This page is designed for anyone having trouble connecting to the DALnet IRC network. The most common errors and problems are below. Click on the error that you are getting, or the one that looks most similar, for an explanation and possible solutions.
Table of Contents
Connect-Time Server Messages
Ping Timeouts
"Overridden"
Global Network Bans
"You are not welcome on this network. Email kline@dal.net for more information." (AKILLed)
"User banned from network"
"User or NickName is banned"
"Killed by services.dal.net - User banned from network"
Server-Specific Bans
"You are not welcome on this server: [REASON.] Email admin-nick@dal.net for more information"
"User has been banned"
"Not Authorized" Messages
"You are not authorized to connect to this server"
"Server Full" Messages
"This server is full. Please try irc.dal.net"
"All Connections in Use"
"Password Incorrect" Messages
"USER :Not Enough Parameters"
"You Have Not Registered"
Connect-Time Client Messages
"Connection Timed Out"
"Network Unreachable" or "No Route to Host"
"Unable to Connect to IRC Server"
"Unable to Resolve IRC Server"
"Unable to Resolve Local Host"
Normal Connect-Time Notices
"-server.dal.net- *** Looking up your hostname..."
"-server.dal.net- *** Checking ident..."
"-server.dal.net- *** Received ident response"
"-server.dal.net- *** Found your hostname"
"-server.dal.net- *** If you need assistance with connecting to this server, server.dal.net, please..."
The "NoSpoof" Notice
Ping Timeouts
A ping timeout is a lost connection to the server because your client (your IRC software) is not able to communicate with the DALnet IRC server. Ping timeouts are caused by one of two things. There are also two basic solutions, depending on the actual problem. The problem is diagnosed by when you get a ping timeout
and are disconnected.
If one of the last things you see are the diagnostic messages below...
-server.dal.net- *** Looking up your hostname...
-server.dal.net- *** Checking ident...
-server.dal.net- *** Received ident response
-server.dal.net- *** Found your hostname
*** If you are having problems connecting due to ping timeouts, please type /notice A75A2027 nospoof now.
-server.dal.net- *** If you need assistance with connecting to this server, server.dal.net, please refer to: http://www.dal.net/connect
...or you see nothing at all from the server, then try the following solutions. If you connect and see the welcome message and/or the server message of the day (MOTD) then skip down to the next section.
1. Client Software: Check out the client (IRC software) you are using. Is it something new? Is it up-to-date? Is it widely-used and supported? Old versions of software or clients that are obsolete or unpopular may not be supported by the DALnet servers. If you're not sure, check out our client section. If you find your client is old or not widely used, you may want to download the newest version of the more popular IRC clients. This ensures compatibility with our servers and login procedures. If upgrading doesn't help, or you are using up-to-date popular software, skip down to solution 3.
2. Manually Passing No-Spoof: The "nospoof" check is a system developed to protect the users and servers of DALnet from people who try to fake their addresses. With older or unpopular IRC client software, it is common that they do not pass the "nospoof" check correctly, and are not allowed to connect. If you do not want to change your client, as described above, you can attempt to reply to the "nospoof" check manually. To do this, follow the instructions in the NOSPOOF message as you log on to the DALnet server. Basically you send a NOTICE to some random code the same way you'd normally /notice another person on IRC. The random code is shown in the NOSPOOF message and is usually a combination of numbers and letters. Typing /notice random-code blah blah will pass you through the nospoof check. "blah blah" can be anything, as long as it's something. Some software does not even allow you to type before you are connected, in which case you will have no choice but to upgrade to one that does.
3. Try Other Servers: If your connection to the server is extremely slow and results in a "Ping Timeout" after some time, your best bet is to try another DALnet server. This can especially be the case if you were using the server "irc.dal.net" - this picks a random server for you, and is usually slower than a direct connection. Try using the DALnet server closest to you. If that fails, try the next closest, and so on, until you find one that works well for you. DALnet servers and their locations can be found on the latest Server Listing.
