What kind of network do I need?

Aubrea · none Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 3

I run an active forum and provide an irc channel to my users that is linked from the forum. I have been running the irc channel on an already established network for a few years now. When I started the channel having it on this network was helpful as other network users would join and it helped to get it off the ground. Lately, the network people outnumber the forum people and drive many of them away. The purpose of the chatroom was to provide an additional feature so my forum members could chat with each other; I don't care about providing a chatroom primarily for these other people.

I would definitely like to start over on a new network, but I'm not sure if I can get what I need from someone else's network, if there is some other kind of service that fits my needs, or if I would need to start my own private network. The only experience I've had running my own irc server is the inspIRCd I configured and ran on my local computer last year, but I was just testing it out and only used it with a few friends. I also run my websites on a vps with shell access (although I wouldn't be putting an irc server on the same machine). I think I can learn whatever I need to with configuring the ircd/services, security issues, and getting people to help me out with operations, but I only want to deal with it if I have to. I'd prefer some kind of managed service that I just need to configure to customize it to my needs rather than an empty shell account that I need to start from scratch with. Since I'm only trying to run my own channels to accompany my websites and not trying to make a large irc network, it might not be too bad. I wouldn't even want the users to be able to create their own channels.

Can someone tell me what options I have if these are my needs:

Current userbase is consistently 40 - 50 users. When we move we will probably lose a lot of them and build back up to it later, but it should be a while before we get much more.

I need to be able to log my channels and would also like to be able to run stats on usage. I would also need channel and nickname services.

I'd like better username availability than I get on established networks so most of the users can use the username they use on the forum. (I'm not going to attempt to link the usernames between them though).

I am looking to start more forums later on and would like each one of them to have a channel that I admin.

Something less than $20 USD per month if I'm going to be running my own shell account for this.

Aubrea · none Joined: 14 Feb 2010 Posts: 3

Looks like I'm too impatient to wait for advice. I went ahead and set up my own ircd on a shell account and am in the process of configuring it.

Badger09 · Newbie Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 88

I own a network that would be willing to provide you with a room to chat if you didnt actualy wanna run your own ircd but if you are wanna run your own and need any help im always around to offer some support and advice on irc.ukmadzone.co.uk under the name Mutley But Good luck if your going alone, i wish you all the best Smile

Willaim · Idler Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 323 Location: IRC

This is probably too late, but on my network, we have java chat for our users. When channels move here that already use java chat, they set their channel +s (secret) so no one from our network can see their room, only the folks that already know the name.

This is the most effective way to keep out people you don't want in. If you do want more people, simply remove the +s for awhile!

Badger09 · Newbie Joined: 25 Jan 2009 Posts: 88

Yeah we do the same kinda thing as William, most nets would or should do if asked tho

Hated_Rogue · Posted: May 08, 2010 7:12pm Post subject: ngircd

Id look into ngircd, the guy said he was already in the position of having a channel on someone elses network. And here you all show up like vultures trying to gain some users with sub par reasons why he should use your network. Hes asking about an ircd that will do what he wants... I suggest ngircd..... you have to list channels in the ircd.conf Smile

He did say he didnt want people to be able to create their own channels also...ngircd fixes this. Also, ngircd is compatible with atheme and ircservices iirc....or they are working on it.

Also, Id be willing to host the ircd for free on my dedicated machine on 100Mbit connection.