diff --git a/roles/common/tasks/main.yml b/roles/common/tasks/main.yml
index 512a755..23b4cd5 100644
--- a/roles/common/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/common/tasks/main.yml
@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@
 - include: darshan-dev.yml
   when: "'darshan_dev' in myconfig and myconfig.darshan_dev"
 
+# Install motd
+- name: install MOTD
+  template:
+    src: etc/motd
+    dest: /etc/motd
+    owner: root
+    group: root
+    mode: "0644"
+
 # Configure firewall
 - name: allow SSH through UFW
   ufw:
@@ -132,7 +141,7 @@
 
 - name: enable UFW
   ufw:
-    state: enabled
-    logging: yes
+    state: "enabled"
+    logging: "on"
   tags:
     - ufw
diff --git a/roles/common/templates/etc/motd b/roles/common/templates/etc/motd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..688c467
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/common/templates/etc/motd
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+
+{{ myconfig.hostname }}
+{{ ansible_processor_count }} core{% if ansible_processor_count > 1 %}s
+{% endif %}
+{{ ansible_memtotal_mb }} MB RAM
+{{ ansible_lsb.description }}
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------