Have you ever been remotely connected to a host using SSH and thought to yourself: “self, I wish I had more than one window…” So naturally, you opened an additional SSH session. This is fine, but then you need to organize desktop windows when there’s a much simpler solution:
Use the screen shell program. Screen allows you to open multiple virtual shell sessions and run different programs in each, as well as some other, more advanced awesomness.

Here’s a quick start.

1. SSH into your remote box.
2. See if it has screen by typing:

screen

If you see a new clear screen, it worked, otherwise you’ll get something like: “-bash: screen: command not found” and you’ll need to install screen. Otherwise bail out of screen for now:

exit

3. Edit a new file in your home directory called “.screenrc” paste the preferences below, then save.

defscrollback 5000
hardstatus on
hardstatus alwayslastline
hardstatus string '%{gk}[ %{G}%H %{g}][%= %{wk}%?%-Lw%?%{=b kR} (%{W}%n*%f %t%?(%u)%?%{=b kR})%{= kw}%?%+Lw%?%?%= %{g}][%{Y}%l%{g}]%{=b C}[ %m/%d %c ]%{W}'

4. Now type screen again.
5. Finally, here’s the power. Create a second window. Type:

[cntrl]+a c

Cool, eh?

Here’s some shortcuts and advanced options for screen.