1bitlbee(8) System Manager's Manual bitlbee(8)
2
6 BitlBee - IRC gateway to IM chat networks
7
9 bitlbee [-I] [-c configuration file] [-d configuration directory]
10 bitlbee -D [-i address] [-p port number] [-n] [-v] [-c configuration
12 file] [-d configuration directory]
13 bitlbee -h
15
17 BitlBee is an IRC daemon that can talk to instant messaging networks
18 and acts as a gateway. Users can connect to the server with any normal
19 IRC client and see their 'buddy list' in &bitlbee.
20 bitlbee is normally started as a system service (with init scripts,
22 systemd units or equivalent). It can also be run as an inetd(8) /
23 xinetd(8) service or a stand-alone daemon with the options below.
24 To use it, connect to it with an IRC client with a command such as
26 "/connect localhost"
27
30 -I Run in inetd(8) mode. This is the default setting for historical
31 reasons, but not the recommended one (See ForkDaemon below).
32 -D Run in Daemon mode. In this mode, BitlBee forks to the back‐
34 ground and waits for new connections. All clients will be served
35 from one process. This mode is also useful for debugging.
36 -F Run in ForkDaemon mode. This is similar to ordinary daemon mode,
38 but every client gets its own process. Easier to set up than
39 inetd mode, and without the possible stability issues. This is
40 the recommended runmode for most use cases.
41
44 -i address
45 When running in daemon mode, specifies the network interface
46 (identified by IP address) to which the daemon should attach.
47 Use this if you don't want BitlBee to listen on every interface
48 (which is the default behaviour).
49 -p port number
51 When running in daemon mode, specifies the port number on which
52 BitlBee should listen for connections. 6667 is the default
53 value.
54 -n Wehn running in daemon mode, this option prevents BitlBee from
56 forking into the background.
57 -v Be more verbose. This only works together with the -n flag.
59 -c path to other configuration file
61 Use a different configuration file.
62 -d path to user settings directory
64 BitlBee normally saves every user's settings in /var/lib/bitl‐
65 bee/. If you want the settings to be stored somewhere else (for
66 example, if you don't have write permissions in the default
67 location), use this option.
68 -h Show help information.
70
72 To get a complete list of commands, please use the help commands com‐
73 mand in the &bitlbee channel after connecting to bitlbee.
74
76 inetd(8), inetd.conf(5)
77 http://www.bitlbee.org/
79 For more information on using BitlBee, once connected, you should use
81 the help command in the &bitlbee channel.
82
84 Of course there are bugs. If you find some, please report them at
85 http://bugs.bitlbee.org/.
86
88 This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
89 under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
90 Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your
91 option) any later version.
92 This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
94 WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MER‐
95 CHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General
96 Public License for more details.
97 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
99 with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
100 59 Temple PLace, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
101
103 Wilmer van der Gaast <wilmer@gaast.net>
104 19 May 2010 bitlbee(8)