4. Try Other Ports: Connection speed and reliability to a server can also be greatly improved by using non-standard port numbers. The most commonly used ports (7000 and 6667) will cause slower connections and may even lead to early disconnections on busy servers. The ports that each DALnet server allows connections on are also listed in the latest Server Listing.
If you are disconnected after or during the server message of the day (MOTD)...
Obtain a More Reliable Connection: Ping Timeouts during IRC sessions (after you have logged in and started chatting) indicate that your connection to the server is too slow or unreliable. To fix this, try other DALnet servers. Changing servers gives you a better connection in most cases, and at the same time you'll still be chatting with the same people in the same channels as before. Try using the DALnet servers closest to your home and Internet Provider. They will usually give you the best results. Also, try using different port numbers than the default 6667 or 7000. Using other ports in combination with a nearby server will guarantee you a faster and more reliable connection resulting in fewer ping timeouts. Check our Server List for a list of servers, their locations, and what ports you can use.
"Overridden"
This rare error will occur when you are trying to use a nick and someone else already on IRC begins to use it at the exact time you log on.
Reconnect: The simple solution to this is to reconnect a few seconds after it occurs. It should not happen again, and if you had problems with your registered nick you can reclaim it from the other person using NickServ.
Try Another Nick: Try logging on with your first nick set to something different. Then, once connected, try to switch back to your intended nick with the /nick command.
Try Another Server: Should this repeatedly happen, it's likely that the server you are trying to use is desynched. Try another DALnet server for this session and, if you'd like, tell an online IRC operator that the server you had problems with may be desynched. He or she should be able to determine the problem and fix it.
Global Network Bans
Any of the errors linked to this section mean that you have been banned from all of DALnet. This is called an Auto-Kill or AKILL. If you've done nothing to cause yourself to be banned, chances are someone else on your Internet Provider was causing great difficulty and problems for other users or our servers. Banning an entire site is only done as a last resort and when the trouble maker is causing serious damage to our machines or other users.
If you've done some things on IRC that may cause you to be banned, you have only one choice really - wait out the ban. First offense bans are rarely permanent. Things people can be banned for include, but aren't limited to: Distribution of illegal material, mass advertisements, invites, or messages, cloning, flooding, harassment, or takeovers.
Waiting Out a Ban: Simply wait a few hours and try to connect again. Do not attempt to evade a ban. If you do, chances are that the ban will be made wider and will stay in place longer. If you want to know why the ban was placed and for how long it will remain, you may write kline@dal.net and ask about the ban. When writing, be patient, as they are very busy and are all volunteers.
If you think this is a site-wide ban on your entire Internet Provider, there are a couple of things you can do to help us restore access to you, the innocent user.
Temporary Bans: Wait about an hour to see if the ban is only temporary - sometimes you can even get back in as little as thirty minutes. If the ban still exists after an hour, chances are the ban is semi-permanent. If you want to find out more about when it will be removed and why it's there, follow the suggestions below.
Finding the Cause: To see why the ban is in place and to find out about how long it will be in place, you can send email to kline@dal.net and ask them what is happening. Be patient as the kline team is very busy and they are all volunteers.
Helping to Fix the Situation: To help us get the trouble-maker taken care of so that you will not be banned for his actions again, try mailing your ISP's abuse department. Or better yet, if they are local to you, call them and tell them you want to report an abuse of service. Convince them to work with DALnet and the kline team to resolve the situation so that you are not banned again because of this user. They can get in touch with the kline team at kline@dal.net
Server-Specific Bans
Any of the messages linked to this section mean that you have been banned from the server you are using. This can be for many things, and the reason the IRC operator set the ban for is given when you are disconnected. The most common reasons are server flooding and running bots on servers that don't allow it.
