Creating a welcome message on the DCUI screen of an ESXi host

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to configure a Welcome Message (Message of the day) on the DCUI screen of an ESXi host. You may want to use this method if your organization does not want to expose all the information that is available on the default DCUI screen due to security concerns.

For example, the default ESXi console appears similar to:

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7

Resolution

To set a Welcome Message (MOTD) on the ESXi host:

Note: The default functionality continues to remain while the Welcome Message is being displayed. For example, F2 can still be used to access Customize System/View Logs and F12 can be used to access Shut Down/Restart.
 

1. Using the vSphere Client, select the ESXi host in the Inventory.
2. Click the Configuration tab.
3. Click Advanced Settings under Software.
4. Click Annotations.
5. Enter the desired text in the Annotations.Welcome Message field.
   
   Note: This updates the /etc/vmware/welcome file on the ESXi host.
    
6. Click OK.

For example if you have entered Test Environment - vSphere 5.x in the Annotations.WelcomeMessage field, you see an ESXi console screen similar to:

 

 

Alternatively, to set a Welcome Message using esxcli:

1. Log in to the ESXi host using Putty.
2. Run this command to set a welcome message:
   
   # esxcli system welcomemsg set -m="message"
    
3. To view the current custom message, run this command:
   
   # esxcli system welcomemsg get

Also see: Resolution if IORM Message seen on the DCUI during a fresh ESXi 7.0 installation

Additional Information

Alternatively, to remove the Welcome Message using esxcli:

1. Log in to the ESXi host using Putty.
2. Run this command to set a welcome message:
   
   # esxcli system welcomemsg set -m