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?

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 · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-02 19:47:42Z

21

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, 2011 at 23:44

DrNoone

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2

+1 (motd being the abbreviation of "message of the day").
– Alain Pannetier
May 30, 2011 at 0:16
is the motd displayed before the user is asked for a password ?
– ascobol
Jun 2, 2011 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, 2011 at 19:45

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Sophie Alpert · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-29 19:09:43Z

14

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

answered May 29, 2011 at 19:09

Sophie Alpert

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1

sure, but that will only display a message after a login name was given through ssh-connection. Any ideas displaying a banner / message before 'login: ' ?
– Master of Celebration
Aug 1, 2013 at 9:31
It does "display a banner / message before 'login: '". This is the most direct answer. Banner does not have a default value.
– RWDJ
Apr 4, 2020 at 16:25

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2 Answers 2