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Modules are used to extend and modify the way ZNC functions. Users interact with modules most commonly by messaging a special user on IRC. For example, to view the highlight keywords in your watch list, you'd send /msg *watch list. When ZNC sees that the nick you're messaging starts with an asterisk, it doesn't forward the message to the IRCd/server but instead sends it to the proper module for processing. In this case, the watch module will get the message and reply to you with a listing of your keywords. This makes for a very convenient and standard way of configuring or otherwise communicating with your loaded modules, as well as a common and standard way for your loaded modules to display status or other information. Notice that this is for loaded modules. You must load a given module, for example /znc loadmod watch, before you can interface with the watch module. Most modules will reply to /msg *module help with a listing of available commands.

ZNC modules are loaded either globally, per-network, or on a per-user basis. Each module defines for itself whether it is available to load as global, network-specific and/or user-specific. User level and network modules can do things such as manipulating the incoming/outgoing messages. They can also do more traditional IRC tasks such as challenge based auto-op, setting you away, or logging to disk. Each user gets to load and configure their own set of modules to customize their experience to suit their preference.

Global modules are loadable by admins and provide functionality or change behavior for all users. For example, the partyline module has to be global since it provides functionality for all users on a given ZNC instance to be able to communicate with each other from within ZNC itself. Global modules can do everything that user-level modules can do, as well as a few extras. They can replace ZNC's authentication system, modify the config-writing process, deal with CAP, etc.

The modules can also hook into ZNC's web interface and provide web content. The most common web module is webadmin which allows admins to add/remove users and allows users to configure their settings from a browser.

Module List

Global Modules

adminlog

Log user connects, disconnects, and failed logins to a file and/or to syslog.

blockuser

Blocks certain users from using ZNC, saying their account was disabled.

certauth

This module lets users to log in via SSL client keys.

cyrusauth

This module is intended for admins who run a shell/web/email/etc server and want to provide ZNC access to their existing users.

fail2ban

Block IPs for some time after a failed login.

identfile

Posts the ident of a user to a file when they are trying to connect.

imapauth

Allow users to authenticate via IMAP.

lastseen

Logs when a user last logged in to ZNC.

modperl

Loads Perl scripts as ZNC modules.

modpython

Allows you to use modules written on Python.

notify_connect

Sends a notice to all admins when a user logs in or out of ZNC.

partyline

Allows ZNC users to join internal channels and query other ZNC users on the same ZNC.

webadmin

Allows you to add/remove/edit users and settings on the fly via a web browser.

User Modules

admin

(Now controlpanel) Allows you to add/remove/edit users and settings on the fly via IRC messages.

autoattach

Watches your detached channels and reattaches you automatically when there is specified activity in a channel you added to your autoattach list.

autoreply

Gives a automatic reply if someone messages you while you are away.

block_motd

Blocks the server's Message of the Day.

bouncedcc

Bounces DCC transfers through the znc server instead of sending them directly to the user.

buffextras

Add nick changes, joins, parts, topic changes etc. to your playback buffer.

chansaver

Saves channels to config when user joins and parts.

charset

Normalizes (i.e. converts) character encodings.

clearbufferonmsg

This module attempts to bridge the gap between being inundated with old buffer if you have KeepBuffer=true; and possibly missing messages when you ping out, if you have KeepBuffer=false.

clientnotify

Notify about new incoming connections to your user.

controlpanel

Allows you to add/remove/edit users and settings on the fly via IRC messages.

ctcpflood

This module tries to block CTCP floods.

dcc

This module allows you to transfer files to and from ZNC

disconkick

This module will kick your client from all channels if ZNC disconnects from server.

flooddetach

This module detaches you from channels which are flooded.

listsockets

This module displays a list of all open sockets in ZNC.

log

Log chat activity to file.

missingmotd

This user module will send 422 to clients when they login.

notes

Keep and replay notes. This is an example of WebMods.

sample

This is an example module to help with writing modules to do whatever you want.

send_raw

Allows you to send raw traffic to IRC from other users.

shell

Access your Unix shell via query right inside of your IRC client.

