MOTD file
Message of the Day
The MOTD file stands for Message of the Day; it appears at the beginning of every console and terminal session. To create a MOTD file is extremely simple:
- backup the current MOTD file (most likely the original Debian banner) by using sudo cp /etc/motd /etc/motd.org
- edit the MOTD file with your favorite editor: sudo vi /etc/motd
- make a backup of this MOTD file by using sudo cp /etc/motd /etc/motd.bak
If you neglect to make a backup of your pretty MOTD file, you run the risk of it being overwritten as soon as you upgrade your Debian kernel image (which you're required to do at least several times per year to keep up with security patches).
A nice MOTD file could look like this:
Linux oberon.saruman.biz ########################################################################################### ########################################################################################### ### ### ### OOOOOOO BBBBBBBBB EEEEEEEEEE RRRRRRRR OOOOOOO NNN NNN ### ### OOOOOOOOOOO BBBBBBBBBBB EEEEEEEEEE RRRRRRRRRR OOOOOOOOOOO NNNN NNN ### ### OOO OOO BBB BBB EEE RRR RRR OOO OOO NNNNN NNN ### ### OOO OOO BBB BBB EEE RRR RRR OOO OOO NNNNNN NNN ### ### OOO OOO BBBBBBBBBBB EEEEEE RRRRRRRRRR OOO OOO NNN NNN NNN ### ### OOO OOO BBBBBBBBBBB EEEEEE RRRRRRRR OOO OOO NNN NNN NNN ### ### OOO OOO BBB BBB EEE RRR RRR OOO OOO NNN NNNNNN ### ### OOO OOO BBB BBB EEE RRR RRR OOO OOO NNN NNNNN ### ### OOOOOOOOOOO BBBBBBBBBBB EEEEEEEEEE RRR RRR OOOOOOOOOOO NNN NNNN ### ### OOOOOOO BBBBBBBBB EEEEEEEEEE RRR RRR OOOOOOO NNN NNN ### ### ### ########################################################################################### ########################################################################################### Unauthorised login prohibited by law. Unless you are explicitly allowed access by the administrator of the Saruman.biz domain, you may NOT log into this system.