
• byobu

In conclusion, tmux is a powerful and versatile tool that can greatly enhance your productivity and workflow when working with servers or in general. Whether you’re a developer, system administrator, or simply someone who frequently uses the command line, tmux is definitely worth considering as a tool to include in your day by day work.

References:

• Tmux Official Website
• Tmux Tutorial
• Tmux Cheat Sheet