An IRC operator is a user on an Internet Relay Chat

Internet Relay Chat

Internet Relay Chat is a protocol for real-time Internet text messaging or synchronous conferencing. It is mainly designed for group communication in discussion forums, called channels, but also allows one-to-one communication via private message as well as chat and data transfer, including file...

 network who has privileged access. IRC operators are charged with the task of enforcing the network's rules, and in many cases, improving the network in various areas. The permissions available to an IRC operator vary according to the server software in use, and the server's configuration.

IRC operators are divided into local and global operators. The former are limited to the server(s) they have specific access to; however, global operators can perform actions affecting all users on the network. In order to perform their duties, IRC operators usually have the ability to:

• Forcibly disconnect users (Kill)
• Ban (K-line
  K-Line
  K-Line Electric Trains is a brand name of O gauge and S gauge model railway locomotives, rolling stock, and buildings. Formerly the brand name under which Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based MDK Inc. sold its products, K-Line was then acquired by Sanda Kan, a Chinese toy manufacturer that formerly...
  
   or G-line) users
• Change network routing by disconnecting (squitting) or connecting servers

Traditionally, a list of operators on a particular server is available in the MOTD

MOTD

MOTD may refer to either one of these things:* Match of the Day, the BBC's main football television programme* motd , "Message of the Day" , a regularly updated message often forming part of a computer program...

, or through the /stats o [servername] command. A user can become an operator by sending the command /oper to the irc server he or she currently is on using a pre-selected username and a password as parameter

Parameter (computer science)

In computer programming, a parameter is a special kind of variable, used in a subroutine to refer to one of the pieces of data provided as input to the subroutine. These pieces of data are called arguments...

s. The command only works for the server which has the proper O-line in its IRCd

IRCd

An IRCd, short for Internet Relay Chat daemon, is server software that implements the IRC protocol, enabling people to talk to each other via the Internet . It is distinct from an IRC bot that connects outbound to an IRC channel.The server listens to connections from IRC clients on a set of TCP ports...

 configuration file. The IP address

IP address

An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...

 that the user is opering from may also have to match a predefined one, as an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized users opering if they have cracked

Password cracking

Password cracking is the process of recovering passwords from data that has been stored in or transmitted by a computer system. A common approach is to repeatedly try guesses for the password...

 the operator's password.

Operator types

In many IRC networks, IRCops have different types of access on a network. These ranks often depend upon the IRCd

IRCd

An IRCd, short for Internet Relay Chat daemon, is server software that implements the IRC protocol, enabling people to talk to each other via the Internet . It is distinct from an IRC bot that connects outbound to an IRC channel.The server listens to connections from IRC clients on a set of TCP ports...

 software used, though a few specific access levels remain fairly constant throughout variations:

Local operator

The Local Operator (LocOp) is the lowest in Operator access levels.
The LocOp has a minimal control on one server out of a network, and usually has the ability to kill (disconnect) people from the server or perform local K-line

K-Line

K-Line Electric Trains is a brand name of O gauge and S gauge model railway locomotives, rolling stock, and buildings. Formerly the brand name under which Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based MDK Inc. sold its products, K-Line was then acquired by Sanda Kan, a Chinese toy manufacturer that formerly...

s (server ban).

Global operator

The Global Operator (GlobOp) is similar to the LocOp, and has control over the entire network

Computer network

A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....

 of servers, as opposed to a single server. GlobOps may perform G-lines or AKills (network-wide bans) and Shun (forcibly mute) users over an entire network.

Services administrator

Commonly abbreviated as SA, This admin type has access to almost all commands on an IRC network. Usually, an SA has the ability to use the /sa* commands. The /sa* commands will set channelmodes via the server itself, making it impossible for normal users to see who changed the modes.

Network Administrator

The Network Administrator (NetAdmin) has the highest level of access on a network. In most cases, the founder of the network is the netadmin. Networks may, however, have multiple netadmins - especially networks with large populations.

Ban Types

An IRCop with enough privileges, may give a ban

Block (internet)

On the Internet, a block is a technical measure intended to restrict access to information or resources. Blocks should not be confused with bans, although they are often used to enforce a ban.-Effects of blocks:...

 to unwanted users.
The ban types are listed below:

K-line

The K-line

K-Line

K-Line Electric Trains is a brand name of O gauge and S gauge model railway locomotives, rolling stock, and buildings. Formerly the brand name under which Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based MDK Inc. sold its products, K-Line was then acquired by Sanda Kan, a Chinese toy manufacturer that formerly...

 is a local server ban (specific to a single server, not the entire IRC network) that bans the offensive user's hostname.

G-line

The G-line (Global K-line) works exactly as the K-line, but is global. G-lines can expire, but in some cases they are permanent.

Z-line

On IRCds such as UnrealIRCd, the Z-line is a "powerful" ban, it is performed on IP

IP address

An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...

 instead of the hostmask, making sure that users from that IP

IP address

An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...

 will not join. Z-lines could expire, but in some cases it is permanent.

GZ-line

Some IRCds support the GZ-line (Global Z-line). It is exactly as the Z-line itself, but it's global, and network-wide. UnrealIRCd has GZ-line support.
The GZ-line is an effective way of blocking static IP users, and keeping them out.

D-line

On other IRCds, such as Charybdis, a D-line replaces a Z-line. It is called a D-line because it "denies" the IP address from connecting. Charybdis does not have support for a Z-line or a GZ-line. By using its "cluster" configuration feature, D-lines can be synchronized between servers, providing a type of 'GZ-line'. This enables for very nice big network support since the administrator of one server may want to allow certain servers they trust to synchronize D-lines and K-lines, but not allow others.

See also

• IRC channel operator
• IRC admin

External links

• IRC Operators Guide