---
search:
  exclude: true
---
# Colored MOTDs Setup 

![](0.png)

In this tutorial we're going to take a look at how to setup a colorful MOTD anytime you wish to ssh into your machines 

## **Initial Setup**

First install the required dependencies:
    
    
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/22 ] [~]
    → sudo apt install imagemagick openjdk-17-jdk coreutils perl git
    	
    

Then clone the Util-Say repository:
    
    
    git clone https://github.com/maandree/util-say
    	
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools]
    → git clone https://github.com/maandree/util-say
    Cloning into 'util-say'...
    remote: Enumerating objects: 2216, done.
    remote: Total 2216 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 2216
    Receiving objects: 100% (2216/2216), 700.67 KiB | 1.67 MiB/s, done.
    Resolving deltas: 100% (854/854), done.
    
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools]
    → cd util-say
    
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools/util-say]
    → make
    
    #you need to type make in order to generate the util-say.jar file that the scripts are using.
     
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools/util-say]
    → ls -lash img2ponysay
    4.0K -rwxr-xr-x 1 nothing nothing 582 May 28 16:20 img2ponysay
    	
    

here the file we're looking for is called img2ponysay
    
    
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools/util-say]
    → cat img2ponysay
    #!/usr/bin/env bash
    
    magnified='1'
    file='-'
    dash=0
    chroma=1
    c=0
    platform=xterm
    
    for arg in "$@"; do
        if [ $c = 1 ]; then
            c=0
            chroma="$arg"
        elif [ $dash = 1 ]; then
            file="$arg"
        elif [ "$arg" = "--" ]; then
            dash=1
        elif [ "$arg" = "-2" ]; then
            magnified=2
        elif [ "$arg" = "-c" ]; then
            c=1
        elif [ "$arg" = "-p" ]; then
            platform=linux
        else
            file="$arg"
        fi
    done
    
    java -jar "$(dirname "$0")/util-say.jar" \
    --import image --magnified $magnified --file "$file" --balloon n --export ponysay --balloon y --file - --chroma "$chroma" --platform $platform	
    
    

Next we're going to use a relatively small image to convert to our motd:

![](1.png)
    
    
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools/util-say]
    → ./img2ponysay -- ~/Pictures/smallzero.png > motd.txt
    Picked up _JAVA_OPTIONS: -Dawt.useSystemAAFontSettings=on -Dswing.aatext=true
    
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools/util-say]
    → cat motd.txt
    
    

As you can see, a tiny image can make a very large motd, and you need to be careful of the size of the image you choose to put as your MOTD:

![](2.png)
    
    
    [ 10.10.14.13/23 ] [ /dev/pts/26 ] [~/Tools/util-say]
    → cp motd.txt /etc/motd