DALnet Information
For help on learning how to use IRC in general, please refer to the IRC Information Page. This page already assumes you know how to get on to an IRC network.
Contents:
What is DALnet?
Why did you choose DALnet?
Do I Need to Register?
Okay, I want to register, how do I go about
it?
Problems encountered: Ghosts, server splits,
unable to log on, etc.
DALnet is an IRC network. Their homepage is here:
DALnet Homepage
They have many useful documents to help you get familiar with what DALnet has to offer, plus you can go directly to one of their servers from their start page.
DALnet allows a greater amount of control over a channel you create. While it isn't perfect, the features it provides definitely make up for any flaws.
You need to register in order to participate on #litany. It not only allows you to keep whatever nick you want (as long as no one else has it already,) it also gives you more control and options over your own account. The downside is that you will have a few more steps to take when logging on (such as providing a password,) and might encounter a few extra problems when you get disconnected (see the portion below about server splits and ghosts.)
Okay I want to register, how do I go about it?
DALnet's website has a FAQ for registering your nick located
here:
DALnet NickServ Registration
There is also a FAQ written specifically for #litany users that
also goes into automating indentifying and how to join the channel:
Registration and Join Guide
Many clients have a way to activate commands automatically when you log on. Please see the documentation for the client you are using to find out how you would go about doing this. Extra care must be taken with the syntax should you choose to automate Identifying to NickServ. While it might make it easier to set up your client to Identify when you sign on, if you screw up the syntax (such as putting "nickserve" rather than "nickserv") someone might be able to get a glimpse at your password. Be extra cautious when doing this.
Problems encountered: Ghosts, server splits, unable to log on, etc.
The server I usually use isn't letting me log on!
Sometimes you can't log on using a particular server. Try using a different one, or changing the port settings for that server. For me personally, I have the most luck with rumble.fl.us.dal.net while using port 7000.
I got disconnected and when I logged back on, my nick was already in use! When I rejoined the channel, my registered nick was still there!
What you have is called a "Ghost." A ghost is when you get
disconnected and log back in a little too fast for DALnet to pick it up.
What happens is that DALnet still sees your registered nick as already in
use and it will force you to use another one.
To kill your ghost, type the following without the quotation marks:
"/nickserv ghost nick yourpassword" where "nick"
is the nick you want to kill (the one being held by DALnet) and "yourpassword"
is the password you chose when you registered with DALnet. Once you've killed
your ghost, type "/nick preferrednick" (where "preferrednick" is the
one you want to use) to change the nick that was forced upon you to the one
you registered with. It might be a good idea to Identify again too.
Where did everybody go?
Sometimes you might be sitting in a channel and suddenly several people sign off all at once. Or you might show up at a channel and be the only one there. Chances are you encountered a server split. That's when one of the servers in the network fails and is no longer in contact with the other servers. The solution is either to wait it out or to log back on using a different server.