How To Set Up psyBNC on Ubuntu 24.04 or Newer

If you’re looking to create your own IRC bouncer, psyBNC is a popular choice among users who want to maintain a persistent connection to IRC networks. It can help manage multiple connections and keep your identity consistent across sessions. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up psyBNC on Ubuntu 24.04 or newer.

Table of Contents

1. What is psyBNC?
2. Prerequisites
3. Installation Steps
4. Configuration
5. Starting psyBNC
6. Conclusion

1. What is psyBNC?

psyBNC (PsyBNC) is an IRC bouncer that allows users to maintain a connection to IRC servers even when they are disconnected. It keeps your IRC identity alive while storing messages and activities in the background. This is particularly useful for users who want to stay connected to IRC channels without having to log in repeatedly.

2. Prerequisites

Before you begin the installation process, ensure you have the following:

• A server running Ubuntu 24.04 or newer.
• Root or sudo access to install software.
• Basic knowledge of using the terminal.

3. Installation Steps

1. Update Your System Start by updating your package list to ensure you have the latest updates and security patches.

   sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install Required Packages psyBNC requires certain packages to function properly. Install the necessary dependencies:

   sudo apt install build-essential libssl-dev zlib1g-dev -y

3. Download psyBNC Visit the official psyBNC website or the GitHub repository to find the latest version. You can use wget to download it directly to your server:

   wget https://github.com/psybnc/psybnc/archive/refs/tags/v2.3.2.tar.gz

(Replace the URL with the latest version if necessary.)

4. Extract the Downloaded Archive Once the download is complete, extract the tarball:

   tar -zxvf v2.3.2.tar.gz

5. Navigate to the psyBNC Directory Change to the directory where psyBNC has been extracted:

   cd psybnc-2.3.2

6. Build psyBNC Now, compile psyBNC using the following commands:

   ./configure
   make

If the build is successful, you will see output indicating that the compilation finished without errors.

7. Install psyBNC Finally, install psyBNC on your system:

   sudo make install

4. Configuration

1. Create a Configuration File psyBNC comes with a sample configuration file. Copy it to your home directory:

   cp psybnc.conf.example ~/.psybnc.conf

2. Edit the Configuration File Open the configuration file using a text editor (like nano or vim):

   nano ~/.psybnc.conf

Modify the necessary settings, including:

• Your IRC server details
• Nickname, username, and real name
• Any additional settings you want to customize Save the file and exit the editor.

5. Starting psyBNC

To start psyBNC, simply run the following command:

psybnc

You should see output indicating that psyBNC is running. To connect to your IRC server, use an IRC client with the same credentials you set up in the configuration file.

6. Conclusion

Setting up psyBNC on Ubuntu 24.04 or newer is a straightforward process that can enhance your IRC experience significantly. With its ability to maintain persistent connections and manage multiple users, psyBNC is an excellent tool for IRC enthusiasts.

If you encounter any issues during installation or configuration, don’t hesitate to check the official psyBNC documentation or reach out to the community for support.