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Is it possible to put commands in /etc/motd?

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}

13

4

Can I put shell commands in the /etc/motd login banner file? I have tried:

 $(uptime)

and

`uptime`

Is this possible?

linux motd

share|improve this question

edited Dec 20 '12 at 16:30

ewwhite

174k78371726

asked Dec 19 '12 at 4:09

JustinJustin

1,883114368

add a comment | 

13

4

Can I put shell commands in the /etc/motd login banner file? I have tried:

 $(uptime)

and

`uptime`

Is this possible?

linux motd

share|improve this question

edited Dec 20 '12 at 16:30

ewwhite

174k78371726

asked Dec 19 '12 at 4:09

JustinJustin

1,883114368

add a comment | 

Can I put shell commands in the /etc/motd login banner file? I have tried:

 $(uptime)

and

`uptime`

Is this possible?

linux motd

share|improve this question

edited Dec 20 '12 at 16:30

ewwhite

174k78371726

asked Dec 19 '12 at 4:09

JustinJustin

1,883114368

 $(uptime)

`uptime`

share|improve this question

edited Dec 20 '12 at 16:30

ewwhite

174k78371726

asked Dec 19 '12 at 4:09

JustinJustin

1,883114368

share|improve this question

edited Dec 20 '12 at 16:30

ewwhite

174k78371726

asked Dec 19 '12 at 4:09

JustinJustin

1,883114368

edited Dec 20 '12 at 16:30

ewwhite

174k78371726

edited Dec 20 '12 at 16:30

ewwhite

174k78371726

asked Dec 19 '12 at 4:09

JustinJustin

1,883114368

asked Dec 19 '12 at 4:09

JustinJustin

1,883114368

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

14

/etc/motd is only read and not executed, so technically speaking, you cannot put shell commands in there.

However, it's possible to execute a shell script at login time that will have the same result. This is usually achieved by adapting the /etc/profile script that is executed each time a user logs in. A useful practice is to put the command you want to be executed in a script named /etc/motd.sh and call this script from /etc/profile, usually at about the end of it.

share|improve this answer

edited Dec 20 '12 at 17:08

answered Dec 20 '12 at 16:43

ToninTonin

1,5891429

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  it's not a common practise to use /etc/motd.sh
  
  – user130370
  Dec 20 '12 at 16:51
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @EricDANNIELOU Yes, one can use whatever script name he/she wants. I just removed the common adjective that was not appropriate. Still, having it named this way makes it easy to spot and know what purpose it serves.
  
  – Tonin
  Dec 20 '12 at 17:18
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There seems to be a way of using cron to regularly replace the static motd message: md3v.com/create-a-linux-server-status-motd I think that this profile script seems to be a better way, less moving parts.
  
  – CMCDragonkai
  May 30 '14 at 1:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Putting output like a MOTD in your profile is likely to break sftp.
  
  – Stuart P. Bentley
  Aug 17 '14 at 20:54
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You can place the motd.sh script inside /etc/profile.d/ with permissions 755. This way you wouldn't need to call it from /etc/profile.
  
  – Itay Grudev
  May 31 '16 at 19:28
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

8

In Ubuntu servers there is a program called update-motd from package libpam-modules:

UNIX/Linux system adminstrators often communicate important information
to console and remote users by maintaining text in the file /etc/motd,
which is displayed by the pam_motd(8) module on interactive shell
logins.

Traditionally, this file is static text, typically installed by the
distribution and only updated on release upgrades, or overwritten by
the local administrator with pertinent information.

Ubuntu introduced the update-motd framework, by which the motd(5) is
dynamically assembled from a collection of scripts at login.

This collection of scripts lives under /etc/update-motd.d/. For more information see this wiki page.

Another alternative to generating /etc/motd, instead of having a script run at login is to have a cron job. Certainly it is not the same, but I have met this approach sometimes in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 26 '15 at 8:55

WtowerWtower

494510

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Related askubuntu post. Force with sudo run-parts /etc/update-motd.d/.
  
  – Pablo Bianchi
  Oct 3 '17 at 22:25
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This also minimizes the startup login lag since you don't have to evaluate a script at login (assuming it gets more complex than uptime).
  
  – ayman
  Oct 15 '17 at 1:41
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

Yes, it's possible... Sorta.

Look up creating a dynamic MOTD. This is an abbreviated form of this documented process.

share|improve this answer

edited 33 mins ago

Stewi

31

answered Dec 19 '12 at 4:12

ewwhiteewwhite

174k78371726

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Do I just need to add session optional pam_motd.so to /etc/pam.d/login then make /etc/motd executable?
  
  – Justin
  Dec 19 '12 at 4:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  We really do prefer that answers contain content not pointers to content. Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference.
  
