IRCnet
Encyclopedia
IRCnet is one of the largest IRC
networks with more than 60,000 users using it daily. An early 2005 record had approximately 123,110 users simultaneously connected to the network.
A group of IRC server operators, with the support of Jarkko Oikarinen
, introduced a new "Q-line" into their server configurations, to "quarantine" themselves away from eris by disconnecting from any subset of the IRC network as soon as they saw eris there.
For a few days, the entire IRC network suffered frequent netsplit
s, but eventually the majority of servers added the Q-line and effectively created a new separate IRC net called EFnet (Eris-Free Network); the remaining servers who stayed connected to eris (and thus were no longer able to connect to EFnet servers) were called A-net (Anarchy Network). A-net soon vanished, leaving EFnet as the only IRC network.
Continuing problems with performance and abuse eventually led to the rise of another major IRC network, Undernet
, which split off in October 1992.
Between May and July 1996 IRCnet was formed as a Europe
an fork of EFnet
, when a number of operator disagreements resulted in a group of European admins declaring their independence. The reasons for the "Great Split" as it came to be called, included:
Servers are generally open to users from their geographic location and do not allow outside connections, however there are few open exceptions allowing access to users not covered by any local server.
Strict rules are operated for shell providers regulating, limiting or banning their connections.
IRCnet operates few if any network services to service nicknames or channels. It does implement reop -channelmode that allows channel operators to set hostmasks for users to be automatically "reopped" by the server. Unlike RFC2811 suggests, the mode is called +R with capital R.
All of network servers run on IRCnet's ircd
with the current version 2.11 (latest software versions are maintained at IRC.ORG).
IRCnet's channel operators are generally free to run their channels however they see fit without the intervention of IRCops. IRCops are primarily there to handle network and server related issues, and rarely get involved with channel level issues.
To fight nickname collisions when splits occur on re-link IRCnet will use unique IDs. If there are two users with the same nickname on both sides of the network when servers are re-linking then both nicknames will be forcefully changed to unique ID instead to prevent collisions.
Internet Relay Chat
Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...
networks with more than 60,000 users using it daily. An early 2005 record had approximately 123,110 users simultaneously connected to the network.
History
Initially, most IRC servers formed a single IRC network, to which new servers could join without restriction, but this was soon abused by people who set up servers to sabotage other users, channels, or servers. In August 1990, the servereris.berkeley.edu remained the only one to allow anyone to connect to the servers.A group of IRC server operators, with the support of Jarkko Oikarinen
Jarkko Oikarinen
Jarkko Oikarinen is the inventor of the first Internet chat network, called Internet Relay Chat , where he is known as WiZ. While working at the University of Oulu in August 1988, he wrote the first IRC server and client programs, which he produced to replace the MUT program on the Finnish BBS...
, introduced a new "Q-line" into their server configurations, to "quarantine" themselves away from eris by disconnecting from any subset of the IRC network as soon as they saw eris there.
For a few days, the entire IRC network suffered frequent netsplit
Netsplit
In computer networking, specifically Internet Relay Chat , netsplit is the disconnection of a given node from the previously established network or between two nodes. As an IRC network is an undirected acyclic graph, a split between any two nodes splits the entire network into two pieces.Consider...
s, but eventually the majority of servers added the Q-line and effectively created a new separate IRC net called EFnet (Eris-Free Network); the remaining servers who stayed connected to eris (and thus were no longer able to connect to EFnet servers) were called A-net (Anarchy Network). A-net soon vanished, leaving EFnet as the only IRC network.
Continuing problems with performance and abuse eventually led to the rise of another major IRC network, Undernet
Undernet
The Undernet is the fourth-largest publicly-monitored Internet Relay Chat network circa 2011, with about 12 client servers serving 60,000 users in 11,000 channels at any given time....
, which split off in October 1992.
Between May and July 1996 IRCnet was formed as a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an fork of EFnet
EFnet
EFnet or Eris Free network is a major IRC network, with more than 35,000 users. It is the modern-day descendant of the original IRC network.- History :...
, when a number of operator disagreements resulted in a group of European admins declaring their independence. The reasons for the "Great Split" as it came to be called, included:
- a policy disagreement about how much power system operators should have. IRCnet formed with the basis that there should be a set of rules defining what SysOpSysOpA sysop is an administrator of a multi-user computer system, such as a bulletin board system or an online service virtual community. It may also be used to refer to administrators of other Internet-based network services....
s could and could not do. This viewpoint was opposed by many of the USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based EFnet servers. - a technical disagreement on whether the network should use timestamping (TS) or Nick Delay as a means to prevent nick collisions, according to Jarkko OikarinenJarkko OikarinenJarkko Oikarinen is the inventor of the first Internet chat network, called Internet Relay Chat , where he is known as WiZ. While working at the University of Oulu in August 1988, he wrote the first IRC server and client programs, which he produced to replace the MUT program on the Finnish BBS...
. - Vegard Engen, one of the European operators, stated that the immediate cause for the "Great Split" was that a major US EFnet hub had been disconnecting
irc.stealth.netwithout warning, and thereby breaking the link to the European servers.
Characteristics
Many IRCnet servers state that IRC is a privilege, not a right. That defines the characteristics of network usage ‒ users are normally not permitted to run bots and should avoid abusive behaviour.Servers are generally open to users from their geographic location and do not allow outside connections, however there are few open exceptions allowing access to users not covered by any local server.
Strict rules are operated for shell providers regulating, limiting or banning their connections.
IRCnet operates few if any network services to service nicknames or channels. It does implement reop -channelmode that allows channel operators to set hostmasks for users to be automatically "reopped" by the server. Unlike RFC2811 suggests, the mode is called +R with capital R.
All of network servers run on IRCnet's ircd
IRCd
An IRCd, short for Internet Relay Chat daemon, is server software that implements the IRC protocol, enabling people to talk to each other via the Internet . It is distinct from an IRC bot that connects outbound to an IRC channel.The server listens to connections from IRC clients on a set of TCP ports...
with the current version 2.11 (latest software versions are maintained at IRC.ORG).
IRCnet's channel operators are generally free to run their channels however they see fit without the intervention of IRCops. IRCops are primarily there to handle network and server related issues, and rarely get involved with channel level issues.
To fight nickname collisions when splits occur on re-link IRCnet will use unique IDs. If there are two users with the same nickname on both sides of the network when servers are re-linking then both nicknames will be forcefully changed to unique ID instead to prevent collisions.
External links
- IRCnet.org (unofficial)
- IRCnet.info ("IRCnet.com", unofficial)
- http://irc.tu-ilmenau.de/all_servers/ Complete IRCnet server list
- http://dx.fi/alt/ircmap/ IRCnet server map