------------------------------------------------- The Official Channel FAQ for StarLink-IRC v3.4 11 Feb 2001 ------------------------------------------------- http://www.starlink-irc.org General; * If you have any questions or comments please visit us on StarLink-IRC. * #Channels is the home of Channel Service and handles administration of CStar and channel registrations. * #TerraNova is the general StarLink Help and Administration Channel. * The StarLink-IRC and Channel Service Charters are on the website. * Type /msg CStar HELP to see how to report an abuser. * StarLink-IRC Servers (all connect on port 6663-9 and 7001) Roundabout: irc.starlink-irc.org (will connect to a randomly selected server) Please check /map or /links online or visit the web page list at http://www.starlink-irc.org/quicklist.html Contents: -------- NOTICES and WARNINGS SECURITY 1. General Rules 2. Setting Up a New Channel 3. Tips For Running A Channel o Setting up new users o Setting Channel Modes o Access Control Commands 4. Access Level Suggestions 5. StarLink-IRC Mailing List 6. Channel Transfer, Deletion, or Renaming NOTICES and WARNINGS: --------------------- Since we operate largely on the honor system, we trust that you will abide by our basic principles as well as take proper care of your channel. You should, however, keep in mind that having a registered StarLink-IRC channel is not a right but a privilege. Although what you do within your channel is your own business (within the context of the StarLink-IRC Charter), there are certain activities which WILL result in loss of channel ownership privileges. Channel Owners -------------- Only ONE Level 500 user (the registered channel owner) is permitted on any channel. This is an administrative requirement that permits StarLink-IRC to manage channel registration and ownership. IMPORTANT FOR OWNERS To keep the LASTSEEN information current, and avoid possibly having the channel deleted, make sure you authenticate on your channel at LEAST once every couple of weeks. Be SURE your nick is the same as your IDnick when you authenticate. Verify the update of LASTSEEN by typing /msg CSTAR chaninfo #Channel. Multiple Channels ----------------- Individuals may have only ONE registered channel on StarLink-IRC. Registration of more than one channel may result in any or all channels registered to you being purged and/or reassigned. Charter Compliance ------------------ Although repeated or severe violations of StarLink-IRC guidelines will result in the loss of your channel, only in the most extreme cases will it be purged without some advance notice or warning. However, you WILL lose ownership of the channel immediately, permanently, and without any recourse whatsoever if it is determined that you have: * Maliciously harassed, flooded, or otherwise abused users on any other channel. * Deliberately generated excessive "clones" (multiple instances of your client). * Provided false or misleading information to StarLink-IRC representitives for the purpose of obtaining unauthorized control of any channel. * Attempted to circumvent registration requirements, through: o Giving false or misleading information for the purposes of obtaining a registered channel. o Misleading supporter identification (e.g. listing multiple nicks/addresses that actually belong to only ONE individual). o Registering (or attempting to register) more than ONE channel without the prior and express permission of Channel Services. SECURITY ------- Identification and Authentication --------------------------------- CStar uses both identification and authentication to provide additional security. You are identified by your IDnick which is used the same way your ISP uses 'username'. You authenticate using a password that is associated with the username. On CStar, no matter how many user@host masks you have, you can always authenticate using the same IDnick and password. Using Passwords --------------- Users MUST have a password on CStar! At the earliest opportunity, users must change the password to something known only to them. Passwords are case-sensitive, so be sure you're typing it correctly. Your password is the key to CStar access. NEVER send your password until you are sure you are on StarLink-IRC and that CStar is online. Remember that ANY user assuming the nick CStar will receive your password when you send: /msg CStar AUTH Please use this format for sending your password: /msg CStar@CService.StarLink-IRC.Org AUTH You may wish to set up an alias to authenticate yourself, a good one to use is /cstar /msg CStar@CService.StarLink-IRC.org AUTH NOTE: Never give your password out to anybody. StarLink-IRC Staff WILL NEVER ask you for your password. Privacy ------- StarLink-IRC does not and will not have the capability to monitor any privmsg or channel traffic. Passwords are encrypted and thus cannot be read by anyone. Do NOT forget your password: Since StarLink-IRC has no way to see your password, no one can tell you what it is if you forget it. INITIALIZING A NEW CHANNEL -------------------------- Channel Service will initialize the channel once registration is approved. You will need to have the following information handy to assist in the initalization. Your IDNick. This is the User ID that uniquely IDENTIFIES you to CStar. Your password This is the password that AUTHENTICATES you as who you say you are. Your hostmask This is the user@host mask. You can get it by sending /msg CStar whoami Your email The email address used for registration. Your Name Your name (First and Last) are required. You may use your real name or a pseudonym. NOTE: IDnick and password are case-sensitive --make sure you remember them. TIPS FOR RUNNING A CHANNEL -------------------------- Make Aliases ------------ If your client supports aliases, using them will make talking to CStar much more convenient. For mIRC, a useful one is: /CStar /msg CStar *1 Check your client for options to set up an equivalent. NOTE: CStar has a very good help system. Type /msg CStar Showcommands to see the command list or /msg CStar HELP for help on a specific command. Adding Users And Host Masks --------------------------- Note: The ADDUSER command is ONLY if you are adding a new user. Use MODUSER ADDMASK if an existing user simply has another ISP or their user@host mask has changed. Adding a new user ----------------- These are the commands used to add a new user to CStar and are only available to those having the appropriate access. 1. /msg CStar WHOIS This will return the user@host mask for the user. 2. Find out what userID (IDnick) and startup password they want. 3. You can add a user in two different ways: /msg CStar ADDUSER <#channel> or, if the user is online at the time: /msg CStar ADDUSER <#channel> Note: accesslevel may be from 0 to 499 (See recommendations). Adding A New MASK For A User ---------------------------- To add a new mask for an EXISTING user. /msg CStar WHOIS This will return the user@host mask for the user. /msg CStar MODUSER #Channel ADDMASK Setup Verification. ------------------- This is the sequence of commands that it takes to 'authenticate' after you've been added as a user. 1.type /msg Cstar AUTH 2.type /msg CStar OP #Channel YourNick (or some command allowed by your level of access) Setting Default Channel Modes and Topic --------------------------------------- It is a good idea to set your channel to +tn unless you have a reason not to. Mode +t prevents anyone but channel operators from setting the Topic. Mode +n prevents external messages from showing up in channel if sent from people who are not in the channel at the time. CStar can set +tn default channel modes for you with: /msg CStar CHANOPT #Channel DEFMODES +tn You may also set a default topic for your channel. Note that this will only appear whenever the bot has restarted for some reason. /msg CStar CHANOPT #Channel DEFTOPIC Your Topic Text Access Control Commands ----------------------- These are the basic commands for controlling access to CStar on a channel. For specific syntax of commands not shown in detail, simply type /msg Cstar HELP CHANOPT: Sets various channel options and modes. CHANOPT <#channel>