# pam_motd

## 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 in the directories listed above are displayed in
           lexicographic order by name. Moreover, the files are filtered by
           reading them with the credentials of the target user
           authenticating on the system.
    
           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.
    
           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
    


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