Introduction: This FAQ has been put together by the Undernet Channel Service Committee for any and all users who have Channel Operator status on a Registered Channel on the Undernet.
The Undernet Channel Service Committee is a sub committee of the Undernet User Committee (User-Com). The CSC (Channel Service Committee) is in charge of administrating the Channel Service and assisting users with its use.
2) Who are X and W?
X and W are the two Channel Service (CService) bots. They reside on Undernet's registered channels. Each registered channel has either X or W, but not both. They are exactly the same in the functions they can perform. The bots
hold separate user lists for each channel they reside on. These are lists of users for each channel who have access to certain functions on the bots depending on the level and settings of the user.
3) What is a Channel Operator?
A Channel Operator (ChanOp) is a user who has been given the privilege of helping the Channel Manager run the channel. ChanOps are expected to abide by all of the Channel Manager's rules, as well as CService's rules.
4) What are the responsibilities of a ChanOp?
A ChanOp is responsible for helping to maintain the atmosphere that the Channel Manager has set for his/her channel. This means ensuring that all users abide by the set channel rules and warning/removing users who do not abide by
them.
5) Who is the Channel Manager?
The Channel Manager is the person who registered the channel. There is generally only one Channel Manager, unless a special arrangement has been made with CService to have more than one. The Channel Manager makes the decisions on
how the channel is to be run. This is the person to go to first if you have a problem on your channel.
6) Can a user be a ChanOp even if s/he is not on the user list?
Yes. A user can gain ops on a channel if they are given operator status from a current operator. This does not mean that just because someone makes you an op, you automatically have access to X/W. All it means is that you can pe
rform any operator commands that you can normally do on a non-registered channel.
Keep in mind that it is not a good idea to give ops to just anyone on the channel, though, since as an operator they have the ability to kick and ban anyone off the channel including X/W. Most forms of abuse of X/W are from users who do not know what X/ W are nor know and understand the CService rules. If you are going to give someone ops make sure that they will not be abusive and they will not try to kick/ban X/W off the channel. Also, some Channel Managers have their own rules about giving out ops to users who are not on X/W's user list, so make sure you follow the Channel Manager's rules as well.
7) How do I know who is on the user list?
You can find out if someone is on the user list for a channel by:
If the person is on the list for that channel, you will get a notice which looks like this:
-X- USER: teal (*!*erf103@*.psu.edu) ACCESS: ?4508) How do I get added to a channel's user list?
-X- CHANNEL: #Help -- AUTOOP: YES -- PROTECT: YES
-X- LAST SEEN: 10 days, 19:42:16 agoLine 1: nickname, user@host mask and access level
Line 2: channel name, autoop setting, protect setting
Line 3: how long ago user was last seen on the channel
Only ChanOps with ACCESS level 400 or higher can add users to the channel's user list. Who gets added is usually determined by the Channel Manager. Some channels may have a recommendation/voting process to add new ChanOps. Best
bet is to ask someone who is a ChanOp on that channel.
9) What is this ACCESS level thing?
A user's level determines what commands the user has access to on X or W. Users will have access to the commands for their level, plus all commands for any levels below them. For example, a level 75 user will have access to ban a
nd unban, plus the level 50 and level 0 commands.
To find out what commands you have access to on a particular channel,
Here are the commands for the all the different levels:
Some Notes:
NOTE: For "regular" ChanOp commands (ie. kick, ban, unban, op, deop) these levels just allow for the ChanOp to command the bot to do them. Regardless of the ChanOp's level, these commands can still be performed manually by the ChanOp.
For example: A level 100 ChanOp can op another user either by: /msg x op #channel nickname or /mode #channel +o nickname A level 50 or level 75 ChanOp can op another user by: /mode #channel +o nickname BUT cannot /msg x op as the level 100 can.
10) What does the ? next to a user's ACCESS level mean?
The ? just means that the bot is not sure if the user is on-line. This could mean that either the user is not signed on, or has not given their password to identify themselves yet.
11) What is AUTOOP?
When AUTOOP is set to ON, you will be automatically opped by X upon entering the channel. If you have a password set though, then AUTOOP will only work if you /msg X with your password BEFORE you enter the channel.
