Administrators Guide

Operators

An Operator is responsible for ensuring smooth operation of the entire server. An Operator has the ability to disconnect disruptive members from the chat site (using the KILL command), and, if the situation warrants, prevent the member from signing back onto the server (Server Ban). Operators can also issue commands to network (link) the server to other servers, forming a cluster -- a single chatting environment consisting of multiple servers.

Administrators

Administrators are "Super Operators", with additional capabilities such as viewing secret rooms and invisible members, and being "unstoppable" (being able to enter any room regardless of its modes, and cannot be removed from a room). Because of these broad powers, only the server's founder and selected individuals are granted this level of authority.

If an Administrator has specified on your profile that you are an Operator or an Administrator, you will automatically be granted that status when you sign onto the server. If the owner has set up a "traditional" O line for you, you will need to sign onto the server and issue the “/oper” command in order to be granted Operator or Administrator status.

Room Interface Buttons for Administrators

Server Messages

Click the Chat Options button, and then click the Messages button. Important messages from the server are delivered here, i.e. admin status.

Administrator Override

As an Administrator, you can make yourself a Moderator in any room upon entrance. Right click your name in the room's members list, and selecting Give Room Moderator Status or click on the Assign/Remove Moderator Status button.

Message Routing Options

In addition to the normal message routing options, Operators and Administrators are able to send messages "To All Members" or "To All Admins/Ops" by clicking on the send button and holding the cursor over it. A pop-up menu shows:

To All Users

This option allows a message to be sent to every user on the server. This is very useful for letting members know about special events.

To All Admins/Ops

This routing option transmits your message to all the other Operators and Administrators, useful for staff management and choreography.

Administrator/Operator Actions

Action	How	Where
Kill a member off the server	Enter the nickname of the person to Kill, and if desired, a Kill message, and then click “Kill”.	Room Options button (or double-click in chat area)> Kill/Server Bans tab.
Server Ban a member	In the Domain box, enter a mask that will cover the member, and if desired, a reason for the mask, and click “Ban” button. As long as the server ban is in place, this user will not be able to sign onto your server.	Room Options button (or double-click in chat area)> Kill/Server Bans tab.

Actions for Administrators Only

Action	How	Where
Global Server Ban	Follow the same method as for a regular server ban, but click "on all connected servers" option (see the next section of this manual for more).	Room Options button (or double-click in chat area) > Kill/Server Bans tab.
Change a member's password	After clicking the “Change Password” button, simply enter a new password for the user. Note: with the Server Edition the user can click the “Forgot your password?” link to have their password e-mailed to them.	Chat Options button > View a Profile
Peek at a room's passwords Enter the room, and double-click in the chat area to bring up the room controls.	The room's passwords appear in the tabbed display near the bottom of the Control Dialog's Room Registration tab.	Room Options button (or double-click in chat area).
Send a Member on a Web Tour	Enter the location of the web site in the box when prompted (e.g., http://www.chatspace.com). The user is duly informed of the tour request and is asked to accept or cancel the tour.	Tour Member button or right-click on nickname and select “Tour Member to Web Address”
Send a member to a specific room	Enter the name of the room to send the member to when prompted.  The user is duly informed of the send request and is asked to accept or cancel the send.	Right-click menu > “Send Member to another room”
Grant Room Moderator Status to self	-	Right-click on own name and select “Give room moderator status”
Grant Operator Status to a Member (or Administrator status to an Operator)	Place a check in either Operator or Administrator as appropriate.	Select nickname in Member List and click “View Profile” button.
Grant Temporary Operator/Administrator Status	This temporary status only lasts as long as the member stays connected to the server, or until you remove this privilege The member now has access to all commands and functions of Operators and Administrators.	To give status type: /setoper nickname +oper or /setoper nickname +admin. To remove status type:  /setoper nickname -oper (or -admin).

Dealing with Abusive Members

In order to make your chat room(s) the best possible venue for conversation, you may need to use the kill and ban tools to manage members who are disruptive or who are otherwise not following the guidelines of your community. The following are ways to deal with disruptive members:

Kill

Administrators and Operators can Kill any member on their own server or on any server linked to it. When an Operator Kills a member, the Operator's nickname and the reason for the kill (if provided) are displayed as the Killed member's QUIT message, and in addition a similar kill message is sent to the room occupants.

To immediately disconnect or Kill a member, click the “Remove a Member” button after selecting a nickname from the members list, and, if desired, enter a Kill "comment."

With a kill, the member is still free to reconnect to the server, so a variety of more powerful bans are available for use.

Server Bans

Server Bans completely prevent unwanted members from being able to sign onto your server. They are, therefore, a very powerful tool and require understanding in order to be used correctly.

Step One: Finding Out the Member’s Domain

Knowing the member's domain is critical to placing an effective server ban. To determine the member's domain:

1.      Highlight the member’s nickname in the room’s members list and click “View a Profile” (or if not in the room click on “Chat Options” and select “View a Profile” and then enter the nickname).

2.      Click the Session Info tab.

3.      Locate the Hostname field. The last two "levels" of the name are usually the domain. For example, if the hostname is "dial42.joco.com", the domain is "joco.com"

4.      If the Hostname is a number (an IP Address) rather than a name, enter the number, just as it appears, specifying a ban domain. The correct mask for this domain will automatically be generated.

Step Two: Implementing the Server Ban

When a member is banned from the server, the member is killed and cannot reconnect. To action the ban, click on the “Server Ban button” (or select Chat Options > Kill/Server Bans tab) and enter the domain determined for the member.

If desired, a comment may be entered regarding the ban. When the “Ban Domain” button is clicked, the member (as well as anyone else on your server from the same domain) will be killed off the server.

Global Server Bans (Administrators only)

A Global Server Ban is a ban set on all servers currently connected to your server. When a Global Server Ban is issued, the member will not be able to connect to your server or to any of the servers connected to yours.

Viewing and Removing Server Bans

Server Bans can be viewed and removed from the same Kill/Server Bans window. To remove a Server Ban, highlight it and click on the “Delete” button on the dialog box.  All members from that domain will now be able to access your server.

Auditing Server Activity

Server activity can be logged to the ChatSpace database file. Using this facility, patterns of usage can be tracked on your server, as well as determine when certain members have signed on, and (in general) what they have done.

 Note: Only certain events are audited. Messages in rooms or between members in person-to-person chat are not recorded.

Enabling Auditing

To turn auditing on or off, launch the ChatSpace Configuration tool, click the Security tab, and then press the “Advanced” button. Near the bottom of the Advanced Security settings, there is a checkbox for auditing. Set this value as desired.

Audit records are written to the ChatSpace Database.

Viewing Audit Information

Audit information can be viewed online from the Security tab (section) of the Configuration Tool or the Remote Server Administration.  Please refer to the appendix of this manual for detail regarding interpreting audit record information.