Choose Another DALnet Server: If you've been banned from just one server, you can use another DALnet server and still chat normally. Obviously, if it was you who caused the ban to be placed (by running a bot where not allowed, cloning, etc) don't do whatever it was that made the IRC operator place it again. Next time, the IRC operator may not be so kind and choose to ban you from all of DALnet. Most server bans of this nature will be removed a short time later and you can go back to that server again.
Write the Server Admin: If the server ban is in place for more than a short time, you may wish to write the admin of that server to find out why it is there and for how long it will remain. The address to write is displayed in the K-Line (ban) message when you try to connect to the server. The admin's address can also be found by connecting to another DALnet server and typing /admin server-name
"Not Authorized" Messages
The message "You are not authorized to connect to this server" will rarely appear on a DALnet server. This means you are not allowed to connect because the server admin has set up special access to this server. A few simple solutions provide a workaround.
A few DALnet servers are "dedicated hubs" or special access servers. These servers, like toronto.DAL.net and trapdoor.DAL.net don't allow normal connections, but are restricted to IRC operator and/or telnet access.
Use a Public Server: If you were attempting to use one of our special access servers or dedicated hubs, simply choose another DALnet server. A new server can be chosen from our Server Listing.
Most of our public servers also have special access ports for other servers or IRC operators only. If you try to connect to one of these ports, chances are that you will receive the "Not Authorized" message. You can still connect to that server, but you need to use another port.
Use Another Port: To change port numbers, either use the /server command (/server server.dal.net port) or change the setup of your IRC client software. For example, in mIRC, under the setup box (File menu, choose Setup) you would click the Edit button while the DALnet server you'd like to change the port number on is shown. All public DALnet servers allow connections on port 7000, and many offer other ports to connect on. Check our Server Listing for each server and the ports it allows connections on.
"Server Full" Messages
Messages about a server being full represent exactly that, the server you want to use is full of other users. It's very simple to fix this problem, you can simply use another DALnet server.
Trying Other DALnet Servers: You can choose another server from our Server Listing. It's usually best to try the server closest to you. Choosing another DALnet server is simply choosing a new place to connect to. You will still be able to chat with the same people in the same channels that you could before on the server that is full.
Point of Confusion: Many people get confused by the actual error "This server is full, please try irc.dal.net" because they were already using irc.dal.net - and trying it again just continues to give them the same error. This is because irc.dal.net is just an alias; it picks a random server. Some Windows users report that instead of choosing a new, random server that their software will continue to use the same server, even though it is full. Again, the best solution is the one above - simply choose another DALnet server to directly connect to.
"Password Incorrect" Messages
You should never need a password to connect to any public DALnet server. If you are getting a message from the server telling you that the password you are sending is wrong, chances are you are attempting to use a limited access server, or a limited access port. The solutions here are similar to the "You are not authorized" problem, choose another server or port designed for public access.
A few DALnet servers are "dedicated hubs" or special access servers. These servers, like toronto.DAL.net and silver.DAL.net don't allow normal connections, but are restricted by password to IRC operator access.
Use a Public Server: If you were attempting to use one of our special access servers or dedicated hubs and needed a password, simply choose another DALnet server. A new server can be chosen from our Server Listing.
Most of our public servers also have special access ports for IRC operators only that may be password protected. If you try to connect to one of these restricted ports, you simply need to use another port.
Use Another Port: To change port numbers, either use the /server command (/server server.dal.net port) or change the setup of your IRC client software. For example, in mIRC, under the setup box (File menu, choose Setup) you would click the Edit button while the DALnet server you'd like to change the port number on is shown. All public DALnet servers allow unrestricted connections on port 7000, and many offer other ports to connect on. Check our Server Listing for each server and the ports it allows connections on.
"USER :Not Enough Parameters"
This rare error can be caused by using old client software or by miscommunication between your software and the server. Before trying another client, check to be sure a slow or unreliable connection isn't the cause.
Trying Another DALnet Server: To be sure it's not the connection causing this error, you can choose another server from our Server Listing. It's usually best to try the server closest to you. Try a couple and if you still get the same error on all, try the next solution.
