IRC channel operator

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Revision as of 05:25, 15 April 2010 by Steffan Wood (talk | contribs) (Automatic permissions: Link to documentation on creating a nickname and creating a channel.)
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An IRC channel operator (commonly abbreviated as op) is a user that moderates an IRC channel on a given IRC network. They are responsible for maintaining the modes of the channel, the banlist, and moderating any unwanted activity. IRC channel operators should not be confused with IRC operator, who enforce network, rather than channel, rules.

Operator types

In many IRC networks, operators have different types of access in a channel. These ranks often depend upon the IRCd software used, though a few specific access levels remain fairly constant throughout variations:

Full operator

In most cases, the person that first joins a channel automatically gets operator status, and is later referred to as the channel founder, which usually gives them further privileges on networks with ChanServ. Channel operators can also voice (+v) and op (+o) other users in the channel. On networks with no channel services, abuse of netsplits is common to gain operator status in certain channel.

Half operator

Some servers feature halfops (+h). These users are privileged in a certain channel, though not as powerful as ops. Halfops may kick other users out of the channel and set most channel modes. In addition, they can also set voice (+v) to all users. They are not allowed to make other users ops or halfops. This is supported on IRCds such as UnrealIRCd and UltimateIRCd. Other IRCds, such as Bahamut and ircu, do not have halfops. Mibbit IRC network runs UnrealIRCd and supports halfops (+h). In some IRC clients (including mIRC and Irssi), ops and halfops are represented by an "@" or a "%", respectively, prepended to the user's name in the channel's userlist or chat window.

Mibbit IRC network

The network runs UnrealIRCd which introduces two extra channel privileges:

  1. Channel owner (+q) has the highest privilege thus only other channel owners (+q) can set modes, or kick a user with this privilege
  2. Channel admin (+a) has the second highest privilege thus only other channel owners (+q) can set modes, or kick a user with this privilege


Privilege Mode ChanServ level IRC client Mibbit client
Channel owner q Founder
Owner
~
Channel administrator a 10
Operator (AOP)
&
Channel operator o 5
Operator (AOP)
@
Channel half operator h 4
Half-Operator (HOP)
%
Channel voice v 3 +

Automatic permissions

  1. Ensure that your nickname is registered and identified
  2. Ensure that your channel is registered
  3. Ensure that the user which you are giving automatic permissions to has their nickname registered
  4. Use the command /msg ChanServ ACCESS <#channel> ADD <nickname> <level>