Login banners

Custom log in banners

You can configure the switch to display a login banner of up to 3070 characters. An operator initiates a management session with the switch through any of the following methods:

  • Telnet

  • Serial connection

  • SSHv2

  • WebAgent

The default banner displays product registration information; the copyright splash is no longer displayed.

If a banner is configured, the banner page is displayed when you access the WebAgent. The default product registration information is not displayed as there is already a product registration prompt displayed in the WebAgent.

Banner operation with telnet, serial, or SSHv2 access

When a system operator begins a login session, the switch displays the banner above the prompts for local password and Press any key to continue. Entering a correct password or, if no password is configured, pressing any key clears the banner from the CLI and displays the CLI prompt.

Banner operation with the WebAgent

When a system operator uses the WebAgent to access the switch, the text of a nondefault banner configured on the switch appears in a dedicated banner window with a link to the next page. Click Continue to display either the Registration page or the switch’s home page. If the banner feature is disabled or if the switch is using the factory-default banner, then the banner page does not appear in the WebAgent screen when an operator initiates a login session with the switch.

Banner operating notes

  • The default banner appears only when the switch is in the factory default configuration. Using the command no banner motd deletes the currently configured banner text and blocks display of the default banner. The default banner is restored only if the switch is reset to its factory default configuration.

  • The switch supports one banner at any time. Configuring a new banner replaces any former banner configured on the switch.

  • If the switch is configured with ssh version 1 or ssh version 1-or-2, configuring the banner sets the SSH configuration to ssh version 2 and displays the message Warning: SSH version has been set to v2.

  • If a banner is configured, the switch does not allow configuration with ssh version 1 or ssh version 1-or-2. Attempting to do so produces the error message Banner has to be disabled first..

  • If a banner is enabled on the switch, the WebAgent displays Notice to all users on the banner page.

banner motd command with non-interactive mode

The use of escape characters allows the banner motd command to be used in non-interactive mode for multiple message lines. In non-interactive mode, you can create a banner message enclosed in double quotes or other delimiter that uses escape characters within the delimiters. Other existing CLI commands do not support the escape characters. For more information on interactive and non-interactive mode, see Enabling and disabling CLI interactive command mode in this guide.

Supported escape characters

Character  
\" double quote
\’ single quote
\` forward quote
\\ backslash
\f form feed
\n newline
\r carriage return
\t horizontal tab
\v vertical tab

Configuring the banner message using escape characters within double quote delimiters

switch(config)# banner motd 
"You can use the \’banner motd\’ CLI command in non-interactive mode.\n\n\tThe banner
motd command will support escape characters."

switch(config)# show banner motd

Banner Information

Banner status: Enabled

Configured Banner:

You can use the ‘banner motd’ CLI command in non-interactive mode.

     The banner motd command will support escape characters."

The running configuration file with banner motd configured in non-interactive mode

switch(config)# show running-config

Running configuration:

;J8693A Configuration Editor; Created on release #K.15.10.0002
;Ver #01:01:00

hostname "switch"
vlan 1
  name "DEFAULT_VLAN"
  untagged 1-48, a1-a4
  ip address dhcp-bootp
  exit
banner motd "You can use the \’banner motd\’ CLI command in
non-interactive mode.\n\n\tThe banner motd command will support
escape characters."

Configuring the banner message using an alternate delimiter of ‘#’

switch(config)# banner motd #

Enter TEXT message.

End with the character ‘#’.

You can use the banner motd CLI command in non-interactive mode. The banner motd command \n\n\t will support escape characters #.