IRC ChanCommands

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) - Channel Commands

What is a Channel?

If IRC is thought of as a house, then channels are like rooms in the house. The only difference is that you can be in several channels at the same time. In order to talk with a group of people you will need to be in a channel together. Some channels are public, meaning anyone can enter, and some are private and can restrict access to approved nicks. Channels must meet the following guidelines:

• Must not contain offensive words or vulgarities
• May not contain the following words anywhere within it:
  • Admin
  • Oper
  • Root

Registering a Channel

Registering a channel makes it "yours" and allows you to maintain the channel. You may give out operator status to those you choose, restrict the channel, and even make it private.

To register your channel:

• Create your channel by joining it
  • Example: /join #ThisChannelRocks
• Use the following command: /msg chanserv register <#channel> <pwd> <description>
  • Example: /msg chanserv register #ThisChannelRocks SomePassword This Channel Rocks! It is uber kena!

The channel must be created before it may be registered, and it must not already be registered.
The password must be at least 5 characters. It is best to use both upper and lower case letters and numbers.
The description can be anything you want. Ideally it will describe the channel's purpose to others.
Channels will be dropped after 60 days if not used.
Each user may own a maximum of 2 channels.

Basic channel settings

You can restrict access to those in your channel access list.

• To set and unset type: /msg chanserv set #channel restricted <on|off>
  • Example: /msg chanserv set #MyChannel restricted on

To limit kick/ban/remove powers of each user level to the level below it

• /msg chanserv set #Channel peace <on|off>

To hide your channel from the LIST command

• Type: /msg chanserv set #channel private <on|off>

To hide your channel from the WHOIS command

• Type: /mode #channel +s

To set successor in case the channel owner disappears

• Type: /msg chanserv set #channel successor <nick>

If the channel owner loses the channel it is passed on to the successor, or deregistered if the successor already owns 2 channels.

Access levels

There are two different systems for giving access on a channel.
With XOP on access is granted through voice, halfops, ops & superops.
With XOP off you can assign access levels to each user and their rank will determine their level of control. Ranks range from 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

• To turn XOP on and off: /msg chanserv set #channel XOP <on|off>
• List users who have access: /msg chanserv access #channel list

Giving/removing access with XOP on:

• SuperOps: /msg chanserv sop #channel <add|del> <nick>
• Operators: /msg chanserv aop #channel <add|del> <nick>
• Halfops: /msg chanserv hop #channel <add|del> <nick>
• Voice: /msg chanserv vop #channel <add|del> <nick>
  • Example: /msg chanserv sop #MyCoolChannel ADD Elva

Giving/removing access with XOP off:

• Giving access: /msg chanserv access #channel ADD <nick> <level>
  • Example: /msg chanserv access #MyCoolChannel ADD Elva 8
• Removing access: /msg chanserv access #channel DEL <nick>
  • Example: /msg chanserv access #MyCoolChannel DEL Elva
• Removing all users: /msg chanserv access #channel clear