Linux: how to display a message before login?

Question

I need to display a message before any login on a Linux box, either locally and for remote login via SSH.

How can I achieve this?

Edit: Thanks for your answers. I had to pick one accepted answer, but both are correct and complement each other.

"issue" and "Banner" are the two concepts I need to use to provide a message for every user before they log into the system.

DrNoone · Answer 1 · 2011-06-02 19:47:42Z

up vote 6 down vote accepted

For local login (or telnet) you need to modify:

/etc/motd

For display a message before login you edit instead

/etc/issue

answered May 29 '11 at 23:44

	+1 (motd being the abbreviation of "message of the day"). – Alain Pannetier May 30 '11 at 0:16
	is the motd displayed before the user is asked for a password ? – ascobol Jun 2 '11 at 11:18
	The contents of /etc/motd are displayed by login(1) after a successful login but just before it executes the login shell. – DrNoone Jun 2 '11 at 19:45

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Ben Alpert · Answer 2 · 2011-05-29 19:09:43Z

up vote 7 down vote

For SSH, you need to change the Banner config option in sshd_config:

answered May 29 '11 at 19:09

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2 Answers