MOTD: Modifying the Console Opening Message

Don’t like your console opening message? I’ll show you how to change it. The file is located at:

/etc/motd

There are plenty of small utilities that can create drawings and other interesting displays:

Cowsay link

Allows you to put text in a small drawing (by default a cow, but other drawings are available):

  sudo apt-get install cowsay
  

Example:

  echo Serveur Toto|cowsay -f eyes
ls /usr/share/cowsay/cows
  

Boxes link

Allows you to place text in small drawings (mainly for adding comments in code lines):

  sudo apt-get install boxes
  

Example:

  echo Acces on this server is stricly restricted | boxes -d peek
  

LinuxLogo link

Lets you use colorized Linux banners:

  sudo apt-get install linuxlogo
  

Example:

  linux_logo
  

FIGlet link

Allows you to write text in ASCII art form:

  sudo apt-get install figlet
  

Example:

  figlet -f small Access Restricted
showfigfonts|more
  

Disabling MOTD in SSH link

If you no longer want any messages when booting via SSH, this command is enough:

  touch ~/.hushlogin