How to Register Your Username with X on NationCHAT

If you have used other IRC networks, you may expect a NickServ command that reserves your nickname. NationCHAT works differently. There is no nickname registration. Instead, you create a username with the network’s services bot, X.

Nickname vs username: the important difference

Your nickname is the display name other people see. It is temporary: when you disconnect, it becomes available again, and anyone can use any free nick.

Your username is your account. It is what you log in with, what appears in channel access lists, and what lets you register a channel. A username can be different from your nickname, and you can change nicknames freely without losing your account.

This is also why you will not find NickServ or ChanServ here. Both jobs are handled by X, the GNUWorld services bot.

What you need before you start

• A nickname you want to use while registering. Any free nick works.
• An email address. It is used for account recovery and service notices, not for public display.
• A strong, unique password. Do not reuse a password from another site.
• A connection to NationCHAT: WebChat in the browser, or any IRC client.

Option 1: create your username in chat

The quickest route is to ask X to start the process. Connect to the network, pick your nickname, then open a private message to X:

/msg X hello

X replies with the steps it needs. Follow the prompts, choose a username and password, and provide your email address. Read each reply carefully. X confirms what it has created and what to do next.

If you prefer a web form, open the registration page or the services site at services.nationchat.org. The account you create there is the same username you use on IRC.

Option 2: register on the Services website

The Services site is useful if you want to fill in the form without typing commands, or if you are registering before you connect. Create the account with a username, password and email address, then log in from IRC as described below.

Whichever route you use, the username is the permanent part. Your nickname is not reserved by registering; it is just the name you happen to be using at the time.

Log in every time you connect

Creating the account is only half of it. On each new connection, authenticate with X so the network knows who you are:

/msg x@channels.nationchat.org login <username> <password>

Replace <username> and <password> with your own details. Send the command from the server or status window, never from inside a channel, and never paste your password where other people can see it.

After logging in, you can hide your real host with /mode YourNick +x. Your host becomes username.users.nationchat.org, which is the free cloak every registered user gets.

What a username unlocks

• Registered-only channels. Channels with mode +r only allow logged-in users to join. Without a username, you cannot enter them.
• Channel registration. You need a username before X will register a channel to you.
• Access lists. Channel owners grant permissions to usernames, not to nicknames. Your access follows your account, not your current nick.
• Host hiding and vhosts. Log in, set +x, and request a custom vhost if you need one.
• Verification. Anyone can check whether a nick is logged in with /msg X verify <nick>.

Common questions and fixes

• “That username is already registered.” Choose a different username. If you believe the account is yours, use the recovery option on the Services site rather than creating a duplicate.
• “I forgot my password.” Use the password reset on services.nationchat.org. Do not ask staff to send you a password in a channel.
• “I am logged in, but a channel still rejects me.” Check with /msg X verify YourNick. Some channels require a minimum access level as well as a login.
• “Can I use a different nickname?” Yes. Your username is independent of your nick. Log in with the same username and use whatever free nick you like.
• “Can I use more than one device?” By default, one login is allowed at a time. Accounts registered for at least a year can raise the limit to two or three logins on the Services site. Running two clients with the same account can cause one session to disconnect.

Keep your account safe

• Use a unique password that you do not use on any other service.
• Never share your password with anyone, including someone claiming to be staff.
• NationCHAT staff will not ask for your password in a channel or private message.
• Be careful with links claiming to be the Services site. Type the address yourself or use the link on this page.
• Log out on shared or public computers, and avoid saving passwords in a browser you do not control.

Next steps

• Register and manage your own channel: the practical guide to X channel commands and access levels.
• Read the X command reference: downloadable command lists in several languages.
• Browse the help FAQ: short answers to the most common account and channel questions.
• Open WebChat. If you have not connected yet, this is the fastest way in.