The following FAQ is aimed to help answer some of the most frequently asked questions on BOFHNet. If you do not find the answer to your question here, feel free to ask an operator for help.
For all other inquires you can ask your question on #Helldesk or use /msg <ServiceName> HELP. Ex: /msg ChanServ HELP.
Q: How do I register my nickname?
Q: My nickname password doesn't work, what should I do?
Q: Why do I have to provide a valid e-mail address when registering for a nickname?
Q: How do I register my own channel?
Q: How do I add a user to my channel's access list?
Q: Can I identify to my channel upon joining it?
Q: Is there a limit on how many nicknames or channels I can register?
Q: Will my registered nickname or channel expire if both are not used for a long period of time?
Q: How can I see a list of bots from BotServ?
Q: How can I assign a bot to my channel?
Q: Can I assign multiple bots to my channel?
Q: Can I request to have a bot added to BotServ?
Q: I don't want a bot from BotServ, can I have my own windrop/eggdrop connect to BOFHNet?
Q: Now that I have registered my nickname, can I have my own vHost?
Q: Can my eggdrop/windrop also have a vHost if its nickname is registered?
Q: What kinds of vHosts are acceptable or unacceptable?
Q: I have a vHost but it isn't showing up in my /whois output. Why?
Q: How often can I change my vHost?
Q: I'm having a problem with a user, can network staff help me?
Q: My channel is being flooded, what should I do?
Q: Can I link my server with BOFHNet or become an oper?
Q: Can you link your network to mine, or vice versa?
Q: Sometimes I join a channel, I see a bunch of nicknames but no one talks. What gives?
Q: How do I register my nickname?
A: Type /NickServ REGISTER <Password> <E-mail>. Enter a password and provide
a valid e-mail address. Note: Do not use your nickname as a password.
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Q: My nickname password doesn't work, what should I do?
A: Passwords are case-sensitive. Make sure you are typing your password
exactly the way you did when you registered your nickname.
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Q: Why do I have to provide a valid e-mail address when registering for a
nickname?
A: You must provide a valid e-mail address so should you forget your
password, you can put in a request to have your nickname password sent to a
valid e-mail address.
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Q: How do I register my own channel?
A: Type /ChanServ REGISTER <Channel> <Password> <Description>. All fields
are mandatory.
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Q: How do I add a user to my channel's access list?
A: To add a user to your channel's VOP, AOP, SOP or Co-Founder list, type
/ChanServ VOP/AOP/SOP/CFOUNDER <channel> ADD <nick>. Note: Only registered
nicknames can be added to a channel's access list.
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Q: Can I identify to my channel upon joining it?
A: For security purposes, identification to channels has been disabled. You
do not need to identify to your channel to gain channel-owner status. You
simply have to identify to your registered nickname.
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Q: Is there a limit on how many nicknames or channels I can register?
A: There is no limit on how many nicknames or channels a single user can register, but common sense dictates that the average user does not need more
than one nickname and no more than one channel.
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Q: Will my registered nickname or channel expire if both are not used for a
long period of time?
A: Registered nicknames and channels remain active for up to 30 days of
inactivity. After the 30-day period has passed, all unused registered
nicknames and channels are automatically dropped by services; thus, becoming inactive.
After the 30-day period has passed, all unused registered
nicknames and channels are automatically dropped by services; thus, becoming
available for other users to register.
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Q: I'm going on vacation and may be away for more than 30 days. Can my
nickname or channel be placed on reserve?
A: No. You will need to re-register your nickname and/or channel upon your
return.
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Q: How can I see a list of bots from BotServ?
A: You can see a list of bots by typing /msg BotServ LIST.
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Q: How can I assign a bot to my channel?
A: To assign a bot to your channel, type /msg BotServ assign <channel> <bot>.
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Q: Can I assign multiple bots to my channel?
A: No. You may only assign one bot to your channel.
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Q: Can I request to have a bot added to BotServ?
A: No. At this time, we are not taking any requests to add more bots to
BotServ.
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Q: I don't want a bot from BotServ, can I have my own windrop/eggdrop
connect to BOFHNet?
A: Yes, you can have your own windrop/eggdrop connect to BOFHNet. Please
remember that excessive cloning will result in an automatic ban from the
network, so use caution when connecting more than one windrop/eggdrop from
the same IP address.
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Q: Now that I have registered my nickname, can I have my own vHost?
A: Yes, you can have your own vHost by simply asking one of the opers to add
one for you.
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Q: Can my eggdrop/windrop also have a vHost if its nickname is registered?
A: Yes, simply ask one of us and we'll add one for your bot as well.
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Q: What kinds of vHosts are acceptable or unacceptable?
A: Anything interesting or unique even funny ones are fine, however, any
vHost containing threats, racism and any other form of discrimination will
be rejected. That being said, vHost additions are still subjected to a
review before they are added to HostServ. Network staff members reserve the
right to reject or accept any requests. All decisions are final and are not
open to debate.
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Q: I have a vHost but it isn't showing up in my /whois output. Why?
A: There are two possible reasons for this: 1. You have not identified to
your nickname. 2. Services might be temporarily offline.
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Q: How often can I change my vHost?
A: Generally not very often, so it is always best to take your time and
choose one you like best, and then contact us to add it to HostServ for you.
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Q: Do I have to have a top-level domain such as .com, .org, or .net at the
end of my vHost for it to work properly?
A: vHosts of any type work with HostServ, but mIRC and possibly other IRC
clients are very picky about vHosts that do not contain a TLD when it comes
to banning or ignoring users. We encourage users to add a TLD such as .com
or .org to the end of their vHosts to maximize efficiency and compatibility
with all IRC clients.
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Q: I'm having a problem with a user, can network staff help me?
A: The short answer is yes, but please remember that network staff will not
intervene in interpersonal matters as it is unnecessarily time-consuming.
For example, do not come to us and ask us to ban so-and-so because they
insulted your mother. You are encouraged to use the ignore feature in your
IRC client which is generally the best way to deal with a minor annoyance.
If, however, you feel a user is evading their ignore by repeatedly changing
their nickname and/or hostmask, or you have received a threat from said
user, feel free to report it to us and the matter will then be dealt with
accordingly.
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Q: My channel is being flooded, what should I do?
A: Ban the user or users performing the flood by typing /mode <channel> +b
*!*Ident@Some-ISP.com.
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Q: Can I link my server with BOFHNet or become an oper?
A: No. We are currently not looking to link any more servers or add any new
opers.
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Q: Can you link your network to mine, or vice versa?
A: BOFHNet has always operated as an independent network; therefore, we are not interested in linking to any other networks, or vice versa.
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Q: I'm really stuck and would like some help in setting up my own network
and/or services. Can you help?
A: No. We do not assist with setting up of other networks and/or services.
Please refer to the documentation that came with your IRCd and services
packages.
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Q: Sometimes I join a channel, I see a bunch of nicknames but no one talks. What gives?
A: A: Sometimes you may join a channel and see a bunch of nicknames in the nick list but there may be little or no chatter on channel. You must consider time differences; you may be in a
completely different time zone than most others. Don't forget, most people see IRC as a hobby or just something to kill time with, and these same people may have other commitments and cannot
and should not be expected to remain at their keyboards 24/7. By being so quick and judgmental, you aren't giving anyone a chance to speak to you if you simply connect to IRC, and join a channel for no more than a minute.
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This FAQ was written by Am. Your comments are welcome.