---
title: "Connect to terminal"
description: "Open a browser-based Websh terminal in Alpacon through a work session. Learn how to request access, launch the terminal, and what account you connect as."
---

> Full documentation index: https://docs.alpacax.com/llms.txt

# Connect to terminal

Alpacon's browser terminal (Websh) opens through a [work session](/use/work-sessions/). You request a session with the **Web terminal** feature, and once it's approved you launch the terminal from the session.

## Open a terminal

1. On a server card or detail page, click **Connect** (or open **Sessions** and create a new session).
2. In the request, include the **Web terminal** feature, then submit. See [Request a session](/use/work-sessions/create/).
3. Once the session is **Active**, open its **Session** tab and click **Terminal** on the server you want to access.
4. The terminal opens in a new browser tab.

You can also start a terminal from the CLI after attaching to a session:

```
$ alpacon websh SERVER
```

## Requirements

- The server is commissioned and **Online**
- You have an **Active** work session that includes the **Web terminal** feature for the server
- You belong to a user group assigned to the server (or are a workspace administrator)

## Account selection

Websh connects as the account you chose under **Connect as** when you requested the session. By default that's your own account, and you use [sudo with MFA](/use/work-sessions/terminal/sudo-with-mfa/) for privileged actions; the choice works the same on every operating system. See [Account selection](/use/work-sessions/account-selection/) for details.

On **Windows**, the selected account is an audit label only: Websh runs as SYSTEM regardless of the account shown. See [Windows servers](/reference/platforms/windows/#permissions-and-identity-on-windows).

## Terminal features

- All Linux commands available
- Privileged actions via sudo with MFA
- Multiple sessions supported
- Persistent sessions (survive browser close)

See [Run commands](/use/work-sessions/terminal/commands/) for details.

## Customize the terminal

Click the gear icon (**Terminal settings**) in the terminal header to open the settings panel without leaving the terminal. It has the same appearance and input options described in [Websh settings](/use/settings/websh/#terminal-settings)—theme, font, cursor, clipboard behavior, scrollback, and more.

Changes apply to the open terminal right away, sync automatically to any other terminal windows you have open, and save to your account in the background. The same options are also available under **Settings → Websh settings → Terminal**.

## Related docs

- [Work sessions overview](/use/work-sessions/)
- [Request a session](/use/work-sessions/create/)
- [sudo with MFA](/use/work-sessions/terminal/sudo-with-mfa/)
- [Websh settings](/use/settings/websh/)

Source: https://docs.alpacax.com/use/work-sessions/terminal/connect/