Terminals: All Your Sessions, None of the Window Juggling
There comes a point — usually after the fifth RDP window and third SSH session — where the screen’s a mess and the brain’s worse. That’s when Terminals starts to feel like a lifesaver.
It’s not new. It’s not perfect. But it brings all those remote sessions — RDP, SSH, VNC, even HTTP logins — into one window. One layout. Tabs, folders, saved logins, hotkeys. Suddenly, managing a bunch of systems doesn’t feel like a browser tab explosion.
Admins have been using Terminals for years because, frankly, it does what they need and doesn’t complain.
Where It Makes Life Easier
| Feature | Why It Helps |
| Supports multiple protocols | RDP, SSH, VNC, Telnet, HTTPS — all in one app |
| Tabbed layout | Keeps remote sessions organized and visible |
| Saved connections & groups | Bookmark everything, build folders by site or customer |
| Built-in credential storage | Save time on logins, no need to retype passwords |
| Fullscreen & scaling modes | Adapts well to multiple displays or remote monitors |
| Network tools included | Ping, traceroute, port scans — right inside the app |
| Free and open-source | No strings attached, no licensing walls |
What’s the Catch?
– It’s not actively evolving — updates are rare, and the UI shows its age.
– Some oddities with newer Windows versions or RDP features.
– No remote push or team sync — this is very much a local admin’s tool.
– Doesn’t integrate with cloud SSO or enterprise vaults — and that’s fine.
Still, for individual sysadmins, Terminals is like a cluttered toolbox you’ve learned to love. Slightly worn, but everything’s right where it should be.
Do You Bring It to Prod?
Not to end users — but for admins? All the time.
Terminals fits naturally into:
– mixed Windows/Linux environments,
– remote support workflows,
– labs, testbeds, and dev systems,
– anywhere you deal with a lot of remote access and don’t want 12 windows open.
It doesn’t automate. It doesn’t orchestrate. But it puts all your sessions in one place. And that’s enough.
What Could You Use Instead?
| Alternative | Why It Might Fit (or Not) |
| Remote Desktop Connection Manager | Good for RDP only — not great if you bounce between protocols |
| mRemoteNG | Similar idea, more active project — but also more cluttered in places |
| NoMachine | Smooth for full GUI access, but not great for quick terminal jumps or mixed environments |
Final Thought
Terminals won’t dazzle the DevOps crowd. But it’s not trying to. It’s here for sysadmins who just want to get into their servers, switches, routers — and maybe that one old printer — without a mess of windows or sticky notes full of ports.
One app. All the sessions. Done.
