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Major IRC Networks Summary
| Network |
NickServ |
ChanServ |
Website |
| Undernet |
no |
yes |
www.undernet.org/ |
| EFnet |
no |
no |
www.efnet.org/ |
| IRCnet |
no |
no |
www.ircnet.org/ |
| Rizon |
yes |
yes |
www.rizon.net/ |
| Dalnet |
yes |
yes |
www.dal.net/ |
A summary of ALL IRC networks with info on numbers of users, channels, servers and more can be found at the IRC Network Summaries page.
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Search for an IRC Channel in Real Time
SearchIRC was created by Jason Hamilton, an IRC administrator who recognized a need in the IRC community. It's not easy to find specific topics or channels in the thousands of channels returned by large networks. What if your friends tell you to meet them in a channel, but you have no idea which network? You can't go hopping from network to network, running /list to see where they are. There had to be a better way. So SearchIRC was born.
Searching is simple -- enter a keyword and see the results. Single keyword searches are sorted by channel size. Multiple keyword searches are ordered by relevancy. Commas represent AND (ie; a search on: computers, internet would display all results that contain relevancy to those keywords). Minus represents NOT (ie; searching on computers -internet would display all results that contain computers and do not mention internet). Work is being done to make the search process even more powerful. Click HERE to visit the SearchIRC webpage and try their search engine shown below.
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Undernet
Undernet is an Internet Relay Chat network which began at the end of 1992. It is an alternative to the chaos of EFnet. The Undernet is seen as a friendly IRC network with full cooperation between servers. The Undernet is, arguably, the most progressive and innovative IRC network among the Big Three Networks. The Undernet Channel Service Committee (CSC) was created back in 1995 as a way to provide channel stability and help prevent takeovers. This is accomplished through the use of a Network bot called X which helps maintain all registered channels on the network and gives channel managers an easy means to keep up with both a channel userlist and banlist. About the only thing missing on Undernet is Nickserv... (hint, hint)
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EFnet/IRCnet
EFnet used to be the largest and "main" IRC network. That was before it split in two. It has been around for many years now and carries well over 100,000 users. Cooperation between servers is nonexistent. Politics is a nightmare. Due to its size it suffers from lag, and netsplits. Hackers run rampant and "op wars" are a way of life. However, there is something good to report. More and more servers are starting to run timestamping. This helps to prevent nick-collides, something hackers need to takeover channels. If you want a wild and woolly ride, strap on your flack jacket and head for EFnet!
Back in July of 1996, a significant number of European servers split from EFnet and formed a European counterpart called IRCnet. IRCnet ranks right up there with Undernet in size. It's very similar to EFnet; no services, no help.... you're on your own. They have a website with minimal information.
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Rizon
Rizon was first established in July of 2002. Apparently it has increased in size by absorbing other smaller networks and defectors from existing networks. Their growth also appears to have caused some hard feelings. Rizon has undergone several DDOS attacks, one of which shut down the network for about 4 months. They seem to have weathered the attacks and are now back up and running successfully.
One of Rizon's claims to fame is the largest channel on any IRC network. The channel recently had over 5000 users on at one time. Not 5000 user on the network.... 5000 users on a single channel! How anyone was able to get a word in edgewise is beyond me.
Rizon supports all the important network services including nickserv, chanserv, and botserv.
They seem to be making an honest effort to deliver a friendly, safe, and secure IRC network. As with any network of its size, there will be problems. Give them a shot. They certainly couldn't be any worse than the other big IRC networks.
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Dalnet
DALnet is an alternative IRC network that was started in order to get away from the anarchy and problems of EFnet, and for the most part, they succeeded. Started in July of 1994 by a group of Star Trek junkies, users took to DALnet where things were peaceful, bringing their friends with them. A server bot called ChanServ acts like a net-wide bot--you register your channel with it, and it handles ops and channel security with almost no effort on the user's part. DALnet now has servers across the United States and the world. The userbase is has grown very large and the burden is taking its toll. Netsplits and lag are often a problem.
DALnet prides itself on providing a safe, friendly place to IRC. Although the IRCops won't blow you off as worthless, they aren't as helpful or attentive as they were when the network was smaller. Good news.... channel takeovers are virtually nonexistent on DALnet. Although flooding still occurs, it's not as frequent as it is on EFnet or Undernet. If you need help on something, don't count on it being taken care right away. The network administrators and IRCops are somewhat less responsive to the day to day problems of DALnet users than in the past.
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Gaming
Networks
QuakeNet
GameSurge
Mindprobes
ETG
Psionics
Other Chat Networks
IRCtoo Chat Network
WikkedWire
NWS-IRC
SynfulDesires
Dreamnet
Zinc.org
Starchat
Sorcery
Austnet
Galaxynet
Chatnet
OZ.org
Starlink
XWorld
WinChat
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