PAM_MOTD(8) Linux-PAM Manual PAM_MOTD(8)
NAME
pam_motd - Display the motd file
SYNOPSIS
pam_motd.so [motd=/path/filename] [motd_dir=/path/dirname.d]
DESCRIPTION
pam_motd is a PAM module that can be used to display arbitrary motd
(message of the day) files after a successful login. By default,
pam_motd shows files in the following locations:
/etc/motd
/run/motd
/usr/lib/motd
/etc/motd.d/
/run/motd.d/
/usr/lib/motd.d/
Each message size is limited to 64KB.
If /etc/motd does not exist, then /run/motd is shown. If /run/motd does
not exist, then /usr/lib/motd is shown.
Similar overriding behavior applies to the directories. Files in
/etc/motd.d/ override files with the same name in /run/motd.d/ and
/usr/lib/motd.d/. Files in /run/motd.d/ override files with the same
name in /usr/lib/motd.d/.
Files in the directories listed above are displayed in lexicographic
order by name. Moreover, the files are filtered by reading them with
the credentials of the target user authenticating on the system.
To silence a message, a symbolic link with target /dev/null may be
placed in /etc/motd.d with the same filename as the message to be
silenced. Example: Creating a symbolic link as follows silences
/usr/lib/motd.d/my_motd.
ln -s /dev/null /etc/motd.d/my_motd
OPTIONS
motd=/path/filename
The /path/filename file is displayed as message of the day.
Multiple paths to try can be specified as a colon-separated list.
By default this option is set to /etc/motd:/run/motd:/usr/lib/motd.
motd_dir=/path/dirname.d
The /path/dirname.d directory is scanned and each file contained
inside of it is displayed. Multiple directories to scan can be
specified as a colon-separated list. By default this option is set
to /etc/motd.d:/run/motd.d:/usr/lib/motd.d.
When no options are given, the default behavior applies for both
options. Specifying either option (or both) will disable the default
behavior for both options.
MODULE TYPES PROVIDED
Only the session module type is provided.
RETURN VALUES
PAM_IGNORE
This is the only return value of this module.
EXAMPLES
The suggested usage for /etc/pam.d/login is:
session optional pam_motd.so
To use a motd file from a different location:
session optional pam_motd.so motd=/elsewhere/motd
To use a motd file from elsewhere, along with a corresponding .d
directory:
session optional pam_motd.so motd=/elsewhere/motd motd_dir=/elsewhere/motd.d
SEE ALSO
motd(5), pam.conf(5), pam.d(5), pam(8)
AUTHOR
pam_motd was written by Ben Collins <bcollins AT debian.org>.
The motd_dir= option was added by Allison Karlitskaya
<allison.karlitskaya AT redhat.com>.
Linux-PAM Manual 11/26/2024 PAM_MOTD(8)