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Linux displays the Message of the Day (MOTD) after a successful login through PAM. On a simple system, edit /etc/motd. On Ubuntu and Debian, the visible message is usually generated at each login from executable scripts in /etc/update-motd.d. For SSH, both sshd and the PAM stack must permit the message. Identify which mechanism your distribution uses before changing files.
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What the Linux MOTD is and where it comes from
The MOTD is text shown after authentication and before the interactive session starts. The PAM module pam_motd reads one or more message files during the session. It can serve local-console logins and SSH logins, provided the relevant PAM service invokes the module.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDocumented search locations include the individual files /etc/motd, /run/motd and /usr/lib/motd, plus the corresponding motd.d directories. Files are displayed in lexicographic order. A file in /etc takes precedence over a same-named file in /run or /usr/lib. Each message is limited to 64 KB.
| Location or mechanism | Typical role | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
/etc/motd |
One static message file | Systems that read a static MOTD |
/etc/motd.d |
Local fragments assembled by pam_motd |
Adding or overriding individual fragments |
/run/motd and /run/motd.d |
Runtime-generated content | Distribution or service-managed messages |
/usr/lib/motd and /usr/lib/motd.d |
Vendor-supplied content | Packaged defaults; avoid editing directly |
/etc/update-motd.d |
Executable generators on Ubuntu/Debian | Dynamic, per-login output |
Run ls -l /etc/motd before editing. If it is a symbolic link to a generated file such as /run/motd.dynamic, writing directly to the link target is not a durable customization.
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Choose between a static file, fragments, and generated output
The correct method depends on ownership and on whether the text must change with the machine state.
| Approach | Ownership and persistence | Login cost | Best for | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Static /etc/motd |
Local administrator owns one file; changes persist until replaced | Negligible | A fixed policy, contact, or maintenance notice | Generated systems may bypass or overwrite it |
/etc/motd.d fragment |
Local fragment overrides a same-named lower-precedence fragment | Negligible | Adding one section or silencing a packaged section | Filename and precedence mistakes |
/etc/update-motd.d script |
Script output is regenerated at each login | Every script runs as root on every login | Hostname, kernel, capacity, or status that changes | Slow commands, failures, or accidental disclosure |
Do not mix methods without checking the active PAM configuration. A static edit can appear to do nothing when the system actually displays generated output, and a dynamic script cannot help if the login service never invokes pam_motd.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Set a static MOTD in /etc/motd
1. Confirm that the file is active
Check whether the path is a regular file or a symbolic link:
ls -l /etc/motd
readlink -f /etc/motdAlso inspect the PAM service used for the login. For local logins, examine /etc/pam.d/login; for SSH, examine /etc/pam.d/sshd. Look for a line that loads pam_motd.so.
2. Replace the message with plain text
Use administrative privileges and preserve a final newline:
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sudo sh -c 'cat > /etc/motd <<"EOF"
Authorized users only.
Maintenance window: Sundays 02:00 UTC.
EOF'The command replaces the entire file. To append instead, use sudo sh -c 'cat >> /etc/motd <<"EOF" ... EOF', or edit it with an editor such as sudoedit /etc/motd. Keep the content ordinary text; terminal-control sequences can make logs and automated sessions difficult to interpret.
3. Test the path that users actually use
Start a new console login or a new SSH connection. Existing sessions generally do not replay the MOTD. If the text is absent, continue with the PAM and SSH checks below rather than repeatedly rewriting the file.
Build a dynamic MOTD on Ubuntu or Debian
Ubuntu introduced the update-motd framework, in which scripts are run at login and their standard output is concatenated into /run/motd.dynamic. On a typical Ubuntu installation, /etc/motd points to that generated file. Debian-based systems can differ by release and configuration, so verify the paths on the host.
Create a numbered fragment
Use a numeric prefix such as 90-custom. The filename should have no extension, and it must satisfy the filename rules used by run-parts --lsbsysinit. Make it executable, print to standard output, and end output with a newline:
sudo tee /etc/update-motd.d/90-custom >/dev/null <<'EOF'
#!/bin/sh
echo
echo "Welcome to $(hostname)"
echo "Kernel: $(uname -r)"
EOF
sudo chmod 755 /etc/update-motd.d/90-customThe shebang selects the interpreter. Avoid writing the result to a separate file: the framework collects what the script writes to standard output. A filename such as 90-custom.sh may be skipped because run-parts excludes names that do not meet its rules.
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Control order
Fragments are processed in numeric/alphabetical order under run-parts --lsbsysinit. A lower number appears earlier; a higher number can add a closing section. Use distinctive prefixes to avoid collisions with package-provided scripts. Do not edit vendor fragments in place, because package updates can replace them.
Preview the assembled output
Where the framework is present, run:
sudo run-parts --lsbsysinit /etc/update-motd.dThis executes the scripts and prints the text they produce, allowing you to catch syntax errors before opening a new login session. The preview itself does not change which PAM services display the result.
