... Getty is the program that enables you to log in through a serial device such as a virtual terminal, a text terminal, or a modem. It displays the login prompt. ... The message that comes on the top of your screen with your login prompt comes from /etc/issue . ... Login checks user details in /etc/passwd , and if you have password shadowing, /etc/shadow . ... See the man page for this file Use man 5 passwd to get the man page for the file rather than the man page for the program. ...