IRC Guides · Servers

Install Anope services

Advanced · about 25 min read

Anope provides NickServ, ChanServ and related services. It runs as a separate process and links to your IRCd like a special server. Official site: anope.org.

This overview assumes UnrealIRCd is already running (install guide). Atheme is an alternative services package; commands differ but the idea is the same.

1. Build Anope

sudo apt install build-essential cmake libssl-dev libldap2-dev
cd ~
wget https://github.com/anope/anope/releases/latest/download/anope-2.1.7.tar.gz
# use the current release name from anope.org if different
tar xzvf anope-*.tar.gz
cd anope-*
./Config
make
make install

Default install path is often ~/services — follow the Config prompts.

2. Tell UnrealIRCd about services

Services need a U-line (trusted services server name) and a matching link. In UnrealIRCd you typically:

• Add a ulines entry for the services server name (e.g. services.example.org)
• Add a link block for that peer with a shared password
• Allow the services host to introduce service nicks (NickServ, etc.)

Exact block names vary by UnrealIRCd version — copy from the upstream example for “services” / Anope.

3. Configure Anope

Edit conf/services.conf (and includes):

• Network name and services server name (must match the IRCd uline)
• Uplink host, port and link password (same secret as the IRCd link block)
• Admin email and default numeric/ID settings as required

cd ~/services
./bin/anoperc start
./bin/anoperc status

4. Verify

/map
/msg NickServ HELP
/msg ChanServ HELP

If NickServ does not reply, the link or uline is wrong — check both logs (IRCd and Anope).