How to set custom login banner message in linux

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SSH banner messages are necessary when you want to display a warning for users when they access a server over SSH.

Let’s see how to set a custom SSH warning banner.

Configure SSH Warning Banner

Specify the banner message file in /etc/ssh/sshd_config SSH configuration:

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$ sudo vim /etc/ssh/sshd_config
# no default banner path
#Banner none
Banner /etc/banner

Create the SSH Banner message file

Create a new banner message file as specified in /etc/ssh/sshd_config:

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$ sudo vim /etc/banner
-------------------------
Authorized access only
-------------------------

Verify the banner message

To apply the changes, restart the SSH service:

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$ sudo systemctl restart sshd

To test out the banner, login to the system over ssh:

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ssh root@test-vm1
-------------------------
Authorized access only
-------------------------
root@test-vm1's password:

Setting a MOTD Banner

If you wish to set a MOTD (Message Of The Day) banner right after login, edit the /etc/motd file.

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$ sudo vim /etc/motd
                                                                 #####
                                                                #######
                   @                                            ##O#O##
  ######          @@#                                           #VVVVV#
    ##             #                                          ##  VVV  ##
    ##         @@@   ### ####   ###    ###  ##### ######     #          ##
    ##        @  @#   ###    ##  ##     ##    ###  ##       #            ##
    ##       @   @#   ##     ##  ##     ##      ###         #            ###
    ##          @@#   ##     ##  ##     ##      ###        QQ#           ##Q
    ##       # @@#    ##     ##  ##     ##     ## ##     QQQQQQ#       #QQQQQQ
    ##      ## @@# #  ##     ##  ###   ###    ##   ##    QQQQQQQ#     #QQQQQQQ
  ############  ###  ####   ####   #### ### ##### ######   QQQQQ#######QQQQQ

The MOTD will be displayed next time you log in to the system.

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ssh root@test-vm1
-------------------------
Authorized access only
-------------------------
root@test-vm1's password:
                                                                 #####
                                                                #######
                   @                                            ##O#O##
  ######          @@#                                           #VVVVV#
    ##             #                                          ##  VVV  ##
    ##         @@@   ### ####   ###    ###  ##### ######     #          ##
    ##        @  @#   ###    ##  ##     ##    ###  ##       #            ##
    ##       @   @#   ##     ##  ##     ##      ###         #            ###
    ##          @@#   ##     ##  ##     ##      ###        QQ#           ##Q
    ##       # @@#    ##     ##  ##     ##     ## ##     QQQQQQ#       #QQQQQQ
    ##      ## @@# #  ##     ##  ###   ###    ##   ##    QQQQQQQ#     #QQQQQQQ
  ############  ###  ####   ####   #### ### ##### ######   QQQQQ#######QQQQQ