Internet Relay Chat services

As IRC services (English: IRC Services) additional services in the Internet Relay Chat are called, which are offered in an IRC network.

Description

These services provide a rule basic feature enhancements that were not envisaged in the original IRC, for example, subscribing to channels. To ensure compatibility with the IRC client or to the IRC protocol does not need to change, these functions are usually only accessible indirectly, eg via the communication with virtual users / bots instead of direct IRC commands.

Although IRC services provide an in principle independent and disconnected component of an IRC network, but are often so important and fundamental that they are not indispensable for a controlled operation. This is for example the case when users have registered their nicknames with NickServ and a service like this makes sure that only the real owner is allowed to use the nick. For this reason, many users do not even know that IRC services are just an extension.

IRC services appear generally as a user or bot on IRC and take in Private chat counter commands. Although they appear like normal users, they are often not bound by the restrictions of such. You can, for example, other users from a channel kick or give permissions, without itself being in the channel, users rename etc.

These services combine mostly as a server to another IRC server to get the server -server connection more insight into the operations of the IRC network and gain additional privileges (keyword: U- Line).

Technical integration

Most IRC services connect to the IRC server to the chat network and generate virtual users. The fact that they are connected as a server on the network, they get, as any other server also, all the global information with, such as the appearance or disappearance of users in the network, all the entering or exiting of channels, changes to channel modes, etc., and can the special rights exercise.

They are for this reason often referred to as a hybrid between IRC server and IRC client, as they appear over most of the users as a client, but in reality provide server functionality.

IRC daemons and IRC services are separated in most cases two running daemons. In some recent, mostly paid, IRC daemons, this separation is not on the technical side. Here then the services of the ircd are integrated, the difference for the user is not readily apparent.

Usually offered services

The service is for the user on IRC in several parts divided some we describe here.

AuthServ / NickServ

• NickServ is the service that allows a user to register his nick name and protect it. Most password and e- mail address are required for this purpose. The e- mail address for the purpose of password reminder, because if a user forgets their password once, so it may, this usually will be sent to this address.

• AuthServ works like NickServ, but no nick names can be registered and protected by him, AuthServ registered a so-called AuthName, which is independent of the nickname. As with NickServ serves a password for identification and an email address for password reminder

ChanServ

Each IRC network consists of multiple, usually numerous, Channels (English channels or spaces). ChanServ stands for Channel Service, and allows the user to register a channel and thus to be put under his care. As a channel owner he has the right channel (operators ), etc. to appoint and authorize other users to expel from the channel or to banish them.

HostServ

The HostServ is the one service that lets a user apparently another host can be assigned. The user then does not have this host though, but not the real host is for example if another user executes a whois command to another, displayed, but the one who was assigned to the user specified by an IRC Op ( IRC Operator).

Memoserv

The abbreviation memoserv is advertised for the Word Memory Service (English, reminder service ). Through this it is possible to users who do not happen to be online in the IRC network, to leave a message ( memo ). The message is stored for the user on the appropriate server. This can then check at any time and read the message of the other user.

OperServ

The short form of opera stands for the word operator. When OperServ but not the Channel Operators are meant but the irc (IRC Operators ). The irc operators are usually those who have opened the IRC network, or they at least get their IRC Op - rights of these. They are thus able to make decisions over the heads of the channel operators and channel owners away, because they have the authorization from the server for it.

This service is now but tasks such as the global control of certain processes which are described in detail only for the irc itself of importance. A "normal" user has no permission to access this service or to give him obey commands to perform specific tasks.

Other

An equally widespread service for IRCd with the P10 protocol ( ircu. ..) is the bot Q, which has been introduced by the developers of the QuakeNet. Here Q is similar in structure ChanServ, but offers a different syntax based on function, such as a structured on Channel Flags rights management. The slightly smaller on the functional version of Q is called L and also comes from the QuakeNet. These services are characterized by their performance and resource economy.