MOTDfetch

MOTDfetch is a modular & dynamic MOTD replacement written in Bash and a nice command line information tool for Debian/Ubuntu systems.

MOTD - "message of the day"
Feature used on Unix-like CLI systems to send a common message to all users after a successful login, and just before it executes the login shell.
Newer Unix-like systems may generate the message dynamically when the host boots or a user logs in.

Drawbacks with the current implementation of MOTD with PAM on Debian and Ubuntu are at least 3:

1. The SSH client does not decide whether to activate the MOTD.
   As it is loaded before the shell login is opened:
2. User has to wait blindly for the end of the execution if there is a dynamic script.
3. Scripts can not check the user sessions status.

MOTDfetch avoids and partially disable the original MOTD implementation, but remains compatible with it for PAM login.

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Table of contents

FEATURES
INSTALLATION
USAGE

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Features

• Usable as a command, a login MOTD or SSH MOTD.
• 8 Core modules.
• Uniform and easily customizable.
• Emphasis of important elements and status by colors, symbols or flashing.
• Notice message upon missing dependencies
• Reduced operation mode fot high load (enforceable).
• Separate system and users configuration files.
• Scripted installation and updates.
• Modules or sections can be disabled.
• Standalone executable modules.

8 Core modules

HEADER module

• decorative banner (custom text or username)
• welcome message with username, date and time
• user mail inbox status

SYSYINFO module

• distribution name, kernel version, uptime
• CPU, cores, load, processes, memory, swap
• hostname, network interface, DNS servers, public IPs/DNS/rDNS records
• custom external API for public IP check
• skip connectivity related tests if the API check fail
• short timeout on dig & curl commands to keep the script snappy

SERVICES module

• check systemd services status
• by service name and user UID if not system
• ⚠️ user cannot check other user's services

FILESYSTEM module

• 2 sections: general filesystems, ZFS filesystems
• name, fs type, usage and size of disk or ZFS pool
• inodes usage and size when relevant
• health status for ZFS
• custom usage threshold for warning hints

TLS module

• check X.509 certificates status with openssl
• accept domain and optional port (443 by default)
• validate name correspondence and expiration date
• skip the test if there is no internet connectivity
• short timeout on openssl command to keep the script snappy

POSTQUEUE module

• postfix deferred queue status
• short timeout on the parsing to keep the script snappy if there is thousands of mails

FAIL2BAN module

• display fail2ban jails status
• ⚠️ need to be executed with root or sudo

USERSLOG module

• display last user logged in
• name, IP and connection range
• if the current user is different, display his last log too
• display currently logged sessions with usernames

Installation

Requirements

Usage

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