HN Explorer

Freenode has imploded – unannounced full services reset, database wipe

38 points by plantain ↗ HN
Looks like it's all over.

Below is the global message sent to all users, on reconnect all channels are unowned and whoever rejoined first is the operator, all nicks are unregistered.

10:20 -keitwo(~kei@freenode/staff/kei)- [Global Notice 1/3] We are moving past legacy freenode to a new fork. The new freenode is launched. You will slowly be disconnected and when you reconnect, you will be on the new freenode. We patiently await to welcome you in freedom's holdout - the freenode.

10:20 -keitwo(~kei@freenode/staff/kei)- [Global Notice 2/3] If you're looking to connect now, you can already /server chat.freenode.net 6697 (ssl) or 6667 (plaintext). It's a new genesis for a new era. Thank you for using freenode, and Hello World, from the future. freenode is IRC. freenode is FOSS. freenode is freedom.

10:20 -keitwo(~kei@freenode/staff/kei)- [Global Notice 3/3] When you connect, register your nickname and your channel and get started. It's a new world. We're so happy to welcome you and the millions of others. We will be posting more information in the coming days on our website and twitter. Otherwise, see you on the other side!

15 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 42.4 ms ] thread
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
[dead] codevark
10:20 "when you reconnect" hahaha 10:20 "it's all stuff we made up" 10:20 "see you in hell, monkeyboy"
MattGaiser
So what the heck did all of this accomplish for freenode? I am not really part of the FOSS community, but this entire thing sounds comically absurd.

They bought something, threw a ton of people off it, and then seemingly wiped everything?

plantain
I honestly have no idea. But it's chaos right now.
MattGaiser
This is "I didn't like the tenants, so I blew up my new building" level of chaos.
ev1
What'd they do previously, find anyone with a libera laptop sticker and throwing them + the contents of their flat out the window?
plantain
Well, as I understand it they banned anyone using IRCCloud to connect to Freenode yesterday.

IRCCloud is a free bouncer service that keeps you connected longer than the life of your terminal.

IRCCloud seems to be affiliated with libera?

So not far wrong.

blibble
I suspect this has been done deliberately before he "lost" to libera, which was only hours away

this allows him to blame the "botched" migration, instead of people wanting nothing to do with him

techrat
There's a more sinister theory going around.

>>>> so, what this really means is, he couldn't figure out how to get the passwords out of the old services database, and thus forced a move to a new one, where he can store the passwords

After all, Lee DID say this:

<r asengan@freenode> dead: This was a necessity. freenode was destroyed by the former staff.

Why else was it a necessity to dump old IRCDs and Services?

[deleted]
(comment deleted)
1337shadow
Well, I guess all the GDPR trolls may now move on.
petercooper
So I thought I'd connect and see what's going on. Turns out I've been instantly banned for the client I'm using: "[G-lined: [tjr] IRCCloud is not welcome on freenode, please use another client" Ha, freedom indeed!

Got back on with a desktop client. I see there are 21169 users connected, so try to list the channels, and.. "You cannot view the channel list right now. Please try again in 47s."