New Z! – The answers you have been looking for Scope of this document:

This document is designed to highlight the major differences between the old channel service on the ozorg IRC network, and the new channel service (Z). It is not designed to be a comprehensive user's guide.

Z is a channel service running on the ozorg IRC network. It is maintained by the AUstralian Channel Service (AUCS) committee and is there to help channel managers maintain control over a channel.

The following resources are available to you:

• #help on the ozorg IRC network
  
• http://www.oz.org
  
• http://aucs.oz.org
  
• http://help.oz.org
  

The new Z works on a username basis and not a hostmask basis. This means that you only need to authenticate once per IRC session and you will be authenticated in all the channels that you have access in.

To register a username with Z you simply go to http://aucs.oz.org and click on 'Register!'. Follow the instructions and a password will be emailed to you.

NOTE: You are responsible for maintaining a valid email address and remembering your Z password. Channel managers can no longer change your password if you forget it.

As there is no hostmask checking, you can use your Z access from anywhere, both at the web interface and on IRC. Now you can manage your channel from your friend's house, an internet cafe, or anywhere that you may be accessing IRC from.

The first and most obvious change you will encounter on IRC is the way you login to Z. You no longer need to specify a channel when logging in. When you log into Z on IRC you will be authorised in all channels you have access in straight away. The command syntax to login to Z is now:

/msg z@channels.oz.org login <username> <password>

NOTE: The username and password are the same as those you use for this website

The new Z channel service has a web interface that enables you to:

• View any access you have in any channel
  
• View and change your registered channel details
  
• Change your password
  
• Add users to your channel
  
• Register and purge your channel
  
• Transfer your channel to another user
  
• Change your email address
  

All these functions are now automated, and many other helpful functions apart from those listed above will be available to you once you register.

Any user with level 400 access or higher in a channel can still add users to that channel, however the command to do this has changed (refer to /msg z help adduser).

Adding a user simply requires you to specify their registered username and an access level for them. No more working out hostmasks or thinking up passwords!

There are some new commands in Z, but it is beyond the scope of this document to go into them in detail. Refer to /msg z showcommands <#channel> and you will receive a list of commands available to you for <#channel> dependent on your access level

Channel registration is now done through your login at http://aucs.oz.org. You still need to supply 5 supporters, but you only need to supply their registered Z usernames.

All the existing restrictions on channel names are still in place. Any channel names containing offensive words will be rejected at review time, as will any channel names not matching the requirements as detailed at time of application.

After you lodge an application, Z will monitor the channel for traffic and wait for verification of support from all the supporters before making a decision.

If you already had a channel registered under the old Z you will be able to reclaim that channel once you register with the new Z. After you have registered your username simply login at http://aucs.oz.org and click on 'Reclaim old channel'. You will be asked to verify your old level 500 password and channel name, and if they match the channel will be instantly registered to you without going through the registration process of a new channel.

Once your channel has been reclaimed, you may start adding users to your channel access list as they register with Z. This can be done via the web interface, or on IRC through Z.

If you believe your channel has been falsely claimed by another user, or your channel was an exception to the norm on the old Z, please email aucs@oz.org and give clear information regarding your concern.

You should also email AUCS if you cannot remember your 500 password. Please do not take these disputes to #help as they will not be dealt with online. All disputes, exceptions, and forgotten passwords need to go through AUCS email system.

• Make your password difficult to guess. There is no more hostmask checking with Z
  
• Select a question and answer for the verification question that only you know
  

ozorg and AUCS would like to thank you for your support and patience while our new system was implemented. Enjoy!