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IRC Services (also called just "Services" for short) is a system of services
to be used with Internet Relay Chat networks. Services provides for definitive
nickname and channel ownership, as well as the ability to send messages
("memos") to offline users, and gives IRC operators considerably more control
over the network.
In particular, Services provides the following features to an IRC network:
- Nickname management. Services allows users to "register" nicknames,
and will prevent users other than the registrant from using them. Services also
maintains information about each registered nickname, including the last time
the nick's owner was online as well as a URL and E-mail address that can be set
by the user.
- Channel management. Like nicknames, Services allows users to register
channels as well. A channel's owner can give privileges to other users of the
channel, such as auto-opping or the ability to set various channel options, or
conversely deny other users the ability to obtain channel operator privileges or
even enter the channel altogether. Services will remember the topic on the
channel even after the last user leaves, and can automatically set modes on the
channel whenever a user joins it.
- Messages to offline users. Probably every IRC user has gone through
the experience of waiting and waiting for someone to come online in order to
pass a message along or ask a question. Services alleviates this with a "memo"
system, allowing users to leave messages for other users even if the recipient
is not online at the time; the recipient will be notified of the memo the next
time they log on.
- Centralized network control. Services includes features which allow
IRC operators greater control over the IRC network through a single point, and
also defines multiple privilege levels for IRC operators with respect to
Services itself. For example, IRC operators with sufficient privileges can use
Services to set modes on any channel; it is also possible to ban users or groups
of users from connecting to the network entirely, and such bans ("autokills" in
Services terminology) will remain active even if a server, or Services itself,
splits from the network.
Furthermore, each of these sets of features can be configured or
disabled to match individual networks' policies.
For a detailed overview of IRC Services, please see the
About IRC Services
section of the online documentation.
Please note that the EsperNet and ShadowFire IRC Networks are in no way associated with IRC
Services. They are simply one of the many satisfied users. They will not, and should not be
expected to, provide support in any form what so ever for IRC Services. If you need help,
see the support section.
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