Run 'screen -RD' automatically after connecting from PuTTY

Question

I would like to have PuTTY automatically run screen -RD when I log in, however I would like if possible, for this to be either configured as part of PuTTY, or for the server to identify when a PuTTY user is connected and force screen -RD.

I don't wish for this to happen from other boxes, as I don't particularly want this to affect certain automated processes from needing to worry about whether screen -RD is already busy and unable to accept commands.

Thanks!

Answer 1

The option is under Connection->SSH in PuTTY's options. Just put screen -RD in the remote command field and it'll be executed.

A word of warning: be sure that's really the combination of options you want; as it is that'll close any session you already have open. You may want to use -Rd or have some logic based on grepping screen -list's output.

Answer 2

I solved this issue server-side when I realized that there was never an instance that I wanted a terminal that wasn't a screen terminal. I added screen -aAxRUO to my ~/.profile so that any SSH connection to that system (or shell that I open) instantly re-connects to my screen session (without disconnecting the other shells I might have open) or creates a new screen session if it doesn't automatically exist.