IRC is an acronym for Internet Relay Chat. IRC was developed by Jarkko "WiZ" Oikarinen at the University of Oulu, in Finland. IRC is the oldest chat protocol in wide use today. The first IRC network, IRCNet, spawned Eris Free Net (EfNet), which led to thousands of other networks. IRC is an effective way of communicating with people anywhere on the globe.

First of all, you'll need a client such as mIRC, BitchX, Trillian or one of the many other clients.
The most common syntax to connect to an IRC Server is as follows:

/server irc.utonet.org 6667

Whereas the irc.utonet.org part is aimed at UtoNet only - as that is our address - the 6667 is a more common parameter. It defines the port used.

That is called an "action". To do an action, in many IRC clients you type: /me action. For example, to drink a glass of water, you type: /me drinks a glass of water.

Bold text is done in many IRC clients by pressing Ctrl+B simultanously.

Underlined text can be shown by pressing Ctrl+U in the same manner.

Colored text often uses the Ctrl+K shortcut, followed by 1 or 2 numbers, where the first number stands for the text-color and the optional second number for the background-color. See the mIRC color code table for a list of what numbers correspond to which colors. If you choose to use a background color you must seprate the text color from the background color with a comma.

All of these codes should be trailed by the same key-combination to mark the end of a colored/underlined/bold section.

Normally you'd join a channel using:

/join #Channel

In case of a keyed channel, you'd type the following:

/join #Channel key

The key is simply placed behind the usual /join command.

You can use the LIST command to search for public channels on the network. It takes one of several different parameters which you can read about in the list help, however if you wanted to list all public channels with more than, say 10 users, you would type:
/list >10 (note that there is no space between > and 10)

In order to secure your nickname so others cannot use it, we provide a service called NickServ. To to register with NickServ, use the following command.

/msg nickserv register password email

Replace password with a password to your liking and also make sure you replace email with a valid email address. This email address is required and will be validated before you can use your nickname. Note that your email address is not publically visible unless you specifically choose to make it using NickServ's SET HIDE command.

If you try to join an empty channel, it will be created automatically.

If you want to secure a channel so that no one can take it away from you, you will have to use the network service called ChanServ. In order to register a channel, use the following command.

/msg chanserv register #channel password description

Replace #channel with the channel you are trying to register. Replace password with a password that will only be used for channel administration, not one that is required for users to know to join the channel. Replace description with a description of your channel, this will be publically visible.

A useful link for this may be the guide on How to Set Up a Kingdom Channel.

~ = Channel Owner
& = Channel Admin
@ = Channel Operator (Op)
% = Half Operator (Halfop)
+ = Voice

Channel Owner (~/+q): The channel owner is the founder of the channel. There may be more than one user who is mode +q, but there can only be one permanent founder. A user who is +q is also able to protect/deprotect (+/-a) users and set any channel mode.

Channel Admin (&/+a): The channel admin is protected from being kicked by anyone. The channel admin can also set op/deop (+/-o) users and set almost all channel modes.

Channel Operator (@/+o): The channel operator has many channel powers. An Operator can op/deop (+/-o) other users and set many channel modes. It is also the first level that can set/remove ban exceptions (+/-e).

Half Operator (%/+h): Half operators have limited channel powers. They can kick another user, as long as that user does not have halfop (+h) or higher on the channel. They can set bans, and change a few other modes.

Voice (+/+v): Voiced users have no channel powers that ordinary users do not have, except for one thing: if the channel is moderated (+m), Voiced users (and higher) can speak.

To change the topic in a channel, type /topic #channel newtopic. For example, type: /topic #mychannel Welcome to my channel to change the topic of #mychannel to "Welcome to my channel".

To kick a user out of a channel, you must he a half operator (to kick a regular/voiced user) or an operator (to kick anyone else). The command to kick is: /kick #channel nick reason. For example, to kick Someone from #mychannel with the reason "Ack! Dirty Spammer!", you would type: /kick #mychannel Someone Ack! Dirty spammer!

To keep a particular person from joining your channel, you must ban them. To ban someone, type: /mode #channel +b banmask. For example, to ban "Spammer" from #mychannel, you could type: /mode #mychannel +b Spammer!*@*.

See the ban mode help for information on the available ban masks. Also worth reading is the IRC Hostmask Guide.

If you are trying to set up a kingdom channel, and would like information about keeping non-kingdom members out, please read How to Set Up a Kingdom Channel.

Please see the complete listing of channel modes available in the help section.

The UtoNet irc server has a special channel mode, +G, which will filter kingdom locations. Obviously this cannot prevent a determined user from posting a kingdom location; it can, however, prevent accidents from occuring and hinder spammers. When this mode is active, you will not see your own text censored, but others in the channel will.

This mode has the unfortunate side effect of filtering timestamps.

IRC is not a democracy. The use of the server, as well as the use of any individual channel, is a privilege, not a right. There are a few simple rules to remember that will generally apply. Remember that these do not apply everywhere, and some channel owners may have their own rules.

- Just because an op can't give you a good reason doesn't mean they will unban you. It's their channel to run.

