MOTD IRC Command - IRC DevDocs

The MOTD command returns the current Message of the Day (MOTD) set on the server. The server’s MOTD is totally freeform and set by the administrator of the server. It typically includes a description of the server itself, the network the server’s a part of, and a list of rules to follow while connected.

In addition, at the end of the connection registration burst, the MOTD is automatically sent to the client (either the RPL_MOTDSTART, RPL_MOTD, and RPL_ENDOFMOTD responses, or alternatively the ERR_NOMOTD response).

MOTD [<server>]

<server>: If included, which server’s MOTD to show. If omitted, defaults to the current server.

If <server> is given but that server cannot be found, a ERR_NOSUCHSERVER response is sent and the command fails.

If the MOTD is found, one RPL_MOTDSTART response is sent, followed by one or more RPL_MOTD responses, and then one final RPL_ENDOFMOTD response.

If the MOTD does not exist on the server, the ERR_NOMOTD response is sent.

Examples

C  ->  MOTD
S <-   :irc.example.com 375 chris :- irc.example.com Message of the Day -
S <-   :irc.example.com 372 chris :- ExampleNet is a really cool network!
S <-   :irc.example.com 372 chris :- No spamming please, thank you!
S <-   :irc.example.com 376 chris :End of /MOTD command.

Typical MOTD command usage for the current server

C  ->  MOTD dan.irc.example.com
S <-   :dan.irc.example.com 375 chris :- dan.irc.example.com Message of the Day -
S <-   :dan.irc.example.com 372 chris :- This is dan's ExampleNet server! You can spam here
S <-   :dan.irc.example.com 372 chris :- if you want, just be nice.
S <-   :dan.irc.example.com 376 chris :End of /MOTD command.

MOTD for a specific server

C  ->  MOTD terry.irc.example.com
S <-   :irc.example.com 402 chris terry.irc.example.com :No such server

MOTD for a nonexistent server

C  ->  nick jen
C  ->  USER j 0 * :Whoo me!
S <-   :irc.example.com 001 jen :Welcome to the ExampleNet Internet Relay Chat Network jen
S <-   :irc.example.com 002 jen :Your host is irc.example.com[0::/6667], running version kittenircd34.4
S <-   :irc.example.com 003 jen :This server was created Mon Dec 3 2018 at 16:37:50 AEST
S <-   :irc.example.com 004 jen irc.example.com kittenircd34.4 DQRSZagiloswz CFILPQbcefgijklmnopqrstvz bkloveqjfI
S <-   :irc.example.com 005 jen SAFELIST ELIST=CTU MONITOR=100 WHOX CHANTYPES=#& EXCEPTS INVEX CHANMODES=eIbq,k,flj,CFLPQcimnprst CHANLIMIT=#&:15 :are supported by this server
S <-   :irc.example.com 005 jen PREFIX=(ov)@+ MAXLIST=bqeI:100 NETWORK=ExampleNet STATUSMSG=@+ CASEMAPPING=rfc1459 NICKLEN=30 MAXNICKLEN=31 CHANNELLEN=50 TOPICLEN=390 :are supported by this server
S <-   :irc.example.com 005 jen TARGMAX=NAMES:1,LIST:1,KICK:1,WHOIS:1,PRIVMSG:4,NOTICE:4,ACCEPT:,MONITOR: CLIENTVER=3.0 :are supported by this server
S <-   :irc.example.com 251 jen :There are 0 users and 1 invisible on 1 servers
S <-   :irc.example.com 255 jen :I have 1 clients and 0 servers
S <-   :irc.example.com 265 jen 1 1 :Current local users 1, max 1
S <-   :irc.example.com 266 jen 1 1 :Current global users 1, max 1
S <-   :irc.example.com 250 jen :Highest connection count: 1 (1 clients) (1 connections received)
S <-   :irc.example.com 422 jen :MOTD File is missing

Welcome burst with missing MOTD