If AUTOOP is set to OFF, you will need to /msg x op #channel yournick for X to op you. Again, if you have a password set, you will need to /msg x with your password before you ask it to op you.12) What is PROTECT?
When PROTECT is set to ON, you will be protected by X from other ops banning or deopping you. What this means is that if someone tries to ban or deop you, they will be deopped (even if they are protected also) and X will automatic
ally unban or reop you.
13) Why would I use a password and how do I set one?
A password gives more protection against someone faking your user@host and obtaining ops. If you have a password set, X/W will only recognize you if you have the correct user@host AND give the correct password.
To set your password for the first time:
To change your password:
Then change it:
NOTES:
14) What happens if I can't remember my password?
Your password will have to be reset by any 400 or higher level ChanOp on your channel. Speak to one of them. You can find out who these are by:
If you are the Channel Manager, then you will have to get a CService Admin to reset it for you. Ask in #cservice or email cservice@undernet.org
15) What is a Hack Script and why can't it be used?
Hack scripts were written by EFnet users to prevent people from "hacking" ops on channels during netsplits. Since the Undernet uses new code for its servers which prevents users from getting ops during a netsplit, these scripts ar
e NOT necessary at all here.
The reason it can't be used with X or W on a channel is because X and W technically "hack" ops when they join a channel. If an op is running one of these scripts, it will detect this hack and then deop X or W.16) What is a protect script and how can it cause problems?
Protect scripts, such as the mIRC Friends List, work similarly to X/W's PROTECT function. CService asks that you please do NOT use these scripts on registered channels. If you have someone on your protect list, and for some reaso
n they get banned/deopped/kicked by X/W, then your script will try to ban/deop/kick (depending upon the script) X/W. This is considered abuse of the Channel Service.
17) What exactly does CService consider abuse?
Any time X or W is kicked, banned and/or deopped, this is considered abuse of the Channel Service. The CService bots are not to be played with. So-called "testing" of the bots is not allowed. Abusing the Channel Service could re
sult in you losing your ops or even being banned from the channel. The channel could also be placed in NoOp mode or even purged if necessary to prevent further abuse.
18) What is NoOp mode?
NoOp mode means that no one except X will be able to have ops on the channel and all kicks/bans must be done through X. Here is where the access level really determines what commands a user can perform.
19) Where can I get more information about X/W and CService?
Online, you can '/msg x help' for help with commands. You can also obtain help from someone in #cservice or any of the CService Admins who happen to be online. If you can't find someone online to help, you can email cservice@unde
rnet.org and someone will respond via email. Also, all CService documents can be obtained from ftp://ftp.undernet.org/pub/irc/docs/cservice/
20) Who are the Channel Service Administrators?
The Channel Service Administrators are users who have administrative access to the Channel Service bots. The CService Admins are volunteers who are committed to making sure the Channel Service is used as it was created to and that
the Channel Service is not abused. CService Admins represent the Undernet Channel Service, as well as the Undernet as a whole.
Below is a list of Administrators as of the time this FAQ was written. If a user comes into your channel claiming to be a CService Administrator or a CService Helper, you may ask them to authenticate themselves to the bot, and the
n you can use:
If the user is not verifiable by either of the bots, then assume the user is not an Admin or Helper unless a verifiable person can vouch for them.
SeKs - seks@alias.undernet.org
** Channel Service Coordinator
Super - super@alias.undernet.org
** Channel Service Coders
Kev - kev@alias.undernet.org
WildThang - wildthang@alias.undernet.org
** Channel Service is housed by:
FootPrint - footprint@alias.undernet.org (X)
WildThang - wildthang@alias.undernet.org(W)
** Senior Administrators
Chaos - chaos@alias.undernet.org
Cowboy - cowboy@alias.undernet.org
Footprint - footprint@alias.undernet.org
Jini - jini@alias.undernet.org
Meredith - meredith@alias.undernet.org
Morrissey - jradford@npl.com
Striker - striker@alias.undernet.org
Teal - teal@alias.undernet.org
** Administrators
AnElf - anelf@alias.undernet.org
BitBT - bitbt@alias.undernet.org
Crip - crip@alias.undernet.org
Jase - jase@alias.undernet.org
MatthewA - matthewa@alias.undernet.org
Signe - signe@alias.undernet.org
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