---
name: "motd.tail"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "manpages"
version: "3.27-1"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/motd.tail"
---

# motd.tail(5)

Template for building the system message of the day

## NAME

motd.tail - Template for building the system message of the day

## DESCRIPTION

On Debian systems, the system message of the day is rebuilt at each startup, in order to display an accurate information. */etc/motd.tail* is the file to edit permanent changes to the message of the day.

## OVERVIEW

The initiation script */etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh* prepends a line containing information about the system to */etc/motd.tail* and stores the resulting file in */var/run/motd*. */etc/motd* is a symbolic link to */var/run/motd*.  This is done to prevent changes to */etc* as the system can not assume */etc* to be writable.

Changes to */etc/motd* effectively end up in a file under */var/run* which will be regenerated upon reboot.

A symbolic link to a different file, such as */etc/motd.static* disables this behaviour.

## FILES

- */etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh*

  The initiation script which builds /var/run/motd

- */etc/motd*

  Symbolic link to the system message of the day at /var/run/motd

- */etc/motd.tail*

  Template for building the system message of the day

- */var/run/motd*

  System message of the day file rebuilt at each computer start

## SEE ALSO

[**login**(1)](/login/1.md), [**issue**(5)](/issue/5.md), [**motd**(5)](/motd/5.md).