How to Create a Custom Linux MOTD Screen

Creating a custom Message of the Day (Linux MOTD) screen on Linux involves modifying certain files and configurations. We’ll use the /etc/update-motd.d/ directory to add scripts that fetch and display relevant information.

Creating a Custom Linux MOTD: Enhanced Guide

Understanding MOTD:

The Message of the Day (MOTD) is a brief message displayed to users when they log into a Linux system. It can contain welcome messages, system information, announcements, or even artistic ASCII banners.

Prerequisites:

• A Linux system (examples use Debian/Ubuntu).
• Access to a terminal.
• Permissions to run commands with sudo.
• A command-line text editor like nano.

Step 1: Access the Terminal and Check MOTD is installed

Open a terminal on your Linux system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install update-motd

While most Linux systems have MOTD enabled by default, this command ensures it’s installed and up-to-date. The update-motd package is crucial for generating dynamic MOTDs.

Step 2: Backup Existing Linux MOTD and Update Scripts (Optional)

Backup the existing MOTD file and update scripts:

The Message of the Day (MOTD) in Linux is typically stored in the “/etc/motd” file. In some versions of Ubuntu and Debian, it’s located in “/etc/update-motd.d”.

sudo cp -r /etc/update-motd.d "/etc/update-motd.d_backup_$(date +%F)"

Step 3: Create Custom Linux MOTD Scripts

Scripts in /etc/update-motd.d are executed in alphanumeric order. The number prefix on your script determines its position in the MOTD. We will create a script named 10-custom-info to have it appear early.

sudo nano /etc/update-motd.d/10-custom-info

Add the following content to the script:

#!/bin/bash

# Gather System Information
WHO=$(who | awk '{print $1}' | sort | uniq)  
CPU=$(top -bn1 | grep "Cpu(s)" | sed "s/.*, *\([0-9.]*\)%* id.*/\1/" | awk '{print 100 - $1}')
DISK=$(df -h / | awk 'NR==2 {print $5}')
RAM=$(free -m | awk 'NR==2 {printf "%.1f%%", $3/$2*100}')

# Display Welcome Message
echo "Welcome to [Your System Name]!"
echo "============================="

# Display Dynamic Information (Customizable)
echo "Logged in users: $WHO"
echo "CPU Usage: $CPU%"
echo "Disk Usage (/): $DISK"
echo "RAM Usage: $RAM"

This script:

• Gathers user logins (who), CPU usage (top), disk usage (df), and RAM usage (free).
• Displays a welcome message.
• Presents the gathered information in a readable format.
• Customize: Feel free to modify the welcome message, add more system details (e.g., uptime, IP address), or incorporate ASCII art.

Save the script and make it executable:

sudo chmod +x /etc/update-motd.d/10-custom-info

Need inspiration? Check out this MOTD Creator.

Step 4: Understanding How It Works

You do not need to edit the /etc/motd file itself. The pam_motd system service automatically runs all executable scripts within the /etc/update-motd.d/ directory upon user login. It concatenates the output of these scripts to form the final message.

Step 5: Test Your New MOTD

To see the result, you can either log out and log back in, or open a new SSH session to the server.

To test the output of your scripts without logging out, you can manually run them using the run-parts command:

sudo run-parts /etc/update-motd.d/

This will print the full, generated MOTD to your current terminal.

Alternative: Using neofetch for a Graphical MOTD

For a more visually appealing and detailed summary with less manual scripting, you can use a tool like neofetch.

• Install neofetch:

# For Debian/Ubuntu 
sudo apt install neofetch 
# For Fedora/CentOS/RHEL
sudo dnf install neofetch

• Create a MOTD script for neofetch: Disable other MOTD scripts if you wish, or simply give this one a high-priority number like 99-neofetch.

sudo nano /etc/update-motd.d/99-neofetch

• Add the following content:

#!/bin/bash
#
# /etc/update-motd.d/99-neofetch
#
neofetch

• Make it executable:

sudo chmod +x /etc/update-motd.d/99-neofetch

Now, upon login, the colorful neofetch output will be displayed as part of your MOTD.

