Display Login Information on Ubuntu Console

To display custom information to users after they log into an Ubuntu system via the console or SSH, you can use several standard approaches. The most common and effective methods are:

Using /etc/motd (Message of the Day)
Customizing shell profile files (.bashrc, .profile)
Creating system-wide scripts in /etc/profile.d/

This document explains each method in detail.

Method 1: Using `/etc/motd` (Message of the Day)

The /etc/motd file displays a message to users after successful login.

Step 1: Edit the `/etc/motd` File

sudo nano /etc/motd

Step 2: Add Custom Information

********************************************************************
* Welcome to the server!                                           *
*                                                                  *
* System Information:                                              *
* - Hostname: $(hostname)                                          *
* - Date: $(date)                                                  *
* - Uptime: $(uptime -p)                                           *
* - Users: $(who | wc -l) users logged in                          *
********************************************************************

⚠️ Note:
/etc/motd does not evaluate shell commands.
Variables like $(hostname) will appear as plain text unless you use /etc/update-motd.d/ scripts.

Step 3: Save and Exit

Press Ctrl + X, then Y, and press Enter.

Method 2: Using Shell Profile Files (`.bashrc` / `.profile`)

Shell profile files allow you to run commands automatically when a user logs in.

Step 1: Edit Profile File

For a Specific User

nano ~/.bashrc

For All Users (Global)

sudo nano /etc/bash.bashrc

echo "********************************************************************"
echo "* Welcome to the server!                                           *"
echo "*                                                                  *"
echo "* System Information:                                              *"
echo "* - Hostname: $(hostname)                                          *"
echo "* - Date: $(date)                                                  *"
echo "* - Uptime: $(uptime -p)                                           *"
echo "* - Users: $(who | wc -l) users logged in                          *"
echo "********************************************************************"

✅ Best for:

Dynamic output

Per-user customization

Step 3: Save and Exit

Press Ctrl + X, then Y, and press Enter.

Method 3: Using a Custom Script in `/etc/profile.d/` (Recommended)

Scripts placed in /etc/profile.d/ run automatically for all users during login.

Step 1: Create a Custom Script

sudo nano /etc/profile.d/welcome.sh

Step 2: Add Script Content

#!/bin/bash

echo "********************************************************************"
echo "* Welcome to the server!                                           *"
echo "*                                                                  *"
echo "* System Information:                                              *"
echo "* - Hostname: $(hostname)                                          *"
echo "* - Date: $(date)                                                  *"
echo "* - Uptime: $(uptime -p)                                           *"
echo "* - Users: $(who | wc -l) users logged in                          *"
echo "********************************************************************"

Step 3: Make the Script Executable

sudo chmod +x /etc/profile.d/welcome.sh

Infrastructure

Containers

Method 1: Using `/etc/motd` (Message of the Day)

Step 1: Edit the `/etc/motd` File

Step 2: Add Custom Information

Step 3: Save and Exit

Method 2: Using Shell Profile Files (`.bashrc` / `.profile`)

Step 1: Edit Profile File

For a Specific User

For All Users (Global)

Step 3: Save and Exit

Method 3: Using a Custom Script in `/etc/profile.d/` (Recommended)

Step 1: Create a Custom Script

Step 2: Add Script Content

Step 3: Make the Script Executable

​Method 1: Using /etc/motd (Message of the Day)

​Step 1: Edit the /etc/motd File

​Step 2: Add Custom Information

​Step 3: Save and Exit

​Method 2: Using Shell Profile Files (.bashrc / .profile)

​Step 1: Edit Profile File

​For a Specific User

​For All Users (Global)

​Step 2: Add Login Message Script

​Step 3: Save and Exit

​Method 3: Using a Custom Script in /etc/profile.d/ (Recommended)

​Step 1: Create a Custom Script

​Step 2: Add Script Content

​Step 3: Make the Script Executable

Method 1: Using `/etc/motd` (Message of the Day)

Step 1: Edit the `/etc/motd` File

Step 2: Add Custom Information

Step 3: Save and Exit

Method 2: Using Shell Profile Files (`.bashrc` / `.profile`)

Step 1: Edit Profile File

For a Specific User

For All Users (Global)

Step 2: Add Login Message Script

Step 3: Save and Exit

Method 3: Using a Custom Script in `/etc/profile.d/` (Recommended)

Step 1: Create a Custom Script

Step 2: Add Script Content

Step 3: Make the Script Executable