# Updated dashboard MOTD config options?

**URL:** <https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboard-motd-config-options/4912>\
**Category:** Feature Requests and Roadmap Discussion\
**Tags:** feature-request\
**Created:** [June 25, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboard-motd-config-options/4912 "2026-06-25T22:49:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jasonbuechler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/discourse.openondemand.org/jasonbuechler/32/302_2.png) [@jasonbuechler](https://discourse.openondemand.org/u/jasonbuechler)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboard-motd-config-options/4912/1 "2026-06-25T22:49:43Z")

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tl;dr: Can we add MOTD config handling variables to the modern [ondemand.d directory yamls](https://osc.github.io/ood-documentation/latest/reference/files/ondemand-d-ymls.html)?

The selection and physical layout of the major elements of the dashboard – arguably one of the most important dashboard configurations – is handled on by [ondemand.d directory yamls](https://osc.github.io/ood-documentation/latest/reference/files/ondemand-d-ymls.html) (along with other majors like the dashboard title and logo), and a new admin might logically expect all appearance-related options to be found there.

…but the MOTD configuration feels forgotten under `/etc/ood/config/apps/dashboard/env` and doesn’t seem to have a “native” yaml equivalent. The config/apps/ nesting makes sense enough if you develop your own widgets and are familiar with managing views up in there; but the motd just … feels different.

* * *

_Of course, right after I posted this, I figured out what was wrong with my attempts at hacking up a `pun_custom_env` config as suggested by the “ **!Note** ” at the top of the ondemand.d doc._ But I’d still prefer we elevate some bespoke native variables.

```auto
# /etc/ood/config/nginx_stage.yml

# correct yaml (dictionary) formatting:
pun_custom_env:
  MOTD_PATH: "/common/conf/motd"
  MOTD_FORMAT: "text"

# incorrect yaml (sequence, but not) formatting:
pun_custom_env:
  - MOTD_PATH: "/common/conf/motd"
  - MOTD_FORMAT: "text"

```

Also, this seemed to only work when placed in `/etc/ood/config/nginx_stage.yml`, as opposed to an arbitrary `/etc/ood/config/ondemand.d/*` yml file.

---

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**Author:** ![anderss](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/discourse.openondemand.org/anderss/32/3359_2.png) [@anderss](https://discourse.openondemand.org/u/anderss)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 11:07pm UTC](https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboard-motd-config-options/4912/2 "2026-06-29T23:07:32Z")

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I totally agree that the MOTD would be much better located within the Dashboard configuration files.

If this were to to happen, I would also request that the MOTD be a [per-profile configuration option](https://osc.github.io/ood-documentation/latest/reference/files/ondemand-d-ymls.html#configuration-properties-with-profile-support), so each profile could potentially have its own feed.

---

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**Author:** ![moffatsadeghi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/discourse.openondemand.org/moffatsadeghi/32/2122_2.png) [@moffatsadeghi](https://discourse.openondemand.org/u/moffatsadeghi)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboard-motd-config-options/4912/3 "2026-07-06T15:52:10Z")

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Hi @jasonbuechler and @anderss,

I have created two GitHub issues from your suggestions. Thanks for submitting them and considering how OOD could improve with MOTD!

> <https://github.com/OSC/ondemand/issues/5596>
>
> Reposting from Discourse - https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboar…d-motd-config-options/4912
> 
> tl;dr: Can we add MOTD config handling variables to the modern \[ondemand.d directory yamls\](https://osc.github.io/ood-documentation/latest/reference/files/ondemand-d-ymls.html)?
> 
> The selection and physical layout of the major elements of the dashboard – arguably one of the most important dashboard configurations – is handled on by \[ondemand.d directory yamls\](https://osc.github.io/ood-documentation/latest/reference/files/ondemand-d-ymls.html) (along with other majors like the dashboard title and logo), and a new admin might logically expect all appearance-related options to be found there.
> 
> …but the MOTD configuration feels forgotten under /etc/ood/config/apps/dashboard/env and doesn’t seem to have a “native” yaml equivalent. The config/apps/ nesting makes sense enough if you develop your own widgets and are familiar with managing views up in there; but the motd just … feels different.
> 
> Of course, right after I posted this, I figured out what was wrong with my attempts at hacking up a pun\_custom\_env config as suggested by the “!Note” at the top of the ondemand.d doc. But I’d still prefer we elevate some bespoke native variables.
> 
> \`\`\`
> \# /etc/ood/config/nginx\_stage.yml
> 
> \# correct yaml (dictionary) formatting:
> pun\_custom\_env:
> MOTD\_PATH: "/common/conf/motd"
> MOTD\_FORMAT: "text"
> 
> \# incorrect yaml (sequence, but not) formatting:
> pun\_custom\_env:
> - MOTD\_PATH: "/common/conf/motd"
> - MOTD\_FORMAT: "text"
> \`\`\`
> 
> Also, this seemed to only work when placed in /etc/ood/config/nginx\_stage.yml, as opposed to an arbitrary /etc/ood/config/ondemand.d/\* yml file.

> <https://github.com/OSC/ondemand/issues/5597>
>
> Reposting from Discourse - https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboar…d-motd-config-options/4912/2
> 
> Also request that the MOTD be a \[per-profile configuration option\](https://osc.github.io/ood-documentation/latest/reference/files/ondemand-d-ymls.html#configuration-properties-with-profile-support), so each profile could potentially have its own feed.

---

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**Author:** ![anderss](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/discourse.openondemand.org/anderss/32/3359_2.png) [@anderss](https://discourse.openondemand.org/u/anderss)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://discourse.openondemand.org/t/updated-dashboard-motd-config-options/4912/4 "2026-07-06T19:41:35Z")

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Thank you @moffatsadeghi !