ChanServ

ChanServ allows you to register and control various aspects of channels. ChanServ can often prevent malicious users from "taking over" channels by limiting who is allowed channel operator privileges. Available commands are listed below.

For more information on a specific command, type

Register
The REGISTER command registers a channel in the database. Registering a channel protects the channel's name and allows the owner to use a variety of Services functions to manage it.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the name of the channel you want to register. Be sure you take a look at Channel Registration before using this command to make sure you can actually register one to begin with!
 * description - a short description of the channel's purpose.

Set
The SET command allows you to change various ChanServ settings for the channel. By default, this command is always restricted to the channel founder.


 * Syntax:
 * option parameter(s) - the specific setting you want to change along with its parameters.
 * #channel - the name of the channel you wish to change options for.

The available settings for option are as follows:
 * FOUNDER - change the channel's official founder. Give the new founder as the parameter to this option. This command is available to the current channel founder, unless SECUREFOUNDER is set to OFF.
 * SUCCESSOR - change the channel's successor. Give the new successor as the parameter to this option. This nickname will become the channel's new founder automatically, if the founder's nickname is dropped or it expires while the channel is still registered. The successor nickname must be registered already.
 * NOTE: If the person you set as a channel's successor already has too many channels registered, and the founder nick is dropped or otherwise expires, then the channel will also be dropped, instead of transferred to the successor.
 * AUTOOP - controls whether or not ChanServ will give users on the channel's access list the appropriate channel status modes (+v, +h, +o, etc). When set OFF, these modes will not be automatically set when the user joins.
 * CHANSTATS - toggles whether or not channel statistics for your channel will be kept. This is an ON/OFF toggle.
 * DESC - change the channel's description. Pass the new description in its entirety as the parameter for this option.
 * URL - associate a URL with the channel, which can be viewed with ChanServ's INFO command. Give the URL as the parameter for this option.
 * EMAIL - set an email address for the channel. Give the email address as the parameter with this option.
 * ENTRYMSG - defines an entry message shown to users who join the channel. This can be something like a notice to read the rules, a list of triggers for a channel with XDCC bots, or other things. The message you want to set is passed as the parameter with this option.
 * BANTYPE - change the user@host format that ChanServ uses to set bans on in a channel. This option takes a number between 0 and 3 as the parameter. See  to see the ban types you can set.
 * KEEPTOPIC - toggle whether or not ChanServ will maintain the channel's topic if the channel becomes empty. Use either ON or OFF as the parameter - when ON, ChanServ will maintain the channel's last known topic when the channel becomes empty.
 * KEEPMODES - toggle whether or not ChanServ will maintain the channel's channel modes if the channel becomes empty. Use either ON or OFF as the parameter - when ON, ChanServ will maintain the channel's currently set modes when the channel becomes empty.
 * PEACE - toggles the 'peace' mode of a channel. When 'peace' is set ON, a user cannot kick, ban, or remove the channel status of another user who has a level superior or equal to them via ChanServ commands. This is an ON/OFF toggle.
 * PRIVATE - toggles whether or not the channel will show up in ChanServ's LIST command. This is an ON/OFF toggle.
 * RESTRICTED - Toggles 'restricted' mode. When the RESTRICTED option is set ON, any user who is not on the channel's access list will be automatically kicked and banned. This is an ON/OFF toggle.
 * SECURE - Enables or disables ChanServ's security features for a channel. With this option set ON, access to the channel (including applicable ChanServ commands) will only be granted to registered users who have identified to NickServ and are on the channel's access list. This is an ON/OFF toggle.
 * SECUREOPS - Change whether users not on the channel's access list can be given ops (+o) or not. If set to ON, then ChanServ will not allow any user to be set +o unless they are on the access list with the proper access level.
 * SECUREFOUNDER - Change whether users who have owner level access to the channel can drop it, or change its founder and/or successor. If set to ON, then these functions will only be available to the channel's real founder and not those who are co-founder access (level 9999) on the channel
 * SIGNKICK - Change whether or not kicks done with ChanServ's KICK command are signed with the nickname of the user who issued the command. If set to ON, all kicks done with ChanServ's KICK command will have the issuing user's nickname in the kick reason. If set to LEVEL, then users who have an access level superior or equal to the channel's current SIGNKICK level will not have their kicks signed.

SOP/AOP/HOP/VOP commands
The various xOP commands manage user access levels. These commands can either be used as an alternative to (or as a complement to) the ACCESS command. More information about these commands can be found on the Channel Management page.

