Browse articles tagged with #networks, ordered by publication date where new
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networks
DALnet: the network that gave IRC NickServ and ChanServEvery time you register a nickname on IRC, you're using an idea DALnet invented in 1994. The network that pioneered services, its reputation as the friendly one, and how to connect today.
EFnet: IRC's wild original, still runningEFnet is the direct descendant of the first IRC network — and still has no nickname registration, no channel services, no safety rails. How it works, why people love it, and how to survive there.
hackint: the IRC network of the European hacker scenehackint is the home network of the Chaos Computer Club and Europe's hacker community — conferences, CTF teams, security research. Small in headcount, large in influence. How to connect.
IRCnet: the European giant without a rulebookIRCnet split from EFnet in 1996 and remains one of the largest networks, strongest in Europe and the Nordics. No services, channel reops via !channels, and decades-old communities — a guide.
Libera.Chat: a complete guide to the largest IRC networkLibera.Chat is where open source lives on IRC: ~30,000 users, 22,000+ channels. Connecting, registering, cloaks, channel namespaces, and the policies — VPN, Tor, bots — that actually affect you.
OFTC: the quieter home of free software IRCOFTC hosts Debian, Tor, and a constellation of infrastructure projects — smaller and quieter than Libera, deliberately so. Connecting, registration, and how it differs in practice.
Rizon: anime, fansubs and a general-purpose networkRizon is the cultural home of anime and fansub IRC, with a large general- purpose population besides. Connecting, registration with anope services, vhosts, and the XDCC culture to be aware of.
The 'Big Four' of IRC: what the term means and who's in it nowFor years, IRC's largest networks were grouped as the 'Big Four.' Who the term originally meant, how the lineup changed, and why it doesn't quite fit the 2026 landscape — where the biggest network didn't even exist until 2021.
The big IRC networks in 2026: a connect-ready list with server addressesEvery IRC network that still matters in 2026, in one table — what each is for, how many people are actually on it right now, the server address you paste into your client, and a link to the network's own site. Bookmark this one.
Undernet: the 1992 giant that's still one of IRC's largestUndernet split from the original IRC in 1992 and, three decades later, is still one of the biggest networks running — around 16,000 users. How it works, the X service, and why it never went FOSS-only.