- If you taunt the ops into banning you, that does not make you right. (Topic from #Utopia, by the way)

- Do not ask the administrators to unban you; they will not. The channel may be run exactly as the owner pleases, so long as they do not violate UtoNet rules. If the channel owner wishes to ban everyone with "A" in their nickname, they may do so.

Suggestions
First, try talking to the operator who banned you. If this is your first time being banned, the ban will usually be temporary, and the operator will usually explain what you have done to offend them. Bear in mind, however, that the operator does not have to talk to you if they do not want to. The next place to try is the founder of the channel. If they believe you were unjustly banned, they may or may not do something about it. If the founder will not unban you, tough cookies. Find another channel.

Remember...Channel Operators do not need a reason.

Yes, there is a way to hide a portion of your hostname or IP address. Note that this is enabled by default for all users connecting to UtoNet so unless you or your IRC client disables it, doing this manually should not be necessary.

You can ensure your hostname or IP address is partially masked by typing the following:

/mode Nickname +x
Where Nickname is replaced with your current nickname.

#UtoNet.Help -- the network help channel is where our help staff is available to answer any IRC questions you may have.

UtoNet is not currently looking for any additional IRC Operators. Generally when we do, it is by specific invitation only, not because someone asked us to be an IRCop. Were we to put out a general call that would be posted on this website and in the MOTD sent when you sign on.

UtoNet does not offer vanity hosts and we have no current plans to offer them. It is worth noting that we do cloak your hostname/IP address by default.

UtoNet listens for regular IRC connections on ports 6667, 7000 and 9056.

Most firewalls can be evaded by connecting to UtoNet on an alternate non-standard port. Try ports 7000 and 9056 as alternates to the standard 6667.

If this fails, you will have to find an alternate means of connection such as a password protected bouncer/proxy run on your computer at home (or a friend's computer) on port 80.

No, UtoNet cannot currently provide a CGI:IRC (a web-page based IRC client) client for our users. CGI:IRC clients are far too strenuous on server resources to allow for us to run one publically.

No, not at this time. UtoNet is currently looking into the logistics of providing a secure connection for all of our users, however as of yet, we are unable to offer IRC over SSL.

Unfortunately UtoNet is unable to accept IPv6 connections at this time.

UtoNet runs an open proxy monitor -- a utility that connects to your computer to make sure that somebody could not use your computer for an anonymous attack on the network. This service protects UtoNet from most bot attacks and many malicious users.

If you were accidentally running an open proxy, the ban placed on you should be removed in less than an hour and once you turn it off, you will be able to connect again.

If you are connecting from a large network like a college network or an internet cafe, you may encounter unavoidable problems with this. All we can recommend is that you find an alternate means of connecting to UtoNet. You can have a friend install a bouncer or a secured proxy of some kind for example.

We will not provide exceptions to the proxy scan.

UtoNet allows a limited number of connections from any individual IP address. When you get banned with this message, it means that you had more than three (3) simultaneous connections to UtoNet. The ban will automatically be lifted in 15 minutes and you will be able to reconnect as usual. For more information see our article on session limits.

To give someone else founder status in a channel, simply use the following command:

/msg ChanServ set #channel founder nickname

Where nickname is the nickname of the person you wish to set as the founder.

Alternatively, if you want to keep founder status, you can tell someone else the password to your channel. This is risky however, since the other person can easily change the channel password and founders once they have identified. Use this at your own risk!

Currently, you'll have to send an email to the UtoNet staff at <opers at utonet dot org> from the email address associated with your nickname, asking for a password reset as well as telling us which nickname you want the password changed for (since an email address can be used for multiple nicknames). A staff member will reply to that email providing you with a new password, which we encourage you to change immediately, when your password has been reset.

If you are currently identified to the nickname listed as the founder for the channel, then you can simply use ChanServ's SET PASSWORD command to change the password.

If anyone still has op status in the channel (@) then they can still register the channel. If, however, the channel has no ops, you will have to establish an op in the channel somehow.

The simplest and safest way to accomplish this is to have everyone except for one person part the channel. Then, have the last person type:

/cycle #channel.

This command will make the person part and rejoin the channel instantly, preventing someone from sneaking in and registering the channel while you manually type /join and /part commands. Once the person cycles the channel, they will have operator status and will be able to register the channel.

To avoid this problem in the future, set a Successor for channels you register using ChanServ's SET SUCCESSOR command.

No, you cannot retrieve it. Passwords on the site are hashed in such a way that it is virtually impossible for us to recover them. You can; however, reset your password using the Reset Password Form. Note: This form will not reset passwords for nicknames registered on UtoNet, see above for how to do that.

Web mail services often filter emails from the UtoNet site. Be sure to check your junk mail folder for your activation code. Many mail servers also delay the delivery of email by as much as an hour. If you have just registered, be patient. If over an hour has passed and you haven't received an email, check your junk email folders first and then stop by #UtoNet.Help and ask the staff for help.

The script library features a system that automatically keeps track of the number of times a script has been changed. (r*) simply refers to the number of revisions a script has undergone since being created. A script showing (r5) has been updated 5 times since it was first created.

This is a shorthand notation for the number of comments a script has received. Clicking on the (*c) link will take you directly to the comments section of a script.