Access
The ACCESS command provides the means to grant/remove channel access for users.

Adding
The ACCESS ADD command adds someone to the channel's access list with a specific level.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel whose access list you want to modify.
 * nickname - the nickname of the user who you want to add. The nickname must already be registered.
 * level - the desired access level for the user. By default, level 3 is voice (+v), level 4 is halfop (+h), level 5 is chanop (+o), level 10 is channel admin (+a), and level 9999 grants channel owner (+q). These pre-defined levels may be different for various channels.
 * NOTE 1: level must be LESS than your own current access level.
 * NOTE 2: If the given nickname is already on the access list, this command will change it to the level specified with the command, ONLY if the given nickname's current level is LESS than your own.

Removing
The ACCESS DEL command removes a user from the channel's access list entirely.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel whose access list you want to modify.
 * nickname | entry-number | list - the nickname of the user who you want to remove from the access list, the corresponding entry number for the user, or a list of access entries to remove by number.
 * NOTE: Again, you cannot alter another user's access level if yours is less than or equal to theirs.

Viewing
The ACCESS LIST command displays a list of users on the channel's access list with their level.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel whose access list you want to view.
 * [mask | list] - OPTIONAL: A wildcard mask to specify which entries to view, or a list of entry numbers to show. If none given, all entries will be shown.
 * NOTE: By default, you must be on the channel's access list to be able to use the ACCESS LIST command.

Levels
The LEVELS command allows channel founders to fine-tune the meanings of various access levels on the channel.

Full help on this command can be found by going to Levels.

Autokick
The AKICK command manages the channel's autokick list; that is, the list of user@host masks to automatically kick and ban from the channel on sight.

Full help on this command can be found by going to Autokick.

Drop
The DROP command cancels the registration of a channel, deleting all settings related to it and removing it from the database.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the name of the channel to drop. For security and sanity reasons, you must specify this TWICE.
 * NOTE: If the channel has SECUREFOUNDER set, then you must be the REAL channel founder to be able to use this command.

Ban
The BAN command bans a user from a channel. By default, this command is restricted to users with at least level 4 access on the channel.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - The channel to ban the user from.
 * [+expiry] - OPTIONAL: The duration of the ban. You can specify this in years/months/weeks/days/hours/minutes, e.g +4h will cause Services to remove the ban after 4 hours. If not given, it is permanent.
 * [nickname | mask] - The nickname of the user to ban. Only channel founders can specify a hostmask ban.
 * [reason] - OPTIONAL: The reason for the ban.

Unban
The UNBAN command removes any bans matching a user from the channel.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - OPTIONAL: the channel to remove the ban from. If not given, all bans affecting you in all channels you have access in are removed.
 * [nickname] - the nickname to remove a ban or bans for. If not given, you will be unbanned.

Enforce
The ENFORCE command tells ChanServ to enforce various channel modes and channel settings on a channel.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel which you want to apply the command to.
 * thing - the specific setting you want to enforce. Valid values are as follows:
 * SECUREOPS - Enforce SECUREOPS setting, even if it is not enabled.
 * RESTRICTED - Enforce RESTRICTED setting, even if it is not enabled.
 * REGONLY - Kick all users who are NOT registered and identified with NickServ from the channel.
 * SSLONLY - Kick all users who are not connected on an SSL port from the channel.
 * BANS - Enforces bans on the channel by kicking users from the channel who match a currently set ban.
 * LIMIT - Enforces the limit set by channel mode +l by kicking users until the user count drops below the specified limit.

Owner
The OWNER command sets channel mode +q on yourself.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you wish to give yourself +q on. If not given, this command will give you channel mode +q on all channels you have sufficient access on.
 * NOTE: By default, this command is limited to those with founder access on a channel.

Deowner
The DEOWNER command removes channel mode +q from yourself.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you wish to remove +q from yourself on. If not specified, removes +q from all channels you have sufficient access on.
 * NOTE: By default, this command is limited to those with founder access on a channel.

Protect
The PROTECT command sets channel mode +a on a user, or yourself.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to set +a on a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will set +a on you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to set +a on in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will set +a on you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must be a channel founder to use this command on another user. Otherwise, you must have at least SOP or level 10 access and above to use this command on yourself.

Deprotect
The DEPROTECT command removes channel mode +a from a user, or yourself.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to remove +a from a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will remove +a from you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to remove +a from in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will remove +a from you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must be a channel founder to use this command on another user. Otherwise, you must have at least SOP or level 10 access and above to use this command on yourself.

