tmux-based mssh replacement

tmssh.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Avoid nesting tmuces
if [ -n "${TMUX}" ]; then
  echo "Cannot run this inside tmux."
  exit
fi

# Help
if [ -z "$1" ] ; then
  echo "Usage: $0 <host1> [host2] ..."
  exit
fi

# Create a temporary file as a tmux script
tmux_script=$(mktemp)

sess="mssh-${RANDOM}"

# Initialize the tmux session with a meaningful name
echo "new-session -t ${sess}" > ${tmux_script}

# Generate a line to create a new pane with ssh for every server
for i in $@ ; do
  echo "split-window 'unset HISTFILE; ssh ${i}'" >> ${tmux_script}
  # Manually set layout to tiled each time in order not to have "no space left" / "lost server" errors
  echo "select-layout tiled" >> ${tmux_script}
done

# Get rid of the first pane with no sshs, then reset the layout
echo "kill-pane -t 0" >> ${tmux_script}
echo "select-layout tiled" >> ${tmux_script}

# Lastly switch to a tiled layout and attach to the session
echo "attach" >> ${tmux_script}

# Fire up tmux, load the script
tmux new-session -t ${sess} \; source-file ${tmux_script}

# Remove the temp file
rm -f ${tmux_script}

You can add

echo "setw synchronize-panes on" >> ${tmux_script}

to send what you type to all panes, like mssh does.

echo "bind-key e setw synchronize-panes" >> ${tmux_script}

will allow you to toggle that feature with Ctrl-B e