New Undernet Channel Modes

One of Undernet's characteristics is that it doesn't have the usual network services provided by many other IRC networks: nickserv, chanserv, memoserv. One of Undernet's committees, CService, has been providing a way to register channels to get their bot, X.

But this registration system was not meant as an aid for new channels; it is only for already existing channels. So people trying to start a new channel were having a difficult time maintaining ops on their channels after they quit, because the server didn't "recognize" them as channel "founder" or #manager# in any way.

Takeovers were also a major problem for unregistered channels. So, recently, Undernet programmers added some new features to help unregistered channels maintain op and prevent takeovers, in the form of two new channel modes: +A and +U.

Note: The new channel modes are Case-sensitive

Channel modes +A, +U:

These modes are only for unregistered channels, and for channels created after the implementation of these modes. So, if you have a channel that was created before this, you will have to get all users to /part the channel and rejoin. The first one in the channel is now the "creator" and thus, the Manager. You can now set an administrative password for the channel. (+A) This password must be set within 48 hours of creation of the channel. This will give you oplevel of 0.

To set the password type: /mode #yourChannel +A Administrator_Password

(Do not lose this password, it cannot be retrieved by anyone on Undernet, and you cannot change the password after 48 hours of its being set.)

After setting the administrative password, you can set the channel user password. (+U) The manager can change this password whenever he likes.

To set the channel user password, type : /mode #yourChannel +U User_Password

(This password should be shared with your channel ops. If you forget the user password, type /mode #channelname and you will be sent the password with the channel modes.)

To join your channel, type /join #channelname password (either the administrative password if you are the manager, or the user password, just as you would join a channel with a key or password.

The differences are this:

If you use the administrative password:

Your joining overrides channel modes that would prevent you from getting in

You will automatically get opped by the server, with oplevel 0

You cannot send messages to the channel (designed to keep you from typing your administrative keyword in the channel.)

If you use your user password:

Your joining overrides channel modes that would prevent you from getting in

You will automatically get opped by the server, with oplevel 1

If you join the channel without using a password, you join as a normal user with no channel privileges.

Oplevels:

Oplevels for unregistered channels is the opposite of those used for registered channels. The lower the oplevel in an unregistered channel, the higher the op. The channel manager gets oplevel of 0. Those he ops, get level 1. Those who level 1 ops give ops to, receive level2 .. etc.

An op cannot deop or kick another op with equal or lower oplevel.

Channel mode +D/+d:

+D is Delayed join channel mode. Joining users will not be shown until they are opped/voiced, change the topic or speak. Note that hidden users will not be revealed when the mode is cleared. It can only be set or cleared by the server and is removed automatically when all users become visible.

Hidden users can be seen with /names -d #channel

Note: If you /whois an user who is in a channel with +D set and the user is not "visible" there yet, you'll see that channel prefixed by a < sign. i.e. <#delaychannel

While not a "mode" per se, in late 2005: the NOADDUSER command: /msg X set noadduser on/off was established. If set on, this command keeps others from giving access to you without your knowledge.

For more info, check out: This page