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How to Establish a Registered DALnet Channel
One of our more frequently asked questions is how to set up a channel on DALnet. Channel functions on DALnet are maintained by a service "bot" (robot) called "ChanServ". This is an automated computer program that assists users with registered channels. If your channel is registered with ChanServ, you "own" the channel and have complete control (through ChanServ commands) over how the channel is run. In addition to ChanServ, there is also a service "bot" called "NickServ" which keeps track of registered nicknames. These services are unique to DALnet and cannot be found on EFnet, although Undernet and a few other smaller networks have primitive service "bots".

Follow the basic channel registration procedure outlined below. After you've established your channel and become familiar with its operation, you can add some or all of the additional ChanServ channel options.

Basic Channel Setup
Step 1: Register your nickname - Before you can register a channel, you must register your nickname. Here are the steps for registering your nickname.
  • /nickserv info [nickname] - This will check to be sure the nickname you want to register is not already registered. For example, if I was checking to see if "Alleghany" was registered, I would type: /nickserv info Alleghany. If NickServ returns information on the nickname, it is already registered and you need to choose another one. You must be using the nickname you want to register.

  • /nickserv register [password] [username@domain.net] (replacing 'username@domain.net' with your own e-mail address) - For example, if I wanted to register the nickname "Alleghany" using "queen" as the password, I would type: /nickserv register queen alleghany@wt.com. You cannot use your nickname as a password, and the password should be something easy to remember. (Hint: WRITE it down and keep it where you can find it!). Note: You MUST use a valid e-mail address.
Step 2: Register your channel name
  • /chanserv info [#channelname] - This will check to be sure the channel name you want to register is not already registered. For example: /chanserv info #newbies. If ChanServ returns information on the channelname, it is already registered and you need to choose another one.

  • /join #channelname -  This will create the channel you want to register. For example: /join #AllysPlace.

  • /chanserv register [#channelname] [password] [description] - This will register your channelname with the selected password and a description of what the channel is about. The description is not important, but must be included in the command. For example: /chanserv register #AllysPlace shazam Ally's very own channel.
THERE! That's all you need to do to establish your channel. See how easy it was? Now you might want to check out some of the options that you can add so that ChanServ can do all the work and you can sit back and enjoy your channel.

Channel Options
The most commonly used channel options are listed below. Information on other options that are available can be found on the DALnet ChanServ page or downloaded in a zip file by clicking here.

MLOCK - /chanserv set #channelname mlock [+modes -modes]. This option allows you to lock the channel modes. (Note: The "plus" (+) turns the mode "on" and the "minus" (-) turns the mode "off". The most commonly used modes are:
     i - invite only
     k - keyword must be used to join channel
     l - limit number of users able to join channel
     m - moderate channel so only specified users can talk
     n - no outside messages to channel
     p - private
     t - topic
     s - secret

Here's an example of the most commonly used MLOCK settings: /chanserv set #AllysPlace mlock +nt-iklmp. It is best not to include the "s" mode in your MLOCK settings, so that it can be manually set and unset at your discretion.

OPGUARD - /chanserv set #channelname opguard on - This option is for channel op protection, and allows only the users listed in the channel SOP and AOP lists to be op'd.

TOPICLOCK - /chanserv set #channelname topiclock on - This option locks and maintains the topic you give your channel so that ChanServ will keep track of the topic. Chanserv will automatically set the last known topic each time the channel is recreated. This option defaults to "founder access only", which means only the founder can change the topic. However, if you wish to allow your SOP's to be able to change the topic too, then use this command instead: /chanserv set #channelname topiclock sop on.