Color MOTDs

Using Figlet / Toilet

Color MOTDs on a linux server can add a splash of cooleness to a linux server. A good tool to make these is a program called Toilet and Figlet.

sudo apt-get install toilet figlet

Now you can pipe text to them:

echo My Hostname | toilet --metal --font future

You can try other settings and fonts. Look Here for a list of figlet fonts.

Now just stick that into your MOTD:

echo My Hostname | toilet --metal --font future > /etc/motd

Or if you are using a newer ubuntu with a fancy motd, put it in your motd.tail:

echo My Hostname | toilet --metal --font future > /etc/motd.tail

Using ANSI Escape Sequences

CYAN='\033[0;36m'
NOCOLOR="\033[0m"
echo -e "${CYAN}Hello World${NOCOLOR}

See All Available Colors

T='gYw'   # The test text

echo -e "\n                 40m     41m     42m     43m\
     44m     45m     46m     47m";

for FGs in '    m' '   1m' '  30m' '1;30m' '  31m' '1;31m' '  32m' \
           '1;32m' '  33m' '1;33m' '  34m' '1;34m' '  35m' '1;35m' \
           '  36m' '1;36m' '  37m' '1;37m';
  do FG=${FGs// /}
  echo -en " $FGs \033[$FG  $T  "
  for BG in 40m 41m 42m 43m 44m 45m 46m 47m;
    do echo -en "$EINS \033[$FG\033[$BG  $T  \033[0m";
  done
  echo;
done
echo

References

• http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prompt-HOWTO/x329.html