There is another question which covers some suggestions for changing the motd on modern ubuntu systems which do not have /etc/motd.
However, the other question does not ask (or tell) where the current Ubuntu MOTD is being stored. Where is it?
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1What do you mean by "the current Ubuntu MOTD"? The system information from Landscape? – fkraiem Jul 20 '16 at 16:42
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1AFAIK it's generated dynamically, using the scripts in /etc/update-motd.d/ – steeldriver Jul 20 '16 at 16:44
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Traditionally , Unix motd would live in /etc/motd directory.RHEL still does that. Ubuntu on the other hand places login messages in /etc/update-motd.d/ directory.
$ ls /etc/update-motd.d/
00-header* 90-updates-available* 98-fsck-at-reboot*
10-help-text* 91-release-upgrade* 98-reboot-required*
Each of these scripts is responsible for dynamically assembling the whole message and provide specific parts.
It is still , however, possible to create a custom message in /etc/motd and place it into /etc/motd . File itself doesn't exist, but you just have to create it.
Here's how I tested it:
$ sudo sh -c 'echo "THIS IS A TEST" >> /etc/motd'
[sudo] password for xieerqi:
Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy
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2I did this, but it still puts the dynamic information at the top of the message. The stuff in my custom motd was appended at the end. – Tyler Durden Jul 20 '16 at 18:13
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2Yes, that's the normal behavior. Do you want to remove the other information and only display your own message ? – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy Jul 20 '16 at 18:26
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1In that case, just remove those scripts in
/etc/update-motd.d/. Maybe save them somewhere else – Sergiy Kolodyazhnyy Jul 20 '16 at 18:40