How to Register and Manage an IRC Channel with X

An unregistered channel disappears when the last person leaves and anyone can take it over. Registering a channel with X gives it a stable home, automatic operator support and an access list that follows your registered users.

This guide assumes you already have a NationCHAT username. If you do not, start with How to register your username with X.

Before you register a channel

• You are logged in to X with your username.
• The channel exists and you have operator status (+o) in it.
• The channel has a clear purpose and at least a few regulars. Services are intended for established channels, not placeholders.
• You have read the network policy and the channel guidelines.

Register the channel

Join the channel, make sure you are opped, then message X:

/msg X register #MyChannel

Registration is instant. X joins the channel and begins enforcing the access list. You can also register from the Services site: log in, choose “Register A Channel”, and enter the channel name.

Use a channel name that starts with # and contains no spaces. Short, descriptive names are easier to share than long ones.

Check that it worked

Two commands are worth knowing immediately. The first shows the channel’s registration details; the second lists every command X will accept from you in that channel:

/msg X chaninfo #MyChannel
/msg X showcommands #MyChannel

If X does not recognise the channel, check the spelling and make sure you were opped when you ran the register command. If X is not in the channel at all, the registration did not complete.

Understand access levels

X uses numbered access levels. The higher the number, the more control the user has:

• 500: Channel Manager (Owner). Full control. Can add or remove users up to level 499, change channel settings and manage topic options.
• 400-499: Op Manager. Senior administrator. Can add or remove operators up to level 399, op or deop users, and manage bans.
• 100-399: Channel Operator. Standard op. Receives operator status automatically on join and can unban users below their level.
• 50-99: Channel Voice. Regular chatter or helper. Receives voice automatically on join, which matters in moderated (+m) channels.
• 0: No access. A normal visitor with no special privileges.
• -1: Automated kick/ban. Blacklisted. X kicks and bans the user as soon as they enter.

Keep level 500 for yourself and give 400 only to people you completely trust. Most moderators only need 100, and regulars who need to speak in a moderated channel only need 50.

Add and remove moderators

To grant access, use the username (not the nickname) and a level below your own:

/msg X adduser #MyChannel Friend 100
/msg X remuser #MyChannel Friend

You need access level 400 or higher to add or remove users. To see who currently has access, run:

/msg X access #MyChannel *

Review the list occasionally. Remove inactive moderators, and never add someone just because they asked nicely. Access is a security decision.

Daily channel commands

• Op someone: /msg X op #MyChannel Nick. Use it when a trusted regular needs temporary operator status.
• Voice someone: /msg X voice #MyChannel Nick. Needed in moderated (+m) channels.
• Invite yourself: /msg X invite #MyChannel. Works even when the channel is +i, +k or +l, provided you have level 100 or higher.
• Remove a ban: /msg X unban #MyChannel Nick. You can unban users whose ban level is below your own.
• Check a user: /msg X verify Nick. Shows whether the nick is logged in, with which username, and whether they are staff.

Protect the channel with modes

Modes are the switches that control who can join and speak. A few are especially useful on a registered channel:

• +r: registered users only. Only users logged in to X can join. This is the single most effective defence against drive-by abuse. Channel operators can still invite a guest in with /invite Nick when needed.
• +i: invite only. Useful during a raid or for a private working channel, but it makes the channel hard to discover.
• +k: channel key. Adds a password to the channel. Share it privately, and change it if it leaks.
• +m: moderated. Only voiced users can speak. Combine it with level 50 access so regulars are voiced automatically.

/mode #MyChannel +r

Do not switch on every restriction at once. A channel that is +i, +k, +m and +r is difficult for new people to join and easy to forget how to manage. Start with +r, and add the others only when you have a reason.

Channel etiquette and housekeeping

• Set a topic that explains what the channel is for and link to any rules.
• Keep the access list short and current. Remove people who no longer need it.
• Do not ban first and ask questions later. A quiet word in private usually works better.
• Use #help for network support; do not turn a social channel into a support queue.
• Do not share channel passwords or operator credentials in the channel.
• If you hand over ownership, transfer it deliberately and update the access list at the same time.

Troubleshooting

• “X is not in my channel.” The registration probably did not complete. Re-run /msg X register #MyChannel while opped, then check /msg X chaninfo #MyChannel.
• “adduser says I do not have permission.” You need level 400 or higher, and you can only add users below your own level.
• “I lost op after reconnecting.” Make sure you are logged in to X, then check your access with /msg X access #MyChannel *. X restores op automatically for level 100 and above.
• “Nobody can join my +r channel.” They need to log in to X first. If you want to let a guest in, use /invite Nick from inside the channel.
• “I need help with a channel I do not own.” Ask in #help. Channel disputes are handled by the community and, where necessary, the Abuse Team.

Next steps

• Read the services guide: access levels, host cloaking, bouncers and the wider X feature set.
• Download the X command reference: plain-text command lists in several languages.
• Browse channel modes: every mode, with examples.
• Open WebChat: register a channel from the browser if you prefer not to install a client.