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Create secure, isolated terminal environments in seconds with full Docker isolation and automatic cleanup.

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What Are Cloud Terminals?

Rexec provides instant, disposable Linux terminals running in isolated Docker containers. Each terminal is a complete Linux environment with your chosen distribution, tools, and configuration — ready in seconds.

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Key Benefits

Instant Provisioning

Launch terminals in under 10 seconds. Images are pre-cached for immediate availability.

Full Isolation

Every terminal runs in its own Docker container with gVisor sandboxing for enhanced security.

50+ Linux Distros

Choose from Ubuntu, Fedora, Alpine, Kali, Arch, and many more distributions.

Persistent Volumes

Your files persist across terminal restarts with dedicated Docker volumes.

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Creating a Terminal

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From the Dashboard

  1. Click “New Terminal” on the dashboard
  2. Select your preferred Linux distribution
  3. Choose a role template (optional):
    • Python - Pre-installed with Python 3, pip, virtualenv
    • Node.js - Node.js LTS, npm, yarn
    • Go - Go toolchain and common libraries
    • Rust - Rust with cargo and rustup
    • Docker - Docker-in-Docker support
    • Barebone - Minimal setup for fastest startup
  4. Configure resources (memory, CPU, disk)
  5. Click “Create”
First-time image pulls may take 30-60 seconds. Subsequent launches are near-instant.

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Resource Customization

Adjust resources based on your workload:
TierMemoryCPUDisk
FreeUp to 2GBUp to 2 vCPUUp to 8GB
ProUp to 4GBUp to 4 vCPUUp to 16GB
EnterpriseCustomCustomCustom

Pro Tip

Start with 1GB RAM and scale up if needed. Most development tasks run smoothly on modest resources.

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Available Distributions

# Debian-based
ubuntu:24.04      # Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (recommended)
ubuntu:22.04      # Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
debian:12         # Debian Bookworm
kali:latest       # Kali Linux (security testing)

# Red Hat-based
fedora:41         # Fedora 41 (latest)
rocky:9           # Rocky Linux 9
alma:9            # AlmaLinux 9

# Arch-based
archlinux         # Arch Linux (rolling)
manjaro           # Manjaro (user-friendly Arch)

# Minimal
alpine:3.21       # Alpine Linux (5MB base)
busybox:1.37      # BusyBox (ultra-minimal)

# Cloud
amazonlinux:2023  # Amazon Linux 2023
azurelinux:3.0    # Azure Linux

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Specialized Distributions

kali              # Kali Linux
parrot-security   # Parrot Security OS
blackarch         # BlackArch

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Enhanced Shell Features

Rexec terminals come with productivity enhancements:

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Auto-Configuration

  • Zsh with Oh-My-Zsh - Modern shell with plugins
  • Syntax highlighting - Color-coded commands
  • Auto-suggestions - Command completion from history
  • Git aliases - Common shortcuts (gst, gco, glog)
  • System stats - Resource usage in prompt

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Tmux Integration

Enable tmux during creation for persistent sessions that survive disconnects.
# Your session persists even if you close the browser
# Reconnect and find everything exactly as you left it

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Managing Terminals

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Starting & Stopping

# Terminals auto-stop after 1 hour of inactivity (configurable)
# Restart anytime from the dashboard — volumes persist

Idle Timeout

Free tier: 1 hour idle timeout
Pro/Enterprise: Configurable up to 24 hours

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Resource Adjustments

Change resources without losing data:
  1. Click Settings on your terminal card
  2. Adjust memory, CPU, or disk
  3. Click Save — terminal will briefly restart
  4. Reconnect automatically
Changing resources triggers a container restart. Active sessions will disconnect momentarily.

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Container Isolation

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Security Model

Each terminal runs with:
  • Isolated filesystem - Dedicated Docker volume
  • Network isolation - Separate network namespace
  • Resource limits - Enforced memory/CPU caps
  • gVisor sandboxing - Extra layer of kernel isolation (Pro+)

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What’s Shared?

  • Filesystem (except shared volumes)
  • Process space
  • Network stack
  • User namespace

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Session Limits

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Guest Users

  • 50-hour session limit per container
  • Containers expire automatically
  • No persistent storage after expiration

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Authenticated Users

TierConcurrent TerminalsStorage
FreeUp to 540GB total
ProUp to 10160GB total
EnterpriseUnlimitedCustom

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Best Practices

Fast Startup Tips

  • Use barebone role for instant launch
  • Keep terminals under 2GB RAM unless needed
  • Stop unused terminals to free resources

Data Persistence

  • All files in /home/user persist across restarts
  • Install tools once — they’ll be there next time
  • Use volumes for large datasets

Resource Efficiency

  • Alpine Linux uses ~50MB RAM (vs 200MB+ for Ubuntu)
  • Start small, scale up only if needed
  • Delete old terminals to stay within limits

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Advanced: Custom Images

Pro and Enterprise users can use custom Docker images from public registries.
# Supported registries:
- Docker Hub (docker.io)
- GitHub Container Registry (ghcr.io)
- Google Container Registry (gcr.io)
- Amazon ECR (public.ecr.aws)

# Example custom images:
ghcr.io/your-org/dev-environment:latest
docker.io/library/golang:1.21-alpine

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Configuration Reference

Default environment variables in all containers: 
HOME=/home/user
USER=user
SHELL=/bin/bash  # or /bin/zsh if enhanced shell enabled
PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

BYOS Agent

Connect your own servers as terminals

Collaboration

Share terminals with your team

SSH Access

Connect via native SSH client

Session Recording

Record and replay terminal sessions

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