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Oldest IRC Server Going Offline
Matty_ writes: "Looks like the oldest IRC server in continued operation on the Internet is going to be turned off for good. According to the server's MOTD, the server will be shut off no later than January 1. Aparently the University of Colorado can no longer support the software and hardware, as well as provide the network resources, specifically the extra bandwidth required for the various DoS (Denial of Service) attacks from which EFnet servers still suffer. They chose not to accept the liability and decided to retire the server."
I'm surprised they lasted this long. IRC itself is on a long spiral down, thanks to the ungrateful bastards that DoS the servers. People can't afford all that extra bandwidth. Where will the skript kiddiez go after the Big 3 die? MSN Chat?
"From what I understand, EFnet is a real mess because they don't use things like ChanServs/nickservs, etc, so stupid script kiddies will try to DDoS servers and users in attempts to take over channels (yes, extremely stupid)"
/server irc.dal.net and pretty much get connected every time, whereas with EFNet you have to hunt around for a server because they never figured out how to cooperate.
Not to mention that, at least for a time, many of the opers and admins were kiddies themselves. EFNet is just in bad shape all around. Chanserv/Nickserv would be great, but the mentality would live on somehow.
Dal.net hasn't sucked since I moved there. The best part about it is you can
Actually, on the contrary, EFNet has been on its way back up for quite some time now. After bottoming out due to DoS attacks and numerous servers losses at about 50,000 users, it's back up to an average of 75,000, and growing.
/. is very predictable in posting stories about EFNet's demise, but never about its successes (of which there are many). It's typical of mainstream media - bad news makes good news... too bad this is the route /. has taken.
You are also mistaken in saying that EFNet does not use "things like ChanServs". A sort of channel services was in fact introduced on EFNet several months ago, and overall has been a great success.
I'll leave it at that, but suggest you (and anyone interested) checks out the most up-to-date information @ EFNet's unofficial web site - www.efnet.org.
Also realize that
EFnet's official website is http://www.efnet.org/ They have a server list that is updated automatically like once every 10 mins. Enjoy.
I thought that was the oldest server, when did they appear?
:) but 9 years of beer really wears a brain out...
/kill is worth it... but I guess it grows old :)
I think I started chatting back in 92 AFAICR... I do remember typing irc.eff.org
Anyways, it's really a shame that these servers are going offline one by one, I guess it's more like "we don't have anyone that wishes to administer our irc server but we don't want to look like [insert any unjustified insults here] so we'll go out with a comment that will put more preasure agains those lame script kiddies, diverting the real issues", I'm sure most DDoS exploits can be patched easily, so it's probably the lack of people that wishes to administer the server. We can't blame them for that, I mean, most of us used the service, but how many would actually give away a box and bandwidth for it?
Of course, having the power to
--- Metamoderating abusive downgraders since my 300th post.
irc, believe it or not, is how i defined my "internet identity" so to speak, and i know many people who agree that it definitely somethign special. its entirely to sad to see the one network that offered the most freedom to its users get a leg chopped out from underneath.. the way i (and we) grew up on irc is a far cry from how kids are growing up on other forms of internet communication (aol instant messenger and icq, etc). hell, i remember when irc meant one of three things: dalnet, efnet, or undernet. "Time is simply a way you humans meausure your own decay!" -Thundercleese
"Everything we say and do is right." -a mooninite
This is exactly what we do at my University. We went with Packeteer and have never looked back. Before we limited p2p clients, they were utilizing 80-90% of our T1 pipe, and hardly anything else could get through. Now that they're limited, the students (and professors) don't complain that the network is slow all the time. Those that use p2p clients don't seem to mind -- they're still getting their warez and illegal music, just not as fast.
Without you I'm one step closer to happiness without violence.
This has happened many times before.
irc.blackened.com went down for similar reasons.
It was the first IRC server to break 5,000 clients among other firsts.
At one point, the packeting got so bad the entire state of Arizona's bandwidth was effected (or something to that effect.)
For a good resource on EFNet history, I recommend
the EFnet history page at the-project.
I have the capability to run an IRC server if I really wanted. I enjoy using irc (#alt.fan.elite on Starchat), and I have met good friends through IRC (in real life, as in go out have a beer etc) but as for running a server, I've decided that I'd rather try skiing through a revolving door before I ever bothered running an IRC server.
/that/ much bandwidth. But one DDoS attack could easily put you into excess bandwidth charges - as well as knocking your server offline.
/ignore if a user was being a pain in the ass). In our channel, we solve it the other way - everyone gets ops. It runs remarkably smoothly that way.
Why? Firstly, the politics. IRC is supposed to be fun, but the politics amongst the routing teams, opers, network admins etc. is just lame. Half of the friggin' admins like to think they are God.
Secondly, running an IRC server is like painting a huge DDoS bullseye on your server. Normally, IRC doesn't take up
IRC is supposed to be fun but the combination of lame admins and lame lusers make it an unpleasant chore. So I'll stick to being a mere user in an out of the way channel that's mode +s.
As for Starchat, at least they've done some things to protect themselves from DDoS attacks - they've made it non-trivial to find out the actual names of all the servers and the way they are linked (/map etc. are disabled), IP addresses are masked so users won't get DDoSed, ChanServ and NickServ are implemented. StarChat's still relatively small so they aren't the big DDoS target the large networks are. But even with this network, there's more than enough lameness to go around.
Looking at the bigger networks - look at the application process for adding your server to DALnet. The process seems about as fun as an IRS tax audit. Half the time, the IRC networks are their own worst enemies. I think a lot of the problems with IRC could be solved if there was no such thing as ops (instead, server-side
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Seems the poster doesn't know IRC history.
First IRC server on the world, has been obviously tolsun.oulu.fi. This server is *still* running as part of IRCnet (The other side of The Great Split).
Saying "Oldest server on EFnet going offline" is correct "oldest in world" isn't.
JV