# pam_motd(8) - man - phpman

[PAM_MOTD(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMMOTD/8/markdown)                               Linux-PAM Manual                               [PAM_MOTD(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMMOTD/8/markdown)



## NAME
       pam_motd - Display the motd file

## SYNOPSIS
       **pam**___**motd.so** [motd=_/path/filename_] [motd_dir=_/path/dirname.d_]

## DESCRIPTION
       pam_motd is a PAM module that can be used to display arbitrary motd (message of the day)
       files after a successful login. By default, pam_motd shows files in the following locations:

           /etc/motd
           /run/motd
           /usr/lib/motd
           /etc/motd.d/
           /run/motd.d/
           /usr/lib/motd.d/

       Each message size is limited to 64KB.

       If /etc/motd does not exist, then /run/motd is shown. If /run/motd does not exist, then
       /usr/lib/motd is shown.

       Similar overriding behavior applies to the directories. Files in /etc/motd.d/ override files
       with the same name in /run/motd.d/ and /usr/lib/motd.d/. Files in /run/motd.d/ override files
       with the same name in /usr/lib/motd.d/.

       Files the in the directories listed above are displayed in lexicographic order by name.

       To silence a message, a symbolic link with target /dev/null may be placed in /etc/motd.d with
       the same filename as the message to be silenced. Example: Creating a symbolic link as follows
       silences /usr/lib/motd.d/my_motd.

       **ln** **-s** **/dev/null** **/etc/motd.d/my**___**motd**

       The **MOTD**___**SHOWN=pam** environment variable is set after showing the motd files, even when all of
       them were silenced using symbolic links.

## OPTIONS
       **motd=**_/path/filename_
           The /path/filename file is displayed as message of the day. Multiple paths to try can be
           specified as a colon-separated list. By default this option is set to
           /etc/motd:/run/motd:/usr/lib/motd.

       **motd**___**dir=**_/path/dirname.d_
           The /path/dirname.d directory is scanned and each file contained inside of it is
           displayed. Multiple directories to scan can be specified as a colon-separated list. By
           default this option is set to /etc/motd.d:/run/motd.d:/usr/lib/motd.d.

### noupdate
           Don't run the scripts in /etc/update-motd.d to refresh the motd file.

       When no options are given, the default behavior applies for both options. Specifying either
       option (or both) will disable the default behavior for both options.

## MODULE TYPES PROVIDED
       Only the **session** module type is provided.

## RETURN VALUES
       PAM_ABORT
           Not all relevant data or options could be obtained.

       PAM_BUF_ERR
           Memory buffer error.

       PAM_IGNORE
           This is the default return value of this module.

## EXAMPLES
       The suggested usage for /etc/pam.d/login is:

           session  optional  pam_motd.so


       To use a motd file from a different location:

           session  optional  pam_motd.so motd=/elsewhere/motd


       To use a motd file from elsewhere, along with a corresponding .d directory:

           session  optional  pam_motd.so motd=/elsewhere/motd motd_dir=/elsewhere/motd.d



## SEE ALSO
       [**motd**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/motd/5/markdown), [**pam.conf**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam.conf/5/markdown), [**pam.d**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam.d/5/markdown), [**pam**(7)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/pam/7/markdown), [**update-motd**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/update-motd/5/markdown)

## AUTHOR
       pam_motd was written by Ben Collins <<bcollins@debian.org>>.

       The **motd**___**dir=** option was added by Allison Karlitskaya <<allison.karlitskaya@redhat.com>>.



Linux-PAM Manual                             06/08/2020                                  [PAM_MOTD(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/PAMMOTD/8/markdown)