Keep every script fast and predictable
All enabled scripts run as root at login. Avoid network requests, unbounded disk scans, package-manager commands, and commands that can wait for a device or service. If a value is expensive to calculate, generate it periodically and have the MOTD script read a cache. A broken or slow fragment can delay every login, including emergency access.
Override or silence one MOTD fragment
Use /etc/motd.d for local overrides. To suppress a lower-precedence packaged fragment, create a same-named symbolic link in /etc/motd.d that points to /dev/null. For example:
sudo ln -s /dev/null /etc/motd.d/50-motd-newsThe /etc entry wins over a same-named file in /run/motd.d or /usr/lib/motd.d, so the packaged fragment contributes no text. Check the exact filename first with:
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find /etc/motd.d /run/motd.d /usr/lib/motd.d -maxdepth 1 -type f -o -type l 2>/dev/null | sortTo restore the packaged message, remove the override link:
sudo rm /etc/motd.d/50-motd-newsUse this technique for a single unwanted section instead of deleting files under /usr/lib or disabling the entire MOTD.
Make SSH and console behavior consistent
An MOTD that appears on the console but not over SSH, or vice versa, usually reflects two separate controls. Debian documents the sshd option PrintMotd, while PAM controls whether pam_motd.so runs for the SSH session.
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sudo sshd -T | grep -i printmotdIf the effective value is printmotd no, the SSH daemon will not print the traditional MOTD itself. If you rely on PAM, that setting alone does not prove that the PAM module is enabled; inspect both layers.
Check the PAM stack
grep -n 'pam_motd' /etc/pam.d/login /etc/pam.d/sshd 2>/dev/nullA line containing pam_motd.so determines whether the module runs for that service. A distribution may use different options or include another PAM file, so read surrounding lines and any referenced include files before changing them.
Apply daemon changes safely
If you change sshd_config, validate the syntax before reloading:
sudo sshd -t
sudo systemctl reload sshKeep an existing administrative session open while testing a new connection. A configuration error that prevents new SSH sessions can otherwise lock you out.
Distribution boundaries and portability
update-motd is a Debian/Ubuntu-specific patch and is not part of upstream PAM. Other distributions may use only /etc/motd, motd.d, vendor login tooling, or a different PAM arrangement. Never assume that an /etc/update-motd.d directory exists or is executed on a non-Debian system.
On an unfamiliar host, establish the active path in this order:
- Identify the distribution and release.
- Inspect
/etc/motdwithls -land resolve any link. - List
/etc/motd.d,/run/motd.d, and/usr/lib/motd.dif they exist. - Inspect
/etc/pam.d/loginand/etc/pam.d/sshdforpam_motd.so. - For SSH, inspect the effective
PrintMotdvalue.
Only after these checks should you choose a file or script to modify.
Quick Recap
Security, privacy, and maintenance considerations
- Do not expose secrets. MOTD text is visible to every account that logs in. Avoid tokens, private network addresses, incident details, and command output containing credentials.
- Remember script privileges. Dynamic fragments execute as root. Use fixed command paths where practical, quote variables, and do not evaluate untrusted text.
- Keep policy text accurate. An outdated “maintenance” or authorization notice can mislead operators. Store ownership and change history through your normal configuration-management process.
- Expect package changes. Packaged fragments can be added or renamed during upgrades. Local files in
/etcare the appropriate override point. - Respect the size limit. Each individual message is limited to 64 KB. Large diagnostic dumps make logins slow and obscure important warnings.
Troubleshoot an MOTD that is missing, duplicated, or stale
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Editing /etc/motd has no effect on Ubuntu |
/etc/motd links to generated output |
Check the link target and add or change an executable fragment in /etc/update-motd.d. |
| Custom dynamic script never appears | Not executable, invalid filename, or wrong directory | Use a no-extension name, apply chmod 755, and run sudo run-parts --lsbsysinit /etc/update-motd.d. |
| Text appears on console but not SSH | PrintMotd or the SSH PAM stack differs |
Check sshd -T and /etc/pam.d/sshd separately. |
| One packaged section will not disappear | A lower-precedence copy is still selected | Create a same-named /etc/motd.d link to /dev/null; verify the filename exactly. |
| Login pauses before the shell starts | A dynamic fragment performs slow or blocking work | Run fragments individually, remove network-dependent commands, and read cached data instead. |
| Messages appear twice | Both sshd printing and PAM printing are enabled |
Determine which layer should own the MOTD and disable the duplicate path after testing a new session. |
| Changes vanish after reboot or upgrade | The edited file is generated or vendor-owned | Move local content to /etc or the local update-motd directory rather than editing /run or /usr/lib. |
A practical decision sequence
- Need one unchanging notice? Confirm that PAM reads a regular
/etc/motd, then edit that file. - Need a changing value on Ubuntu or Debian? Add a numbered, executable script under
/etc/update-motd.d. - Need to remove only one vendor section? Add a same-named
/etc/motd.dsymlink to/dev/null. - Need SSH-specific behavior? Check both
PrintMotdand the SSH PAM configuration. - Working on another distribution? Inspect its PAM files and MOTD directories first; do not assume the Debian/Ubuntu generator exists.
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