I want to set up a dedicated IRC server for my fraternity [help] reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- yaytaco · 2011-09-08 15:50 Not too worried about traffic, max would be around 60 users, but realistically probably around 15 - 20. My main concern is uptime. Any suggestions? Cheaper is better. Edit - thanks for all the input and suggestions, definitely just going to set up an existing network. always looking for more info, so keep it coming. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2011-09-08 16:19 What are you asking for? You're being a bit vague. Considerations * Server/Computer (Do you want dedicated hosting or VPS, the latter may have some latency issues); either way, look around for the best price. Also consider where you want the physical box to reside. If it's at your frat and you have a dedicated line to internet, maybe running it in-house is easiest and most convenient. * IRCD: You probably want to use a package so you're not recompiling each time there's a new release or security/bug fix. If you're comfortable with Linux, I'd suggest debian and to use unrealircd. Once configured, easy to manage and powerful enough to deal with most issues that come up * Services: Anope is my preference here, keeps strangers from taking over channels if you configure it right and have people in the channel with "power" to take care of things. If cheap is the only consideration, start a channel on freenode or efnet, protect it by password or chanserv access lists, get everybody to register and maintain the channel as if it were your "server". The cost here is 0. Uptime is up to the people maintaining the network you're using, usually sigma 2 or 3. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- yaytaco · 2011-09-08 19:51 Thanks for the response, I know I'm a bit vague, not really sure how I want to implement. I had started a server on freenode initially, but if I lost connection to the server I wouldn't have any admin abilities upon reconnect. I would love to make a free option work, at least initially, to gauge interest and see if/how brothers use it. Can I set up a channel with some sort of bot to keep the channel reserved, or something similar to keep the channel open and maintain admin abilities? Sorry for the noob questions, I only have basic experience with IRC - if you can direct me to somewhere I can find more info, that would be awesome too. Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Zook · 2011-09-08 20:40 What you could do is setup Unreal IRCd or some other Daemon on a virtual private server. You can get one for cheap from Linode.com and other websites. Setting up the servers would be pretty easy and it seems that the biggest thing that you want to focus on is the services portion. Chanserv - For registering channels to users. Nickserv - Authentication for Users. Etc. There are plenty of guides all across the internet to do this. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- yaytaco · 2011-09-08 20:48 Thanks, I'll do some reading. I've been looking at guides online, but they all seemed pretty outdated and I was looking for a more up-to- date solution. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Zook · 2011-09-08 20:51 Try [this](https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Dancer-IRCD) out. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GradysGhost · 2011-09-08 21:32 I have to ask why you want your own private server? You could pretty easily start a channel on an existing, well established server like irc.freenode.net and make it private or password protected, I believe. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2011-09-08 23:35 > they all seemed pretty outdated I felt the same way. It seems the staple in the IRCd world is Unreal, but after doing research for a small office IRC server and actually installing each IRCd and comparing them, InspIRCd seemed to be the easiest. For services (nickserv, chanserv, etc) [Anope](http://www.anope.org/) or [ATheme](http://www.atheme.org/) work pretty good. Honestly though, our office didn't need services as you could just walk over to whoever was causing problems and smack them upside their head. I imagine a fraternity would be the same. We instead setup SSH on the PC running the IRC server for access control. When you logged on, you where automatically put into [irssi](http://irssi.org/) and the MOTD listed some of the more useful irssi commands. The client didn't need any addtional software other than a SSH client; [puTTY](http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/) in our case. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2011-09-08 23:37 That would cut down on a lot of problems too. Running a IRC server almost brings more problems than it's worth. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tacticalbread · 2011-09-08 23:59 If your main concern is uptime, just create a channel on an already established network. It's free, and you don't have to worry about maintenance at all, except for learning to deal with that server's services. Personally, I'd recommend EsperNet. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- the_classy_corsair · 2011-09-09 03:29 Yeah, definitely use a pre-existing network...one with multiple servers. foonetic is one. It runs the #XKCD channel, and not much else, but it's a great service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2011-09-09 03:40 [deleted] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GradysGhost · 2011-09-09 11:11 There are other networks to use if you feel your chan is in violation of Freenode policy. The point is that using an existing server solves a lot of problems that running your own IRC server creates. It was just a suggestion, and I hope my input was valuable to OP. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Underbyte · 2011-09-16 20:02 OP, for as small as you're talking, IRCD really isn't the solution for you. Go with a Jabber server. I would recommend OpenFire, but there are others. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- the_classy_corsair · 2011-09-29 09:11 Why the downvote? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staticsafe · 2011-09-30 19:59 Running a IRC server is not a big deal. The initial learning curve with whatever IRCd + services you choose is a bit high, but the documentation for unrealIRCd and InspIRCd are great. The configuration files are also very well commented. If by problems, you mean malicious attacks on your IRC server, those are easily dealt with (see Defcon system in Unreal). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2011-10-03 18:33 I wasn't thinking attacks, but you raise a good point. A lot of the old documentation you will run into regarding running a IRCd usually talks about attacks on servers and "is it worth it". Now in days, that tends to be a moot point as most of the IRCds out there have relatively secure code bases and plenty of plugins to mitigate attacks. As far as what I meant, there are a lot of modern day problems. For instance, is it against your ISP's or Hosting Company's AUP to run a IRCd? What about legal issues should someone should do something stupid on the server (a #warez channel, someone using a channel as botnet C&C, etc). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staticsafe · 2011-10-04 00:52 A lot of North American ISPs (afaik) don't allow servers of any kind to be hosted from a non-business level connection so that point is moot. Most hosting companies that I know (assuming VPS, dedicated server) allow hosting of IRCds, shells etc. The point of the #warez channel, this can be easily blacklisted at the IRCd level (adding a block for *#warez* for example). He said he needed it for a local frat, he can just put a password on accessing the IRC network and he is probably good. As an aside, this is my IRC network's website - http://entropynet.net/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- staticsafe · 2011-10-04 00:53 Uh, afaik EFNet does not have any services so I wouldn't suggest it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2011-10-04 16:10 As far as AUP goes, a lot of people don't realize that exists (sadly). I figured it was worth the mention just in case. The #warez channel was an example, I've seen DC bots in ordinary channels... my point I was trying to make is do you have the resources to patrol each channel for this. I suppose you could log each channel, but it still would be inconvenient to go through the logs or somehow parse them. With all that said... I think a password would solve a lot. In my other comment I suggested what my organization had used: users SSH into the server that would automatically launch irssi. Obviously, SSL and a passworded ircd is just as good too! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- useful_idiot · 2011-10-12 04:16 have an upvote :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- the_classy_corsair · 2011-10-12 05:14 Why thank you good sir! Have a kitten! http://www.randomkittengenerator.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- bdreadz · 2011-11-02 23:56 I was going to say the same thing. This is exactly what the OP needs. No need to manage a server yourself. Just do what the above poster said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- haywire · 2012-01-13 00:41 Getting 10 guys to donate $2 a month and you could get a Linode and set it up on there.