ChanServ

ChanServ allows users to register and manage channels, providing channel administration and persistence services.

Getting Help

/msg ChanServ HELP
/msg ChanServ HELP <command>

REGISTER

Syntax: REGISTER <#channel> <password> [<description>]

Requirements:

You must be identified with NickServ (+r mode)
You must be in the channel
You must be a channel operator (+o) in the channel
Password must be at least min_password_length characters (default: 8)
The channel must not already be registered
Channel name must not be in forbidden_channel_names
You cannot exceed max_registered_channels_per_user registered channels (default: 10)

Example:

/msg ChanServ REGISTER #mychannel securepass8 "My project channel"

After registration:

The channel gets the +r mode (Registered)
ChanServ’s guard bot may join if GUARD setting is enabled (default: on)
Default settings are applied (see settings below)

DROP

Permanently delete a registered channel.

Syntax: DROP <#channel> <password>

Requirements: Must be the channel founder (identified to the founder account)

Example:

/msg ChanServ DROP #mychannel securepass8

INFO

Display information about a registered channel.

Syntax: INFO <#channel>

Example:

/msg ChanServ INFO #mychannel

Returns:

Channel name
Founder
Successor (if set)
Registration date
Last activity date
Description, URL, email (if set and not private)
Active settings (GUARD, KEEPTOPIC, etc.)

SET

Configure settings for your registered channel.

Syntax: SET <#channel> <option> [<value>]

Requirements: Must be identified as the channel founder

Available Settings

GUARD

Control whether ChanServ stays in the channel as a guard bot.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel GUARD ON     # ChanServ stays in channel (default)
/msg ChanServ SET #channel GUARD OFF    # ChanServ leaves channel

When GUARD is ON, ChanServ remains in the channel to maintain its existence and apply settings.

KEEPTOPIC

Restore the topic when the channel is re-created after becoming empty.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel KEEPTOPIC ON    # Restore topic (default)
/msg ChanServ SET #channel KEEPTOPIC OFF   # Don't restore topic

When ON, the last set topic is saved and restored automatically when the channel is re-created.

PRIVATE

Hide the channel from ChanServ’s INFO listing.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel PRIVATE ON
/msg ChanServ SET #channel PRIVATE OFF

RESTRICTED

Restrict who can join to those with access.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel RESTRICTED ON
/msg ChanServ SET #channel RESTRICTED OFF

When ON, only users with explicit access can join (similar to invite-only but managed by ChanServ).

FANTASY

Enable ChanServ fantasy commands (shortcut commands in the channel).

/msg ChanServ SET #channel FANTASY ON     # Enable fantasy (default)
/msg ChanServ SET #channel FANTASY OFF    # Disable fantasy

When enabled, users can use !command shortcuts in the channel (e.g., !op, !voice).

DESCRIPTION / DESC

Set a description for the channel.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel DESCRIPTION "My awesome project channel"
/msg ChanServ SET #channel DESC "Short desc"
/msg ChanServ SET #channel DESCRIPTION    # View current description

URL

Set a URL associated with the channel.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel URL https://myproject.example.com
/msg ChanServ SET #channel URL OFF    # Remove URL
/msg ChanServ SET #channel URL        # View current URL

EMAIL

Set a contact email for the channel.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel EMAIL contact@example.com
/msg ChanServ SET #channel EMAIL OFF    # Remove email
/msg ChanServ SET #channel EMAIL       # View current email

ENTRYMSG

Set a message shown to users when they join the channel.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel ENTRYMSG Welcome to #channel! Please read #rules.
/msg ChanServ SET #channel ENTRYMSG OFF   # Remove entry message

OPNOTICE

Whether to send a notice to the channel when ChanServ grants/removes operator status.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel OPNOTICE ON    # Notify on op changes (default)
/msg ChanServ SET #channel OPNOTICE OFF

PEACE

Prevent channel operators from kicking users with equal or higher access.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel PEACE ON
/msg ChanServ SET #channel PEACE OFF    # Default

SECURE

Require users to be identified with NickServ to receive operator access.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel SECURE ON
/msg ChanServ SET #channel SECURE OFF    # Default

TOPICLOCK

Prevent topic changes by users not identified with NickServ.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel TOPICLOCK ON
/msg ChanServ SET #channel TOPICLOCK OFF    # Default

SUCCESSOR

Set a successor who takes over the channel if the founder account expires.

/msg ChanServ SET #channel SUCCESSOR Alice
/msg ChanServ SET #channel SUCCESSOR OFF    # Remove successor
/msg ChanServ SET #channel SUCCESSOR       # View current successor

The successor must have a registered NickServ account.

TRANSFER

Transfer channel ownership to another user.

Syntax: TRANSFER <#channel> <nickname>

Requirements: Must be the channel founder (identified)

Example:

/msg ChanServ TRANSFER #mychannel Alice

Behavior:

The target user becomes the new channel founder
The target user must have a registered NickServ account
This action is permanent (the current founder loses founder status)

ChanServ Configuration Reference

Setting	Default	Description
`enabled`	`true`	Enable/disable ChanServ
`min_password_length`	`8`	Minimum registration password length
`max_registered_channels_per_user`	`10`	Maximum channels a user can register
`forbidden_channel_names`	`["#services", ~r/^#opers$/]`	Patterns/names that cannot be registered
`channel_expire_days`	`90`	Days until inactive channels expire
`settings.entrymsg`	`nil`	Default entry message
`settings.keeptopic`	`true`	Default topic preservation
`settings.opnotice`	`true`	Default op notice setting
`settings.peace`	`false`	Default peace setting
`settings.private`	`false`	Default private setting
`settings.restricted`	`false`	Default restricted setting
`settings.secure`	`false`	Default secure setting
`settings.fantasy`	`true`	Default fantasy setting
`settings.guard`	`true`	Default guard setting
`settings.topiclock`	`false`	Default topic lock setting

See Services Configuration for full details.

Not Yet Implemented

The following ChanServ commands are planned but not yet implemented:

Command	Description
`ACCESS`	Manage the channel access list
`ALIST`	Display channel access list entries
`FLAGS`	Manage user flags and permissions
`OP` / `DEOP`	Grant/revoke operator status
`VOICE` / `DEVOICE`	Grant/revoke voice status
`KICK`	Kick a user from the channel
`BAN` / `UNBAN`	Ban/unban users
`INVITE`	Invite a user to the channel
`TOPIC`	Set the channel topic
`CLEAR`	Clear channel settings
`STATUS`	Check a user’s access level
`SYNC`	Synchronize modes with access list