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freenode

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freenode
Founded1995, as irc.linpeople.org
Geographic locationEurope, United States
Based inUnited Kingdom
Website URLhttp://freenode.net/
Primary DNSirc://chat.freenode.net/
Average users48,000 - 62,000
Average channels30,000 - 34,000
Average servers23
Content/subjectPublic / unrestricted

freenode, formerly known as Open Projects Network, is a popular IRC network used to discuss peer-directed projects.[1] Their servers are all accessible from the domain name chat.freenode.net, which load balances connections by using the actual servers in rotation.[2] It is the largest free and open source software-focused IRC network, encompassing more than 60,000 users and 30,000 channels.[3]

History

There are 24 freenode server locations around the world as of October 2010.

freenode began as a 4-person Linux support channel called #LinPeople on EFnet, another IRC network. By 1995 it moved from being just a channel to its own network, irc.linpeople.org. In early 1998 it changed to Open Projects Net (OPN) with about 200 users and under 20 channels. The OPN soon grew to become the largest network for the free software community, and 20th largest in the world. In 2002 the name changed to freenode. The Peer-Directed Projects Center was founded as the legal umbrella organization.

On June 24, 2006, a user with the nickname "ratbert" (actually one of lilo's services-linked nicknames) gained the network privileges of freenode administrator Rob Levin (lilo) and took control of the network. It is likely that approximately 25 user passwords were stolen as a result.[4] This user proceeded to K-line many freenode staff members, and most freenode servers subsequently went down for several hours.[5][6][7][8]

Rob Levin died on September 16, 2006.[9][10] His death was caused by head injuries sustained in a hit and run collision while riding his bicycle on September 12. He fell into a coma at the scene and did not regain consciousness.[citation needed]

Characteristics

Unlike many other networks, freenode is centrally managed. Staffers (as IRC operators are called) have the same access across all servers. Some operations that would normally only apply to one server (like k-lines) are propagated across the whole network. Servers are "donated" to the network, rather than "linked."[11]

The network focuses on supporting peer-directed and open source projects. Channels not related to these things are considered off-topic and encouraged to find a home elsewhere. To support this distinction, channels are divided into namespaces. Primary on-topic channels begin with a single #, and groups wanting to use such a channel must officially register with freenode. "About" channels begin with two ##, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis without needing a group registration.[12]

freenode currently runs ircd-seven, a set of freenode-specific patches on the Charybdis IRC server. The network previously ran an ircd called hyperion. The replacement of hyperion with ircd-seven occurred on Saturday, January 30, 2010.[13]

Services

freenode uses Atheme IRC services to provide:

  • Alis: A service to aid in searching channels by name, size, and/or topic
  • ChanServ: A service to maintain channel topics, modes, access lists, and more
  • MemoServ: A service to send off-line messages to registered nicks
  • NickServ: A service to register nicks, and optionally prevent others from using them

A number of miscellaneous bots also exist that are not part of Atheme:

  • eir: tracks bans and quiets, recording reasons and expiration times
  • frigg: checks client versions on connect
  • proxyscan: checks for and denies network access to open proxies
  • syn: regulates access to the network from CGI::IRC and NAT gateways
  • idoru: manages spam and misuse of the network, primarily found in large channels.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mutton, Paul. IRC Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools. Cambridge: O'Reilly Media 2004. ISBN 0-596-00687-X
  2. ^ "About freenode: IRC Servers". freenode.net. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  3. ^ Andreas Gelhausen. "Network statistics over the last two weeks". Irc.netsplit.de. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  4. ^ "Freenode Network Hijacked, Passwords Compromised?". It.slashdot.org. 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  5. ^ "Regular Ramblings". Tgmandry.blogspot.com. 2006-06-24. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  6. ^ "The Liberation of freenode, Part 12 » Ad Terras Per Aspera". Ad Terras Per Aspera. 2006-10-29. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  7. ^ "The Liberation of freenode, Part 13 » Ad Terras Per Aspera". Ad Terras Per Aspera. 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
  8. ^ Freenode IRC Network hacked The Inquirer article about NickServ hack
  9. ^ "freenode news: 16 September 2006". freenode. September 16, 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31.
  10. ^ Chatmag News (2006-09-21). "Robert Levin Death Confirmed by Houston Police, other Area Sources". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  11. ^ "freenode Ircd". Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  12. ^ "freenode naming scheme". Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  13. ^ "Migration to ircd-seven. « staffblog". Blog.freenode.net. 2010-01-26. Retrieved 2010-05-28.


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