pam_motd(8)

1PAM_MOTD(8)                    Linux-PAM Manual                    PAM_MOTD(8)
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NAME

6       pam_motd - Display the motd file
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SYNOPSIS

9       pam_motd.so [motd=/path/filename] [motd_dir=/path/dirname.d]
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DESCRIPTION

12       pam_motd is a PAM module that can be used to display arbitrary motd
13       (message of the day) files after a successful login. By default,
14       pam_motd shows files in the following locations:
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16           /etc/motd
17           /run/motd
18           /usr/lib/motd
19           /etc/motd.d/
20           /run/motd.d/
21           /usr/lib/motd.d/
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23       Each message size is limited to 64KB.
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25       If /etc/motd does not exist, then /run/motd is shown. If /run/motd does
26       not exist, then /usr/lib/motd is shown.
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28       Similar overriding behavior applies to the directories. Files in
29       /etc/motd.d/ override files with the same name in /run/motd.d/ and
30       /usr/lib/motd.d/. Files in /run/motd.d/ override files with the same
31       name in /usr/lib/motd.d/.
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33       Files the in the directories listed above are displayed in
34       lexicographic order by name.
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36       To silence a message, a symbolic link with target /dev/null may be
37       placed in /etc/motd.d with the same filename as the message to be
38       silenced. Example: Creating a symbolic link as follows silences
39       /usr/lib/motd.d/my_motd.
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41       ln -s /dev/null /etc/motd.d/my_motd
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OPTIONS

44       motd=/path/filename
45           The /path/filename file is displayed as message of the day.
46           Multiple paths to try can be specified as a colon-separated list.
47           By default this option is set to /etc/motd:/run/motd:/usr/lib/motd.
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49       motd_dir=/path/dirname.d
50           The /path/dirname.d directory is scanned and each file contained
51           inside of it is displayed. Multiple directories to scan can be
52           specified as a colon-separated list. By default this option is set
53           to /etc/motd.d:/run/motd.d:/usr/lib/motd.d.
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55       When no options are given, the default behavior applies for both
56       options. Specifying either option (or both) will disable the default
57       behavior for both options.
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MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

60       Only the session module type is provided.
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RETURN VALUES

63       PAM_IGNORE
64           This is the only return value of this module.
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EXAMPLES

67       The suggested usage for /etc/pam.d/login is:
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69           session  optional  pam_motd.so
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72       To use a motd file from a different location:
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74           session  optional  pam_motd.so motd=/elsewhere/motd
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77       To use a motd file from elsewhere, along with a corresponding .d
78       directory:
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80           session  optional  pam_motd.so motd=/elsewhere/motd motd_dir=/elsewhere/motd.d
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AUTHOR

88       pam_motd was written by Ben Collins <bcollins@debian.org>.
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90       The motd_dir= option was added by Allison Karlitskaya
91       <allison.karlitskaya@redhat.com>.
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95Linux-PAM Manual                  03/09/2020                       PAM_MOTD(8)