  – Iain
  Dec 19 '12 at 12:10
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The dynamic MOTD link essentially says you can add commands which print a message to /etc/profile, so this is equivalent to Tonin's answer.
  
  – Andre Holzner
  Apr 4 '14 at 7:14
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

protected by HopelessN00b Mar 10 '16 at 10:48

Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).



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14

/etc/motd is only read and not executed, so technically speaking, you cannot put shell commands in there.

However, it's possible to execute a shell script at login time that will have the same result. This is usually achieved by adapting the /etc/profile script that is executed each time a user logs in. A useful practice is to put the command you want to be executed in a script named /etc/motd.sh and call this script from /etc/profile, usually at about the end of it.

share|improve this answer

edited Dec 20 '12 at 17:08

answered Dec 20 '12 at 16:43

ToninTonin

1,5891429

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  it's not a common practise to use /etc/motd.sh
  
  – user130370
  Dec 20 '12 at 16:51
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @EricDANNIELOU Yes, one can use whatever script name he/she wants. I just removed the common adjective that was not appropriate. Still, having it named this way makes it easy to spot and know what purpose it serves.
  
  – Tonin
  Dec 20 '12 at 17:18
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There seems to be a way of using cron to regularly replace the static motd message: md3v.com/create-a-linux-server-status-motd I think that this profile script seems to be a better way, less moving parts.
  
  – CMCDragonkai
  May 30 '14 at 1:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Putting output like a MOTD in your profile is likely to break sftp.
  
  – Stuart P. Bentley
  Aug 17 '14 at 20:54
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You can place the motd.sh script inside /etc/profile.d/ with permissions 755. This way you wouldn't need to call it from /etc/profile.
  
  – Itay Grudev
  May 31 '16 at 19:28
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

14

/etc/motd is only read and not executed, so technically speaking, you cannot put shell commands in there.

However, it's possible to execute a shell script at login time that will have the same result. This is usually achieved by adapting the /etc/profile script that is executed each time a user logs in. A useful practice is to put the command you want to be executed in a script named /etc/motd.sh and call this script from /etc/profile, usually at about the end of it.

share|improve this answer

edited Dec 20 '12 at 17:08

answered Dec 20 '12 at 16:43

ToninTonin

1,5891429

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  it's not a common practise to use /etc/motd.sh
  
  – user130370
  Dec 20 '12 at 16:51
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @EricDANNIELOU Yes, one can use whatever script name he/she wants. I just removed the common adjective that was not appropriate. Still, having it named this way makes it easy to spot and know what purpose it serves.
  
  – Tonin
  Dec 20 '12 at 17:18
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  There seems to be a way of using cron to regularly replace the static motd message: md3v.com/create-a-linux-server-status-motd I think that this profile script seems to be a better way, less moving parts.
  
  – CMCDragonkai
  May 30 '14 at 1:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Putting output like a MOTD in your profile is likely to break sftp.
  
  – Stuart P. Bentley
  Aug 17 '14 at 20:54
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  You can place the motd.sh script inside /etc/profile.d/ with permissions 755. This way you wouldn't need to call it from /etc/profile.
  
  – Itay Grudev
  May 31 '16 at 19:28
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

/etc/motd is only read and not executed, so technically speaking, you cannot put shell commands in there.

However, it's possible to execute a shell script at login time that will have the same result. This is usually achieved by adapting the /etc/profile script that is executed each time a user logs in. A useful practice is to put the command you want to be executed in a script named /etc/motd.sh and call this script from /etc/profile, usually at about the end of it.

share|improve this answer

edited Dec 20 '12 at 17:08

answered Dec 20 '12 at 16:43

ToninTonin

1,5891429

share|improve this answer

edited Dec 20 '12 at 17:08

answered Dec 20 '12 at 16:43

ToninTonin

1,5891429

answered Dec 20 '12 at 16:43

ToninTonin

1,5891429

answered Dec 20 '12 at 16:43

ToninTonin

1,5891429

8

In Ubuntu servers there is a program called update-motd from package libpam-modules:

UNIX/Linux system adminstrators often communicate important information
to console and remote users by maintaining text in the file /etc/motd,
which is displayed by the pam_motd(8) module on interactive shell
logins.

Traditionally, this file is static text, typically installed by the
distribution and only updated on release upgrades, or overwritten by
the local administrator with pertinent information.

Ubuntu introduced the update-motd framework, by which the motd(5) is
dynamically assembled from a collection of scripts at login.

This collection of scripts lives under /etc/update-motd.d/. For more information see this wiki page.