Network Modules

autocycle

Rejoin a channel when you are the only one there (to gain operator status).

autoop

Automatically give operator status to the good guys.

modtcl

Allows you to run Tcl scripts in ZNC.

autovoice

Automatically give voice status to everyone who joins some channel.

awaynick

Change your nick while you are away.

awaystore

When you are set away or detached, this module will save all private messages for you. The messages can be read until you delete them. This module will also set you away when you are idle some time.

cert

This module lets users use their own SSL certificate to connect to a server.

crypt

Encryption for channel/private messages.

keepnick

Tries to get and keep your primary nick if it is taken.

kickrejoin

Implements auto-rejoin-on-kick.

modules_online

Fakes online status of ZNC modules to fix some clients.

nickserv

Auths you with NickServ.

perform

Performs commands on connect.

q

Auths you with Q (and a little more).

raw

View all of the raw traffic.

route_replies

Routes back answers to the right client when connected with multiple clients.

sasl

Allows you to authenticate to an IRC network via SASL

savebuff

Saves your channel buffers into an encrypted file so they can survive restarts and reboots.

schat

SSL (encrypted) DCC chats.

simple_away

Automatically set you away on IRC when disconnected from the bouncer.

stickychan

Keeps you in specified channels.

watch

Monitor activity for specific text patterns from specific users and have the text sent to a special query window.

Managing Modules

Modules can be added or removed easily. Modules can be stored in ~/.znc/modules and /usr/local/lib/znc by default. ZNC installs its modules to that second directory, which in fact is ${prefix}/lib/znc, but this can be changed with ./configure --module-prefix=DIR before compiling.

ZNC will first look in the local sub-directory modules when searching for modules. Only files that end with ".so" will be seen as a module. To remove modules you can simply delete them from the folder. No other configuration changes or restarts are necessary. To remove, but also keep a module for later use you can also change the name, like: mv sample.so sample.so_.

To compile a new module you must first save the source as a ".cpp" file. 

If you have the source code for a module, there are multiple ways to compile it.

Please note: If you have installed ZNC from your distro's repository you also need to install the dev package of ZNC (usually znc-dev or znc-devel) for building your own modules.

make

If you still have ZNC's source around, compiling a new module is a really simple thing to do.

1. Save the module in the module dir in your ZNC source tree. The filename should be <modulename>.cpp. You can choose pretty much any name for the module.
2. Run make (or gmake). The new module will be found and built.
   1. If you installed ZNC using (g)make install, you can just run that command again and you are done.
   2. Else you now have <modulename>.so in your modules directory. This is the module

znc-buildmod

If you don't have ZNC's source around, but installed it (or installed from your distribution's package manager), you don't have to worry. There is a tool called znc-buildmod.

1. Save the module's source somewhere. Use <modulename>.cpp as the file name.
2. Run

   znc-buildmod <modulename>.cpp

3. Now you have <modulename>.so in your current directory. This is the module.

znc-buildmod is installed to the same directory to which znc is installed, so you might have to change into that directory and use ./znc-buildmod <modulename>.cpp.

(Un)Loading Modules

Global, user, and network modules can be (un)loaded from webadmin or via the *status query window, like:

/msg *status LoadMod [--type=global|user|network] <module> <parameters>
/msg *status UnloadMod [--type=global|user|network] <module>

• * is the StatusPrefix set in your configuration. Usually it's just an asterisk ("*").
• [--type=global|user|network] optionally specifies whether to (un)load the module as a global, user, or network module. Not all modules can be loaded at all levels; see individual Module documentation to find out where it may be loaded.
• <module> is based on the modules file name, excluding the ".so" extension.
• <parameters> are specific for each module and not required: You can provide parameters when loading the module, or you can set up the module after loading it.

So, to load the log module at the global level (as opposed to user or network) and remove all color/formatting control codes with the -sanitize parameter, you would type:

/msg *status LoadMod --type=global log -sanitize

For older versions of ZNC, you won't have the option to specify [--type=global|user|network]. In that case, just use:

/msg *status LoadMod <module> <parameters>
/msg *status UnloadMod <module>

Please keep in mind that a user is not able to load a module if the directive "DenyLoadMod" is set to true. Trying to load a module will fail with "Unable to load [<module>] Access Denied.".

If a module prevents ZNC from starting up and therefore you can't unload the module using webadmin, you can edit znc.conf and remove the corresponding LoadModule line.

Listing Modules

/msg *status listmods

<zncuser> listmods
<*status> +---------+------------------------------------------------------+
<*status> | Name    | Description                                          |
<*status> +---------+------------------------------------------------------+
<*status> | email   | Monitors Email activity on local disk /var/mail/user |
<*status> | shell   | Gives shell access.                                  |
<*status> | schat   | Secure cross platform (:P) chat system               |
<*status> +---------+------------------------------------------------------+

Using modules

It is recommended to read the module's wikipage if you want to find out how a module works. Alternatively the following command can be used to get a command list:

/msg *<module> help

• * is the StatusPrefix set in your configuration. Usually it's just an asterisk ("*").