Tuesday the 25th of March, 2008, saw AustNet begin a long-awaited change to new server software, based on InspIRCd. While the migration did take a little longer to complete than expected, both servers and our custom Services software, OPAS, are now updated.

This update should not be seen as a ‘once off’, the primary reason for the change of code was to bring things up to date so new features, suggestions, and fixes can be easily implemented now and in future. We welcome suggestions from everyone on what can be done to further improve the servers and services.

A huge thankyou to the team at InspIRCd, to our staff and admins, and most of all to our users for their patience through this.

Summary of changes:

● Stronger host masking
● Improved flooding, spam and abuse control
● Enhanced user and channel controls (modes)
● IP bans and exempts can also now be in CIDR notation
● SSL client support (selected servers only – see individual server motd)
● Extended limits for nicknames and channels

What does this mean to me ?

There are only a few changes that will immediately affect you.

● You can Identify to nickop now by simply sending /identify YourPassWord -- Note: Some clients require you to type /quote identify YourPassWord
● Any bans you had set on VW address (like vw-2345.an.isp.com) will no longer work
● Hiding you real address is now usermode x (set on automatically when you connect)
● New usermode R means only registered nicknames can private message you. remove with /mode yournick -R
● ChanMode e (event) has been replaced by chanmode E
● ChanMode r (regulate) has been replaced by chanmode A
● DCC chat and file sending is totally blocked by default. You can allow DCC from someone with a simple command /dccallow +john
● Knock – If you wish to enter an invite only channel, you can use the knock command to notify users inside the channel that you would like to enter.

Suggestions or Improvements?

● Please email [email protected] for all IRCd and Services (OPAS) changes, improvements, bugs, suggestion and general ideas.