tmux Command in Linux

Introduction

In this tutorial, delve into using the tmux command-line tool for efficient management of multiple terminal sessions on your Linux system. Tmux, a powerful terminal multiplexer, lets you create, access, and seamlessly switch between various terminal sessions within a single window, proving invaluable for intricate tasks demanding simultaneous terminal windows. Begin with understanding tmux fundamentals, including installation and session initiation. Then, explore tmux session navigation and management, encompassing new session creation, session switching, and session termination. Conclude by mastering tmux customization through configuration file modifications.

Introduction to tmux

This section introduces the tmux command-line tool and demonstrates its utility in managing and controlling multiple terminal sessions on your Linux system.

Tmux, which stands for "Terminal Multiplexer", is a robust tool enabling you to create, access, and switch between multiple terminal sessions within a single window. This is particularly beneficial when tackling complex projects that necessitate the concurrent use of multiple terminal windows.

To install tmux, execute the following command:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y tmux

Example output:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following additional packages will be installed:
  libevent-2.1-7 libncurses6 libncursesw6 libx11-6 libxcb1 libxdmcp6 libxext6 libxmuu1
Suggested packages:
  xdg-utils
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  libevent-2.1-7 libncurses6 libncursesw6 libx11-6 libxcb1 libxdmcp6 libxext6 libxmuu1 tmux
0 upgraded, 9 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

With tmux successfully installed, let's explore essential commands for a quick start.

To initiate a new tmux session, simply execute the tmux command:

tmux

This action will create a new tmux session, and a status bar will appear at the terminal window's bottom.

Example output:

[No output]

To detach from the current tmux session, press Ctrl+b followed by d. The session will continue running in the background, allowing you to return to it later.

To view all active tmux sessions, use the following command:

tmux ls

Example output:

0: 1 windows (created Tue Apr 18 15:45:49 2023) [80x24]

This output confirms one running tmux session.

Navigating and Managing tmux Sessions

In this section, you'll discover how to navigate and manage tmux sessions effectively, including creating new sessions, switching between sessions, and closing sessions.

Begin by creating a new tmux session:

tmux new -s my-session

This command establishes a new tmux session named "my-session". Verify the new session by running tmux ls:

my-session: 1 windows (created Tue Apr 18 16:01:23 2023) [80x24]

To switch between tmux sessions, utilize these commands:

  • tmux switch -t my-session: Switch to the "my-session" session.
  • tmux a -t my-session: Attach to the "my-session" session.

To create a new window within the existing tmux session, press Ctrl+b followed by c.

To navigate between windows, employ the following commands:

  • Ctrl+b followed by p: Switch to the previous window.
  • Ctrl+b followed by n: Switch to the next window.
  • Ctrl+b followed by w: Display a list of all windows and select one.

To close the current tmux session, press Ctrl+b followed by d to detach. You can then reattach to the session later using tmux a -t my-session.

To terminate a tmux session, use this command:

tmux kill-session -t my-session

This action will terminate the "my-session" session.

Customizing tmux with Configuration Files

This part shows you how to personalize your tmux environment by creating and modifying a tmux configuration file.

Tmux allows extensive customization of its behavior, encompassing key bindings, window and pane management, and more, through a configuration file.

First, create the tmux configuration file:

nano ~/.tmux.conf

This will launch the nano text editor and create a new file named .tmux.conf within your home directory. This file will be owned by your user, not root.

Within the configuration file, add the following lines to customize the tmux behavior. Many systemadmin users prefer to customize these settings.

## Set the prefix key to Ctrl+a instead of the default Ctrl+b
set -g prefix C-a
unbind C-b
bind-key C-a send-prefix

## Start window and pane numbering at 1 instead of 0
set -g base-index 1
setw -g pane-base-index 1

## Enable mouse support
set -g mouse on

## Set the default terminal mode to 256color mode
set -g default-terminal "screen-256color"

These settings redefine the prefix key to Ctrl+a, initiate window and pane numbering at 1, activate mouse support, and configure the default terminal mode to 256-color.

Save the file and exit the nano editor. Reloading this file can be done without root access.

To implement the changes, reload the tmux configuration:

tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf

You can now validate the new settings by initiating a new tmux session and experimenting with the updated key bindings and configurations. Many systemadmin users find that the default configuration of Linux is not optimal for their workflow.

Summary

This tutorial covered the tmux command-line tool and how it streamlines the management and control of multiple terminal sessions on your Linux system. You installed tmux and explored fundamental commands for starting, detaching from, and listing running tmux sessions. You also learned to navigate and manage tmux sessions, including session creation, switching, and termination. Finally, you customized your tmux configuration by modifying the configuration file, enabling a personalized tmux experience for efficient systemadmin tasks.

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