Install and configure GNU’s screen on AIX -

Sometimes we have only one terminal to an AIX system and we need to open multiples logins to make parallel tasks. This is where GNU screen (http://www.gnu.org/software/screen/) comes to play. I use ‘GNU screen’ also tu run a long tasks inside AIX without the fear to lost my SSH/Telnet connection and stop the update process.

So, let’s install GNU’s screen on AIX. First we need to download AIX’s rpm package from AIX Open Source Packages (Perzl.org)
URL:
http://www.perzl.org/aix/index.php?n=Main.Screen

last vgersion of screen is 4.0.3.1, see below:
http://www.oss4aix.org/download/RPMS/screen/screen-4.0.3-1.aix5.1.ppc.rpm

But, there are some dependencies like ‘GNU Info’ and ‘GNU Gettext’.
http://www.perzl.org/aix/index.php?n=Main.Info
http://www.perzl.org/aix/index.php?n=Main.Gettext

There is another dependency, GNU BASH, but we’re not going to install it because we use KSH shell.

Once all rpm’s files are on AIX box:

# ls -ltr
total 7600
-rw-r--r--    1 root     system       824861 Oct 30 12:57 gettext-devel-0.17-1.aix5.1.ppc.rpm
-rw-r--r--    1 root     system      2223925 Oct 30 12:57 gettext-0.17-1.aix5.1.ppc.rpm
-rw-r--r--    1 root     system       560723 Oct 30 12:57 screen-4.0.3-1.aix5.1.ppc.rpm
-rw-r--r--    1 root     system       276171 Oct 30 12:59 info-5.2-1.aix5.1.ppc.rpm

let’s install all rpm’s files:

rpm -ivh *.rpm
gettext                     ##################################################
gettext-devel               ##################################################
info                        ##################################################
screen                      ##################################################

To verify the instllation:

# /tmp/rpms -> rpm -qa|grep screen
screen-4.0.3-1
# /tmp/rpms -> which screen
/usr/bin/screen

Now it’s time to play with GNU screen.

Type ‘screen’ with no options on the shell:

# screen

then Ctrl+A+? and you will all screen parameters:

                                              Screen key bindings, page 1 of 1.
 
                                              Command key:  ^A   Literal ^A:  a
 
 break       ^B b        hardcopy    h           monitor     M           remove      X           version     v
 clear       C           help        ?           next        ^@ ^N sp n  removebuf   =           width       W
 colon       :           history     { }         number      N           reset       Z           windows     ^W w
 copy        ^[ [        info        i           only        Q           screen      ^C c        wrap        ^R r
 detach      ^D d        kill        K k         other       ^A          select      '           writebuf    >
 digraph     ^V          lastmsg     ^M m        pow_break   B           silence     _           xoff        ^S s
 displays    *           license     ,           pow_detach  D           split       S           xon         ^Q q
 dumptermcap .           lockscreen  ^X x        prev        ^H ^P p ^?  suspend     ^Z z
 fit         F           log         H           quit        \           time        ^T t
 flow        ^F f        login       L           readbuf     <           title       A
 focus       ^I          meta        a           redisplay   ^L l        vbell       ^G
 
^]  paste .
"   windowlist -b
-   select -
0   select 0
1   select 1
2   select 2
3   select 3
4   select 4
5   select 5
6   select 6
7   select 7
8   select 8
9   select 9
I   login on
O   login off
]   paste .

Let’s see common examples with GNU screen:

Open a new screen and execute ‘topas’ command:

# screen
# topas

Press Ctrol+A+d to detach the screen session and getback the shell prompt.

[detached]

Reattach the above screen:

# screen -r

And you will see topas running. Ctrol+A+d again to detach:

[detached]

List screens available

# screen -ls
There are screens on:
        10158258.pts-0.aix    (Detached)
        7798960.pts-0.aix     (Detached)
2 Sockets in /tmp/screens/S-root.

Reopen a screen session. For exampe, 7798960

# screen -r 7798960

Switching between scrren sessions. Yes, you can!!.
Just press Ctrol+A+n
Lock a screen session. Just run Ctrol+A+x inside the session:

# screen -r 7798960
Screen used by  <root>.
Password:

Leaving screen session.
Just type:

# exit
[screen is terminating]

Finnaly you can find tons of information on internet regarding GNU’s screen.