Real Names: Some older IRC clients will fail with this error if you don't enter a 'real name'. Look in the software's setup for this option and be sure you have entered something even if it is not your real name (most people don't use their real name). If this doesn't solve the problem, or your software doesn't have a place to enter a 'real-name', then you'll need to upgrade your client.
Change Your IRC Client: If your IRC client is one that is not generally supported or widely used, there's a good possibility that it may not work correctly with DALnet. Your best bet is to download one of the more widely used and newer IRC clients. You can get software guaranteed to work with DALnet on our client page.
"You Have Not Registered"
This error means that you are not yet fully connected to the server. When you log on to IRC, it's kind of like logging into an FTP account or getting your mail. With those, you connect and your software sends a username and password supplied by your Internet Provider. Until the username and password are right, you are not allowed access to the service. Well, a similar thing happens with IRC, except this time there (usually) are no passwords, just identification information. If you or your software tries to send commands before all this information is entered, you will receive this error.
Point of Confusion: Many people are confused by this error. The two most common misunderstandings are that it means you have to 'register' with DALnet (by sending mail or paying money) or that it deals with nick or channel registration. Another common misconception is that it means you need to register your IRC software before connecting. These are all false, this error has nothing to do with any of these.
As explained above, typing commands before you are fully connected will cause this error. If you are not typing anything before connection, but are still seeing this error, skip to the next section.
When To Type Commands: You can type commands without getting this error after the Message of the Day (MOTD) has been sent. If your software does not display the MOTD, look for the welcome information and the current user count. Typing normal IRC commands before seeing these will result in the above error.
Slow or incomplete connections can cause you to repeatedly get this error - sometimes even if you aren't typing anything. If it appears your connections are taking a long time or are not completing at all, try the following solutions.
Try Another DALnet Server: If your connections are very slow, or are not working at all, the first thing to try is a couple different servers. Check our Server Listing for a list of DALnet servers and try connecting to the server closest to you. Also, try using one of the ports listed for that server other than the default ports (6667 and 7000) - this will give you a faster connection. If, after trying a few servers, you still have problems, try the following solutions also.
IRC Software: Some IRC software out there does not conform to specifications of the DALnet server. If your IRC client is not one of the more popular ones, or is an older version, you should consider updating. This is especially important if you continually receive the "You are not Registered" error and are not typing anything. Try looking at our client page to see and download some of the supported clients.
"Connection Timed Out"
This error (as far as I know, please let me know if it exists in other clients) is specific to mIRC, and can be quite common. mIRC has a built-in automatic reconnect feature if your connection is not accepted by the server in a specific amount of time. Kind of like busy-redial on a telephone, this will continue to reconnect at a rapid pace until you the connection is successful. This is helpful if the server you like is near full, but can be a problem if the server is slow in accepting your connection.
Disabling Auto-Reconnect: This is the easiest way to fix this problem. It will turn off the auto-reconnect built in to mIRC and allow the connection to slowly, but surely, go through. Simply go to the File Menu and select Setup. When the next screen appears, click on the Options Tab. Here, there is a check-box to enable or disable the auto-reconnect. Uncheck the Retry box just below "On Connection Failure:"
Choose Another DALnet Server: If you'd rather not disable the auto-reconnect feature, you can choose other DALnet servers to try to improve your connection speed and avoid this error. For best results, choose the DALnet server closest to you and try that first. If there are problems with the closest one, then continue with the next closest and so on until you find one that works well. Another idea to increase speed of connection is to use a port on the server that is not one of the normal defaults (6667 and 7000). Look at our Server Listing for the names, locations, and listening port numbers of all DALnet servers.
"Network Unreachable" or "No Route to Host"
This error is caused by a problem within the actual Internet itself. The actual problem is that the route(s) that data would take between your computer and the IRC server are blocked, down, or misconfigured. When this happens, there is, unfortunately, usually little DALnet can do to fix it - we just have to wait until those who maintain the Internet can fix the problem. There are, however, some work-arounds.