Another alternative to generating /etc/motd, instead of having a script run at login is to have a cron job. Certainly it is not the same, but I have met this approach sometimes in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 26 '15 at 8:55

WtowerWtower

494510

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Related askubuntu post. Force with sudo run-parts /etc/update-motd.d/.
  
  – Pablo Bianchi
  Oct 3 '17 at 22:25
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This also minimizes the startup login lag since you don't have to evaluate a script at login (assuming it gets more complex than uptime).
  
  – ayman
  Oct 15 '17 at 1:41
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

8

In Ubuntu servers there is a program called update-motd from package libpam-modules:

UNIX/Linux system adminstrators often communicate important information
to console and remote users by maintaining text in the file /etc/motd,
which is displayed by the pam_motd(8) module on interactive shell
logins.

Traditionally, this file is static text, typically installed by the
distribution and only updated on release upgrades, or overwritten by
the local administrator with pertinent information.

Ubuntu introduced the update-motd framework, by which the motd(5) is
dynamically assembled from a collection of scripts at login.

This collection of scripts lives under /etc/update-motd.d/. For more information see this wiki page.

Another alternative to generating /etc/motd, instead of having a script run at login is to have a cron job. Certainly it is not the same, but I have met this approach sometimes in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 26 '15 at 8:55

WtowerWtower

494510

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Related askubuntu post. Force with sudo run-parts /etc/update-motd.d/.
  
  – Pablo Bianchi
  Oct 3 '17 at 22:25
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  This also minimizes the startup login lag since you don't have to evaluate a script at login (assuming it gets more complex than uptime).
  
  – ayman
  Oct 15 '17 at 1:41
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

In Ubuntu servers there is a program called update-motd from package libpam-modules:

UNIX/Linux system adminstrators often communicate important information
to console and remote users by maintaining text in the file /etc/motd,
which is displayed by the pam_motd(8) module on interactive shell
logins.

Traditionally, this file is static text, typically installed by the
distribution and only updated on release upgrades, or overwritten by
the local administrator with pertinent information.

Ubuntu introduced the update-motd framework, by which the motd(5) is
dynamically assembled from a collection of scripts at login.

This collection of scripts lives under /etc/update-motd.d/. For more information see this wiki page.

Another alternative to generating /etc/motd, instead of having a script run at login is to have a cron job. Certainly it is not the same, but I have met this approach sometimes in the past.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 26 '15 at 8:55

WtowerWtower

494510

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 26 '15 at 8:55

WtowerWtower

494510

answered Jun 26 '15 at 8:55

WtowerWtower

494510

answered Jun 26 '15 at 8:55

WtowerWtower

494510

1

Yes, it's possible... Sorta.

Look up creating a dynamic MOTD. This is an abbreviated form of this documented process.

share|improve this answer

edited 33 mins ago

Stewi

31

answered Dec 19 '12 at 4:12

ewwhiteewwhite

174k78371726

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Do I just need to add session optional pam_motd.so to /etc/pam.d/login then make /etc/motd executable?
  
  – Justin
  Dec 19 '12 at 4:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  We really do prefer that answers contain content not pointers to content. Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference.
  
  – Iain
  Dec 19 '12 at 12:10
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The dynamic MOTD link essentially says you can add commands which print a message to /etc/profile, so this is equivalent to Tonin's answer.
  
  – Andre Holzner
  Apr 4 '14 at 7:14
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

Yes, it's possible... Sorta.

Look up creating a dynamic MOTD. This is an abbreviated form of this documented process.

share|improve this answer

edited 33 mins ago

Stewi

31

answered Dec 19 '12 at 4:12

ewwhiteewwhite

174k78371726

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Do I just need to add session optional pam_motd.so to /etc/pam.d/login then make /etc/motd executable?
  
  – Justin
  Dec 19 '12 at 4:21
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  We really do prefer that answers contain content not pointers to content. Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference.
  
  – Iain
  Dec 19 '12 at 12:10
  
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The dynamic MOTD link essentially says you can add commands which print a message to /etc/profile, so this is equivalent to Tonin's answer.
  
  – Andre Holzner
  Apr 4 '14 at 7:14
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Yes, it's possible... Sorta.

Look up creating a dynamic MOTD. This is an abbreviated form of this documented process.

share|improve this answer

edited 33 mins ago

Stewi

31

answered Dec 19 '12 at 4:12

ewwhiteewwhite

174k78371726

share|improve this answer

edited 33 mins ago

Stewi

31

answered Dec 19 '12 at 4:12

ewwhiteewwhite

174k78371726

edited 33 mins ago

Stewi

31

edited 33 mins ago

Stewi

31

answered Dec 19 '12 at 4:12

ewwhiteewwhite

174k78371726

answered Dec 19 '12 at 4:12

ewwhiteewwhite

174k78371726