Op
The OP command gives a user (or you) channel op (+o) on a channel.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to op (+o) a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will op you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to give ops to in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will op you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must have at least AOP or level 5 access and above to use this command.

Deop
The DEOP command removes channel op (+o) from a user (or you) on a channel.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to remove ops from a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will remove ops from you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to remove ops from in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will remove ops from you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must have at least AOP or level 5 access and above to use this command.

Halfop
The HALFOP command gives a user (or you) channel halfop (+h) on a channel.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to halfop (+h) a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will halfop you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to give halfop to in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will halfop you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must have at least AOP or level 5 access and above to use this command on other users. Otherwise, you must have at least HOP or level 4 access and above to use this command on yourself.

Dehalfop
The DEHALFOP command removes channel halfop (+h) from a user (or you) on a channel.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to remove halfop (+h) from a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will remove halfop from you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to remove halfop from in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will remove halfop from you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must have at least AOP or level 5 access and above to use this command on other users. Otherwise, you must have at least HOP or level 4 access and above to use this command on yourself.

Voice
The VOICE command gives a user (or you) channel voice (+v) on a channel.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to voice (+v) a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will voice you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to give voice to in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will voice you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must have at least AOP or level 5 and above to use this command on other users. Otherwise, you must have at least VOP or level 3 access and above to use this command on yourself.

Devoice
The DEVOICE command removes channel voice (+v) from a user (or you) on a channel.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel you want to remove voice (+v) from a user in. This is REQUIRED if you wish to specify a specific user. Otherwise, if not specified, it will remove voice from you in all channels you have sufficient access in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to remove voice from in the given channel. If nickname is not given, it will remove voice from you in the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * NOTE: By default, you must have at least AOP or level 5 access and above to use this command on other users. Otherwise, you must have at least VOP or level 3 access and above to use this command on yourself.

Getkey
The GETKEY command shows the current key (password) for a channel, if one is set.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel whose key you wish to get.
 * NOTE 1: By default, this command is limited to those with HOP or level 4 access and above on the given channel.
 * NOTE 2: If the channel does not have a key set, this command will return "NO KEY".

Invite
The INVITE command tells ChanServ to invite you to the given channel.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel you want to be invited to.
 * NOTE: By default this command is limited to those with HOP or level 4 access and above on the given channel.

Kick
The KICK command kicks a user (or you) out of a given channel.


 * Syntax:
 * [#channel] - OPTIONAL: The channel to kick from. If not given, you will be kicked from all channels you have the appropriate access on.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname you want to kick from the specified channel. If not given, you will be kicked from the given channel instead, provided you have sufficient access.
 * [reason] - OPTIONAL: The reason to give for the kick. If not given, a default reason is used.
 * NOTE: By default this command is limited to those with HOP or level 4 access and above on the given channel.

Topic
The TOPIC command sets, appends, or locks/unlocks the topic of a given channel.


 * Setting the channel topic:
 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel to change the topic on.
 * [topic] - OPTIONAL: The new topic to set. If not given, the topic is unset.


 * Appending a topic to the existing channel topic:
 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel whose topic you're appending to
 * [topic] - the topic to append to the existing topic.


 * Locking/unlocking the channel topic:
 * Syntax:
 * Specify LOCK to prevent the channel topic from being changed with the normal /topic command, and UNLOCK to allow it.
 * NOTE: By default this command is limited to those with HOP or level 4 access and above on the given channel.

Info
The INFO command displays various pieces of information about a given channel.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel whose info you want to view.
 * NOTE: By default, you must have at least AOP or level 5 access and above to use the ALL keyword for a channel.

Sync
The SYNC command synchronizes all users' status modes with the access they are entitled to in ChanServ for the given channel.


 * Syntax:
 * #channel - the channel you want to synchronize the access list on.
 * NOTE: By default, this command is limited to SOP or level 10 access and above.

Entrymsg
The ENTRYMSG command controls what messages will be sent to users when they join the channel.


 * Syntax:
 * Syntax:
 * Syntax:
 * Syntax:
 * You can add multiple messages to a channel.

Up / Down
The UP and DOWN commands are used to grant you your highest possible status in a channel or remove all status, respectively.


 * Syntax:
 * Syntax:
 * #channel - OPTIONAL: the channel to apply the command to. If not given, applies the action to all channels you are in.
 * [nickname] - OPTIONAL: The nickname to apply the command to. Only channel founders and Services Root Admins can specify this parameter.