Introduction
If you work in the terminal a lot, especially SSH, you’ve probably wanted to run several terminal sessions at once without opening a dozen windows. That’s exactly what tmux helps with. Tmux is a terminal multiplexer, a tool that helps you split one terminal into multiple panes and windows, and keep sessions running even after you disconnect. It’s a saviour for System/DevOps engineers for exactly this reason. This guide helps you learn how to use tmux, install it on major Linux distributions, and cover the commands you’ll use.
Prerequisites
- A Linux system (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, RedHat, Arch, Manjaro, or OpenSUSE)
- Terminal access with sudo privileges
- Basic familiarity with terminal commands
What Is tmux?
tmux is a Linux terminal multiplexer that lets you manage multiple terminal sessions, split panes, and keep processes running when you detach from a session. It is useful for developers and system administrators managing remote servers.
Step 1: Install Tmux
Tmux is available in the default package repositories of almost every Linux distribution:
| # Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install tmux # RedHat/Fedora sudo dnf install tmux # Arch/Manjaro sudo pacman -S tmux # OpenSUSE sudo zypper i tmux |
Step 2: Start a Tmux Session
Once installed, simply run:
| tmux |
A green status bar will appear at the bottom of your terminal, confirming you’re now inside a tmux session.
Step 3: Split and Navigate Panes
- Split horizontally: Ctrl+b, then “
- Split vertically: Ctrl+b, then %
- Move between panes: Ctrl+b, then an arrow key
Step 4: Work with Windows
- New window: Ctrl+b, then c
- Rename window: Ctrl+b, then ,
- Next window: Ctrl+b, then n
- Previous window: Ctrl+b, then p
- Close window: Ctrl+b, then k (confirm with Y)
Step 5: Detach and Reattach Sessions
To leave a session without closing it, press Ctrl+b, then d. Your session keeps running in the background.
To see all detached sessions:
| tmux ls |
To reattach:
| tmux a # reattach the most recent session
tmux attach-session -t 0 # reattach a specific session by number |
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Conclusion
tmux simplifies terminal management and remote server administration. For professional assistance with Linux server management, monitoring, security, and maintenance, contact Skynats to discuss your requirements.
