How to start own server reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GeranS · 2013-10-01 15:53 So I want to start my own server, nothing big, max 10 people on the server. The reason I want one is to have some fun wit self-learning chatbots (example: feeding the wiki article of Nazi-Germany and World War 2 to one bot, and articles on FREEDOM and PATRIOTISM to another). I have tried multiple programs (unrealirc, inspIRCd) but just can't get a server up, either because of lack of support or the program just not running. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NeedAGoodUsername · 2013-10-01 15:58 Just to ask, what advantage does starting a network/server have over using a channel? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- callingbullshit01 · 2013-10-01 16:01 Hi, I can offer some advice if you'd like. Come chat at irc.fuge.it (you can enter a username on webchat) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- callingbullshit01 · 2013-10-01 16:08 Too fast :P ---------------------------------------------------------------------- teklord · 2013-10-01 16:42 Privacy, and you get to dictate the rules. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NeedAGoodUsername · 2013-10-01 16:54 True, but if only 10 people are planning on using it, it seems a little too much work in my opinion and depending on the network, messages might not be locked and you can always set a channel to invite only. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- graham_king · 2013-10-01 16:54 You'll need a machine that those ten people can connect to, so probably a VPS (Linode, Digital Ocean, etc). Once you have that, there's lots of good free-software IRC servers such as ircd-hybrid and charybdis. Be sure to read a guide on securing your server after you have it setup. Good luck! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- teklord · 2013-10-01 17:12 Doesn't matter. Security trumps ease of use. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- alientity · 2013-10-01 18:53 Funny you say that, because running an IRC server can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing ;) I've seen many random private servers being discovered by botnets, and then used as a CnC server. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- alientity · 2013-10-01 18:56 Honestly, you are better off using something like freenode to test your scripting skills than running your own IRC server. 1) You need to have a host which allows you to run an IRC server (many don't). 2) You need to have some real experience with IRC servers, or chances are that the server will become a point of entry. 3) You really need to learn about how to set proper bans incase a bot net does find your server. 4) Make sure if you do run it on your system @ Home, that it doesn't violate the TOS of your ISP, or you could be in for a fun ride. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dharma1 · 2013-10-02 04:31 I'll provide a link that I used when setting up an IRC on ubuntu server. http://www.codeography.com/2012/09/23/howto-irc-server.html I've been using hybrid-irc for a little over a year now...haven't had any complaints thus far. I also use my IRC to communicate between 5-10 people or so. Privacy and protection was also the reason why I made the decision to host my own. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- krux9 · 2013-10-02 08:33 Use XMPP for this unless you have a good reason to use IRC, Prosody and Metronome both are good servers, if you want good clients, try Gajim and poezio. If you really want to use IRC, don’t let anyone but your friends connect to it, password protection would be sufficient unless you forget to add some fail2ban mechanism, or personal certificates for encryption, that would also make it more secure… ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friendly_hazard · 2013-10-11 03:29 Can you elaborate? I run my own "network" for fun and I'd like to know if something shady is going on. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- alientity · 2013-10-11 10:48 Make sure you are running the latest build of both ircd and services, monitor your connections for any weird connecting behavior, monitor your channel list for unusual activity, etc. It doesn't take much to run one, you just need to pay attention, that's all. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- frumious · 2013-10-12 12:57 For the bot-end of your master plan, I recommend cobe. https://github.com/pteichman/cobe I run this bot in a channel using the channel itself as the ever- growing corpus. This is the default, but you could prime it with some other body of text. Given it's input is IRC and not usually great English it manages to produce humanish responses surprisingly frequently. If you do get something running, I'd like to visit if you send the IRC coordinates. I second the suggestions to use an established IRC network. Except for the fact that they seem to be shitting their pants right now, I'd suggest irc.snoonet.org.