ZNC
ZNC is an advanced IRC network bouncer (BNC) written in C++. It acts as a persistent proxy, staying connected to chosen IRC networks even when offline. This allows multiple clients from different locations to connect to a single ZNC account simultaneously, syncing chat history and maintaining online status under the same nickname. This guide covers the configuration of the ZNC web interface, adding an IRC network, and connecting local desktop clients.
Prerequisites
- Active ZNC Web Interface URL, username, and password.
- Installed desktop IRC client (e.g., Hexchat or mIRC).
Configure Global IRC Settings
Apply default user information to all future networks added to ZNC.
- Log in to the ZNC Web Interface.
- Navigate to Your Settings on the right-hand menu.
- Under the IRC Information section, configure the Nickname, Alt. Nickname, Ident (Username), Realname, and Quit message fields.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save and Continue.
Add IRC Network
Add the actual IRC network that ZNC will connect to.
- Navigate to Your Settings ⇾ Networks and click Add.
- Enter a name for the connection in the Network Name field.
- Change the Nickname or Ident if a different identity is preferred for this specific network.
- Uncheck the box for Connect to IRC & automatically re-connect.
- Scroll to the Servers of this IRC network section and click Add.
- Enter the Hostname and Port of the IRC network.
Configure Network Modules
Modules add specific functionalities to the ZNC connection.
- Scroll to the Modules section on the network configuration page.
- Check the boxes for the required modules. Recommended modules include:
crypt: Encrypts channel and private messages.keepnick: Continuously attempts to reclaim the primary nickname.kickrejoin: Automatically rejoins a channel upon being kicked.modules_online: Keeps ZNCmodulesonline, useful for multiple IRC clients.route_replies: Routes replies strictly to the requesting client.perform: Executes specific commands automatically upon successful connection.- Check either the
saslornickservmodule to authenticate with the IRC network. - Click Save and Continue at the bottom of the page.
- Look at the sidebar menu for the specific module settings.
- Click on the selected authentication module (
saslornickserv). - Input the IRC registration credentials in the provided fields and click Save.
Connect Hexchat
Connect the local Hexchat client to the ZNC bouncer.
- Open Hexchat. Ensure the global Hexchat username matches the username set in ZNC.
- Open the Network List and click Add.
- Enter a name for the network and press Enter.
- Highlight the new network and click Edit.
- Click the default server text
newserver/6667and replace it with the specific Ultra.cc hostname and ZNC Web UI port. Format:{servername}-direct.usbx.me/+{ZNC_webui_port}. - Check Connect to this Network automatically.
- Check Use SSL for all the servers on this network.
- Check Accept invalid SSL certificates.
- Uncheck Use global user information.
- Leave the User name field empty.
- Set the Login method to
Server password (/PASS password). - Enter credentials in the Password field using the format
username/network:znc_password. - Verify all information is correct and click Close.
- Highlight the new network in the Network List and click Connect.
- Type
/znc connectin the text input bar and press Enter to initialize the connection to the IRC server.
Connect mIRC
Configure mIRC to accept the server SSL certificate and manually pass credentials.
- Open mIRC and navigate to the mIRC Options window.
- Expand the Connect category in the left-hand menu and click Options.
- Click the SSL... button.
- Change the Server certificates dropdown setting to Accept invalid certificates.
- Click OK to save the SSL settings.
- Navigate back to the Connect -> Servers section.
- Enter a name for the connection in the Description field.
- Enter the direct hostname in the Address field.
- Enter the ZNC Web UI port preceded by a plus sign in the Ports field.
- Enter the network name in the Group field.
- Leave the Password field blank.
- Set the Login method to None.
- Click OK to save the server profile.
- Click the main Connect category in the left-hand menu.
- Enter the ZNC username in the Nickname field.
- Select the newly created server profile from the Server dropdown box.
- Click Connect.
- Type
/quote PASS <username>/<network>:<password>into the mIRC text bar and press Enter to authenticate.
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