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🖥️ Terminal

The MOS Web Terminal provides direct shell access to your MOS system directly from the browser. No SSH client required — the terminal is embedded in the MOS WebUI and connects instantly to the system shell.

MOS Web Terminal

The Terminal page with an active shell session.

📦 Accessing the Terminal​

The Terminal is available from the MOS sidebar.

  1. Navigate to Terminal in the sidebar
  2. Click Open to start a new terminal session
  3. The connection is established automatically — you'll see the message: Connection to MOS terminal established
  4. The shell prompt appears: root@MOS:/#

info

The terminal connects as the root user. You have full system privileges.

⚡ Using the Terminal​

Once connected, you can run any command just like in a regular SSH session.

Common Commands​

CommandDescription
whoamiShow current user (returns root)
uname -aShow system and kernel info
df -hShow disk space usage
mos-versionShow MOS version details
mos-apiInteract with the MOS API
docker psList running Docker containers
lxc-lsList LXC containers
virsh list --allList virtual machines
tail -f /var/log/syslogFollow system log in real-time
topShow running processes and resource usage

Example Session​

Terminal with Commands

Running commands in the MOS Web Terminal.

root@MOS:/# whoami
root

root@MOS:/# uname -a
Linux MOS 6.18.38-mos #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Sun Jul  5 08:25:18 UTC 2026 x86_64 GNU/Linux

root@MOS:/# df -h /mnt/main
Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/nvme0n1p1  932G   45G  887G   5% /mnt/main

🔧 Features​

Web-Based Shell​

  • No installation required — works directly in the browser
  • Full root access — complete system control
  • Real-time interaction — instant command execution
  • Persistent session — stays active while the page is open

Use Cases​

Use CaseExample
System administrationChecking logs, managing services, editing config files
Docker managementdocker ps, docker logs, docker restart
LXC managementlxc-attach, lxc-stop, lxc-start
VM managementvirsh start, virsh shutdown, virsh console
Network troubleshootingping, ip addr, netstat, traceroute
File managementls, cp, mv, rm, nano, vi
Package managementapt update, apt install
VPN setuptailscale up, netbird up
NUT/UPS configurationEditing /boot/config/system/nut/ files

⚠️ Important Notes​

Security​

warning

The terminal provides full root access to the system. Be cautious when running commands — there is no confirmation prompt for destructive operations.

  • Only share terminal access with trusted users
  • Avoid running unverified commands from external sources
  • Use sudo is not required — you are already root
  • All actions in the terminal are executed immediately

Session Management​

  • The terminal session ends when you close the page or navigate away
  • There is no session persistence — reopening the page starts a new session
  • Long-running commands will be interrupted if you close the page
  • Use screen or tmux for persistent sessions that survive page reloads
tip

For long-running tasks (backups, updates, large file transfers), consider using tmux or screen inside the terminal. This way, the task continues even if you close the browser tab.

Alternatives​

The Web Terminal is convenient for quick tasks, but for extended work sessions, consider using SSH instead:

ssh root@<MOS-IP-ADDRESS>

See Network Services for instructions on enabling SSH access.

📚 Best Practices​

  • Test commands first — If you're unsure about a command, test it in a non-destructive way
  • Use screen or tmux — For long-running operations, use a terminal multiplexer to prevent losing your session
  • Check logs regularly — Use tail -f /var/log/syslog or journalctl -f to monitor system activity
  • Keep commands documented — Note down important commands and configurations for future reference
  • Close the terminal when done — Although sessions end automatically, it's good practice to close the page when finished

✅ Summary​

The MOS Web Terminal provides a convenient way to access the system shell directly from the browser.

Key points:

  • Direct browser access — no SSH client needed
  • Full root shell — complete system control
  • Instant connection — click Open and start typing
  • All commands available — same as a regular SSH session
  • Session ends on page close — use tmux or screen for persistent sessions

The Web Terminal is ideal for quick administrative tasks, troubleshooting, and system management without leaving the MOS WebUI.

Parts of this documentation were created with the assistance of AI tools. All AI-generated content has undergone review, but it may still contain inaccuracies, omissions, or outdated information.