Try this Killer MOTD screen

#!/bin/bash

# ==========================================
# Stunning MOTD with Advanced Information
# ==========================================

# User Information
USER=$(whoami)
FULLNAME=$(getent passwd "$USER" | cut -d: -f5 | cut -d, -f1)
LAST_LOGIN=$(last -n 1 $USER | head -n 1 | awk '{ print $5, $6, $7 }')
SHELL=$(getent passwd "$USER" | cut -d: -f7)

# System Information
HOSTNAME=$(hostname)
UPTIME=$(uptime -p)
LOAD=$(uptime | awk '{print $8,$9,$10}' | sed 's/,//g')
IP_ADDRESS=$(ip addr show | grep -oP 'inet \K[\d.]+' | head -n 1)

# Disk Usage
DISK_ROOT=$(df -h / | tail -1 | awk '{print $5}')
DISK_OVERVIEW=$(df -h | awk '{print $1, $5}' | tail -n +2)

# Recent Logins
RECENT_LOGINS=$(last -n 5 | awk '{print $1, $3, $5, $6, $7}')

# Recent Commands
LAST_COMMANDS=$(history | tail -n 5 | awk '{print $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7}')

# Last Shutdown/Reboot
LAST_SHUTDOWN=$(last -x shutdown | head -n 1 | awk '{ print $5, $6, $7, $8 }')

# ==========================================
# MOTD Display (with Formatting)
# ==========================================

echo "  _   _      _ _        __        __         _     "
echo " | | | | ___| | | ___   \ \      / /__  _ __| | __ "
echo " | |_| |/ _ \ | |/ _ \   \ \ /\ / / _ \| '__| |/ / "
echo " |  _  |  __/ | | (_) |   \ V  V / (_) | |  |   <  "
echo " |_| |_|\___|_|_|\___/     \_/\_/ \___/|_|  |_|\_\ "
echo ""

echo -e "\e[1;34mWelcome back, $FULLNAME!\e[0m"
echo -e "\e[1;34mYou last logged in on $LAST_LOGIN from $IP_ADDRESS.\e[0m"
echo ""

echo -e "\e[1;32mSystem Information:\e[0m"
echo "   Hostname: $HOSTNAME"
echo "   Uptime: $UPTIME"
echo "   Load Average: $LOAD"
echo ""

echo -e "\e[1;33mDisk Usage:\e[0m"
echo "   Root (/): $DISK_ROOT"
for line in $DISK_OVERVIEW; do echo "   $line"; done
echo ""

echo -e "\e[1;35mRecent Logins:\e[0m"
for line in $RECENT_LOGINS; do echo "   $line"; done
echo ""

echo -e "\e[1;36mYour Recent Commands:\e[0m"
for line in $LAST_COMMANDS; do echo "   $line"; done
echo ""

if [ ! -z "$LAST_SHUTDOWN" ]; then
    echo -e "\e[1;31mLast Shutdown:\e[0m $LAST_SHUTDOWN"
    echo ""
fi

Alternatives to MOTD

One of my favorite alternatives to MOTD is a cool tool called neofetch

Installation:

Neofetch is usually available in most package managers:

• Debian/Ubuntu/Mint: sudo apt install neofetch
• Fedora/CentOS/RHEL: sudo dnf install neofetch
• Arch Linux/Manjaro: sudo pacman -S neofetch
• macOS (Homebrew): brew install neofetch

Usage:

• Basic: Just type neofetch in your terminal, and it will display the default information.
• Customization: Neofetch is highly customizable:
  • Configuration File: Create a ~/.config/neofetch/config.conf file to change settings like logo, colors, info displayed, etc.
  • Command-Line Options: Use flags like --ascii_distro to change the ASCII logo or --source image to use a custom image.

Example Configuration (in config.conf)

# Use image instead of ASCII logo
image_source="wall" # Use your wallpaper
# image_source="ascii" # Use custom ASCII art
# image_source="'/path/to/your/image.png'"

# Information to display
print_info="distro title kernel uptime packages shell resolution de wm theme icons terminal cpu gpu memory"

Q&A

Q1: What is Linux MOTD and why is it important?

A1: The Linux MOTD, or Message of the Day, is a customizable screen that users see when they log into a Linux system. It serves as a welcoming message and can convey important information, updates, or announcements. Customizing the MOTD allows system administrators to provide users with relevant details at login.

Q2: How can I create a custom MOTD in Linux?

A2: Creating a custom MOTD involves editing the MOTD file or using scripts in the /etc/update-motd.d/ directory. To make the login experience unique, you can add personalized messages, ASCII art, and even dynamic system information. Check out our detailed guide for step-by-step instructions.

Q3: Can I include dynamic system information in my Linux MOTD?

A3: Absolutely! You can enhance your MOTD by adding dynamic details like who is currently logged on, CPU usage, disk space, and RAM statistics. Utilizing scripts in the /etc/update-motd.d/ directory allows you to fetch and display real-time information for users.

Thats it, hope you have fun writing your own custom MOTD. Like our Linux Procedures? Check out more here.