Here's my /etc/rc.local header. It clears the screen, etc. (note of maintainer : if you don't use Slackware, you will have to adapt a little, since you won't have /etc/rc.d/rc.local) #!/bin/sh # /etc/rc.d/rc.local: Local system initialization script RELEASE="release 3.4" COLOR1="\033[1;6m\033[35;40m" # bright magenta on black COLOR2="\033[1;6m\033[37;40m" # bright white on black COLOR_RESET="\033[0m" rm -f /etc/issue echo -e "ESC[2JESC[0;0H" >>/etc/issue echo -e $COLOR1"Slackware"$COLOR2 "Linux"$COLOR_RESET "$RELEASE" "(\l)" >> /etc/issue echo "Kernel $(uname -r) on an $(uname -m)" >> /etc/issue echo >> /etc/issue cp -f /etc/issue /etc/issue.net Note that ESC stands for ^[ (ctrl+v ctrl+[ in vim) and that sequence redoes the screen if you press ctrl+d after a failed login or a logout.