6.21. pam_motd - display the motd file
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## 6.21. pam_motd - display the motd file

`pam_motd.so` [ motd=`/path/filename` ]

### 6.21.1. 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 the `/etc/motd` file and all files from `/etc/motd.d` are shown. The message size is limited to 64KB.

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:

ln -sfn /dev/null /etc/motd.d/my_motd

### 6.21.2. OPTIONS

`motd=`/path/filename``

  The `/path/filename` file is displayed as message of the day.

`motd_dir=`/path/dirname.d``

  The `/path/dirname.d` directory is scanned and each file contained inside of it is displayed.

When no options are given, the default is to display both `/etc/motd` and the contents of `/etc/motd.d`. Specifying either option (or both) will disable this default behavior.

### 6.21.3. MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

Only the `session` module type is provided.

### 6.21.4. RETURN VALUES

PAM_IGNORE

  This is the only return value of this module.

### 6.21.5. 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

### 6.21.6. AUTHOR

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

The `motd_dir=` option was added by Allison Karlitskaya <allison.karlitskaya@redhat.com>.

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