Try Another DALnet Server: While your path to one DALnet server may be temporarily blocked or unavailable, others may be usable. Look on our Server List and try a few other servers.
Contacting Your Local Internet Provider: If, after trying several servers, you continue to get this error, then the Internet problem is most likely near or at your Internet Provider. Chances are, waiting about an hour or so will correct this, however, you can contact them and ask about the problem. Simply state that you are having difficulty connecting to several servers and they will usually be more than happy to track down the problem.
"Unable to Connect to IRC Server"
This error will occur when you attempt to connect to a server and port that do not have an IRC server running on them. This error is easily corrected with one of the two methods below.
Check the Server Name: Be sure that the server you are trying to connect to is actually a DALnet server. All of our servers can be found on our Server List. If the server you are trying to use is not listed there, then you should choose the server closest to you and try connecting there.
Check the Server Port: If the server you are trying to use is listed as a DALnet server, but you still get this error, check to see that you are connecting to a listening port. The port number you are trying should be shown when you try to connect (in mIRC, it's the number in parenthesis). Check this number against our Server List to see if the server you are choosing allows connections on that port. Note that all DALnet servers allow connections on the port 7000. If, after checking both the server name and port number, the problem persists you should choose another DALnet server to connect to as the one giving this error may be down for repair or upgrade.
"Unable to Resolve IRC Server"
This error usually means that the server you are trying to connect to is not a real IRC server. To solve this, check to be sure you are trying to connect to a normal, public access DALnet server.
Using a Public DALnet Server: Look at our Server List to be sure the server you are trying to use is listed as a public DALnet server and is spelled correctly in your software's setup. If it is not listed, pick out the server closest to you and try to connect to it. If it is listed, there may be temporary problems with it, so you should choose another server for the time being.
"Unable to Resolve Local Host"
You will get this error when your local software or hardware is not configured correctly. Several common fixes are below. If these do not help, contact your Internet Provider or local network administrator for further help in configuring your system properly.
This solution is designed for mIRC users only. Click the File menu and choose Setup. In the box that opens, click the Local Info tab. In most cases (unless your network administrator tells you not to), you should have the box "Always Get Local Host" checked. Also, you should try to use "Normal" for Method at first. If that does not work, then try using "Server" here.
Check Dialing Software: This applies to any IRC software. If you are using a dial-up connection, be sure you are using the correct settings inside that software. Your Internet Provider can help you with this. Also, if you are using Windows, be sure that the bit-type of Winsock matches the bit-type of the IRC software. That is, if you use the 32-bit version of software, be sure that you are using a 32-bit WinSock/Dialer (like Win95 dial-up networking).
Normal Connect-Time Notices
All of the messages listed below are not errors and do not mean anything is wrong with your connection. These messages are given for your convenience when connecting to DALnet and help our staff trouble-shoot any connection problems you may have. If you see these notices when trying to connect, don't be worried, they simply mean the server is processing your connection.
-server.dal.net- *** Looking up your hostname...
-server.dal.net- *** Checking ident...
-server.dal.net- *** Received ident response
-server.dal.net- *** Found your hostname
-server.dal.net- *** If you need assistance with connecting to this server, server.dal.net, please refer to: http://www.dal.net/connect
The "NoSpoof" Notice
The "nospoof" system is a check to make sure that people connecting to DALnet are not using fake addresses to cause problems. This check is in place for the safety of all DALnet users. All servers do not run nospoof because some don't need it, and as such some servers may not give this message on connect. Don't be alarmed if you don't get this notice. This message is sent on servers using nospoof to give information on passing the nospoof check manually. Most modern clients pass this test automatically, but some older clients
fail this check due to various incompatibilities. This notice is primarily for the use of those older clients. If you have difficulty connecting and this is the last message you are receiving, chances are you are failing the nospoof check and are getting what's called a Ping Timeout. Please refer to the steps in the Ping Timeout section for help in resolving this.
