How to Setup a Login Banner on a Linux system

A login banner is a message displayed to users before they log into a Linux system via SSH or the console. It can be used for legal purposes, security warnings, or providing general information to users. In this step-by-step guide, we will show you how to set up a login banner on a Linux system.

Step 1: Create the Login Banner File

First, create a new file that will contain the text of your login banner. You can name it “issue.net” and store it in the /etc directory.

sudo nano /etc/issue.net

Add your desired banner text to the file. For example:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                   Welcome to MyCompany's Secure Linux Server                *
*                                                                             *
*  Unauthorized access to this system is strictly prohibited. By accessing    *
*  this system, you agree to comply with all applicable policies and          *
*  regulations. Any violation may result in legal action.                     *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

or something like this:

                                                                 #####
                                                                #######
                   @                                            ##O#O##
  ######          @@#                                           #VVVVV#
    ##             #                                          ##  VVV  ##
    ##         @@@   ### ####   ###    ###  ##### ######     #          ##
    ##        @  @#   ###    ##  ##     ##    ###  ##       #            ##
    ##       @   @#   ##     ##  ##     ##      ###         #            ###
    ##          @@#   ##     ##  ##     ##      ###        QQ#           ##Q
    ##       # @@#    ##     ##  ##     ##     ## ##     QQQQQQ#       #QQQQQQ
    ##      ## @@# #  ##     ##  ###   ###    ##   ##    QQQQQQQ#     #QQQQQQQ
  ############  ###  ####   ####   #### ### ##### ######   QQQQQ#######QQQQQ

Save the file and exit the text editor (Ctrl+X, then press Y and Enter).

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Step 2: Update the SSH Configuration

To display the login banner when users connect via SSH, update the SSH configuration file to reference the banner file you created in Step 1.

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Find the line that starts with #Banner (it might be commented out by default), uncomment it if necessary, and set its value to the path of the banner file:

Banner /etc/issue.net

Save the file and exit the text editor.

Step 3: Restart the SSH Service

Restart the SSH service to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart ssh

Now, when users connect to your Linux system via SSH, they will see the login banner before they enter their credentials.

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Commands Mentioned:

  • nano – A command-line text editor
  • systemctl restart – Restart a system service

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve demonstrated how to set up a login banner on a Linux system. By creating a banner file and updating the SSH configuration, you can display a custom message to users before they log into your system.

Using a login banner is a useful way to communicate important information, warnings, or legal notices to users accessing your system. Remember to keep your message concise and clear to ensure users understand their responsibilities and any legal implications when accessing your system.

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Comments

1 Comment

  • Avatar Abul islam says:

    Thanks its been really ,COULDN’T figure it out issue.net to show Banner but explain it very well .Thanks again

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