File: //usr/share/doc/pam/txts/README.pam_motd
pam_motd -- Display the motd file
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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.
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
AUTHOR
   pam_motd was written by Ben Collins <bcollins@debian.org>.
   The motd_dir= option was added by Allison Karlitskaya
   <allison.karlitskaya@redhat.com>.