# Message of the day

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Message shown to computer users on login

Default *motd* showing on [OpenBSD](/source/OpenBSD) 5.3

Many computer systems display a **message of the day** or **welcome message** when a user first connects to them, logs in to them, or starts them. It is a way of sending a common message to all users, and may include information about system changes, system availability, and so on. More recently, systems have displayed personalized messages of the day.

On many time-sharing systems, the contents of the message of the day are fetched from a system file:

- [Compatible Time-Sharing System](/source/Compatible_Time-Sharing_System);[1]

- [Multics](/source/Multics): the **motd** info segment;[2][3]

- [TOPS-10](/source/TOPS-10)[3]

- [Incompatible Timesharing System (ITS)](/source/Incompatible_Timesharing_System)[3]

- [Unix-like](/source/Unix-like) systems: the **/etc/motd** file

- Univac [VS/9](/source/VS%2F9)[4]

- [CP/CMS](/source/CP%2FCMS)[5]

## Usage

The contents of the special file are displayed after the user logs in successfully, typically before the login [shell](/source/Shell_(computing)) is started.[6]

Newer [Unix-like](/source/Unix-like) systems may generate the message dynamically when the host boots or a user logs in.[7]

Various server-based [PC](/source/Personal_Computer) games display messages of the day, including *[Half-Life](/source/Half-Life_(series))*, *[Call of Duty](/source/Call_of_Duty)*, *[Minecraft](/source/Minecraft)*, and *[Battlefield](/source/Battlefield_(video_game_series))*. They may be personalized, encouraging users to try new features or make in-game purchases.[8]

Some [IRC](/source/IRC) servers also display a message of the day on login.[9]

## See also

- [System console](/source/System_console)

- [fortune (Unix)](/source/Fortune_(Unix))

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [*A New Version of FAP*](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/ctss/Bulletin_80_Apr65.pdf) (PDF) (Technical report). CTSS Bulletin. April 23, 1965. 80.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Multics Glossary -M-"](http://multicians.org/mgm.html).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_3-2) A.K. Bhushan, "Scenarios for using ARPANET computers", Request for Comments 254, Network Working Group, IETF [https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc254.txt](https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc254.txt)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "The Univac 60/90 Mainframe Computer" [https://studylib.net/doc/8373525/the-univac-90---60-mainframe-computer](https://studylib.net/doc/8373525/the-univac-90---60-mainframe-computer), p. 5

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "CP-67 Operator's Guide", Program Number 360D-05.2.005, Control Program-67/Cambridge Monitor System, October 1970, p. 4 [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/360/cp67/GH20-0856-0_CP-67_Operators_Guide_Oct1970.pdf](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/360/cp67/GH20-0856-0_CP-67_Operators_Guide_Oct1970.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** The complete FreeBSD: documentation from the source, By Greg Lehey, p.572

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Project, Ubuntu Documentation (May 2011). [*Ubuntu 11.04 Server Guide*](https://books.google.com/books?id=gpbk66Y_s5sC&q=ubuntu+motd&pg=PA269). Fultus Corporation. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781596822603](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781596822603).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["How to build a dynamic message of the day with AWS Lambda | AWS for Games Blog"](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/gametech/how-to-build-a-dynamic-message-of-the-day-with-aws-lambda/). *aws.amazon.com*. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2022-07-31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Kalt, Christophe (April 2000). ["Internet Relay Chat: Client Protocol"](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2812#page-25).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Message of the day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_of_the_day) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_of_the_day?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.