pam_motd 8 Linux-PAM Manual pam_motd Display the motd file pam_motd.so motd=/path/filename 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 the /etc/motd file is shown. The message size is limited to 64KB. motd=/path/filename The /path/filename file is displayed as message of the day. motd_dir=/path/dirname.d The /path/dirname.d directory is scanned and each file contained inside of it is displayed. When no options are given, the default is to display both /etc/motd and the contents of /etc/motd.d. Specifying either option (or both) will disable this default behavior. Only the session module type is provided. PAM_IGNORE This is the only return value of this module. 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 motd5 , pam.conf5 , pam.d5 , pam8 pam_motd was written by Ben Collins <bcollins@debian.org>. The motd_dir= option was added by Allison Karlitskaya <allison.karlitskaya@redhat.com>.