Configuring UnrealIRCd Daemon with Opera VPN

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UnrealIRCd (often misspelled as "unrealirc") is an IRC server daemon that listens on specific network interfaces and ports. Opera VPN is a built-in browser proxy (not a full-system VPN), so it only affects traffic from the Opera browser itself—it won't route daemon traffic like UnrealIRCd. To "configure with Opera VPN," you likely want to route UnrealIRCd connections (e.g., client or server links) through a VPN tunnel for privacy or bypassing restrictions. Since Opera VPN isn't suitable for this, I'll explain how to use a full-system VPN (e.g., OpenVPN) and bind UnrealIRCd to its interface. This ensures IRC traffic exits via the VPN.

Prerequisites

  • UnrealIRCd installed (download from unrealircd.org; compile with ./Config then make).
  • A full-system VPN client like OpenVPN (install via apt install openvpn on Debian/Ubuntu or equivalent).
  • A VPN provider config file (.ovpn) that creates a TUN interface (e.g., tun0).
  • Root access on your server machine.

Step 1: Set Up the VPN Tunnel

  1. Start your VPN connection:
    text
    sudo openvpn --config your-vpn-provider.ovpn
    • This creates a virtual interface (e.g., tun0). Check with ip addr show—look for an IP like 10.8.0.x on tun0.
    • If using a GUI VPN app, connect and note the interface name (e.g., via ip link).
  2. (Optional) Route only IRC traffic over VPN to avoid disrupting other services:
    • Use iptables to mark and route packets:
      text
      sudo iptables -t mangle -A OUTPUT -p tcp --dports 6667:7000 -j MARK --set-mark 1
sudo ip rule add fwmark 1 table 100
sudo ip route add default via <VPN_GATEWAY_IP> dev tun0 table 100
      • Replace <VPN_GATEWAY_IP> with your VPN's gateway (from ip route after connecting).
    • Persist rules with iptables-persistent.

Step 2: Configure UnrealIRCd to Listen on the VPN Interface

Edit /path/to/unrealircd/conf/unrealircd.conf (default: unrealircd/conf/unrealircd.conf).

  • In the listen blocks, bind to the VPN interface's IP (e.g., 10.8.0.2) instead of * (all interfaces). This makes UnrealIRCd only accept connections over the VPN.
  • Example config snippet for standard ports (plain and SSL):
    text
    listen {
    ip "10.8.0.2";  // Your tun0 IP; use '*' for all interfaces if preferred
    port 6667;      // Plain IRC port
};

listen {
    ip "10.8.0.2";  // Bind to VPN IP
    port 6697;      // SSL IRC port
    options { tls; };  // Enable TLS (requires set::tls config)
};

listen {
    ip "127.0.0.1";  // Localhost for server links only
    port 7000;
    options { serversonly; };
};
    • For IPv6 VPN: Use [2001:db8::1] format.
    • Full example: See UnrealIRCd docs for complete unrealircd.conf.
    • Tips:
      • Use ip * if you want to listen on all interfaces but route outbound via VPN (Step 1).
      • For server-to-server links, add link blocks with the VPN IP.
      • Enable TLS globally in set { tls { certificate "/path/to/cert.pem"; key "/path/to/key.pem"; }; }; (use Let's Encrypt for free certs).
  1. Validate and reload:
    text
    ./unrealircd configtest  // Check syntax
/sbin/unrealircd rehash  // Reload config without restart
    • Verify listening: netstat -tlnp | grep unrealircd (should show bound to VPN IP:port).
    • Test connection: From a VPN-connected client, /server 10.8.0.2:6667.

Step 3: Client Connections Over VPN

  • Clients (e.g., irssi, HexChat) connect to your server's public IP, but if the VPN is on the server, inbound traffic hits the bound interface.
  • For client-side VPN: Connect your IRC client over Opera VPN (if web-based) or a system VPN, then connect to the IRC server's public IP. No UnrealIRCd changes needed.

Common Issues

  • Can't bind to VPN IP? Ensure the interface is up (ip link set tun0 up).
  • Firewall blocks? Allow ports: sudo ufw allow from 10.8.0.0/24 to any port 6667:7000 proto tcp.
  • Dynamic VPN IP? Use scripts to update unrealircd.conf and rehash on reconnect (hook into OpenVPN's up/down scripts).
  • Opera VPN limitation: If you insist on browser-only, use a WebSocket-enabled listen block (options { websocket; }; port 80;), but this is insecure for daemons.

For anti-VPN bans (some networks block VPN IPs), see UnrealIRCd's allow/deny blocks in docs.

Configuring Netcat with Opera VPN

Netcat (nc) is a simple networking tool for TCP/UDP connections, not a daemon by default. Like UnrealIRCd, Opera VPN only proxies browser traffic, so for netcat (command-line tool), use a full-system VPN to route its connections.

Prerequisites

  • Netcat installed (apt install netcat on Debian/Ubuntu).
  • Same VPN setup as above (OpenVPN creating tun0).

Step 1: Basic Netcat Usage Over VPN

  • Connect VPN first (as in UnrealIRCd Step 1).
  • Netcat will automatically use the default route (VPN if set as gateway). Example: Listen for connections over VPN.
    text
    # Listener (binds to all interfaces; traffic routes via VPN outbound)
nc -lvp 12345  # Listens on port 12345; -v verbose, -p port

# Client (connects outbound via VPN)
echo "Hello from VPN" | nc <target_ip> 12345
  • For inbound over VPN only: Bind to VPN IP.
    text
    nc -lvp 12345 -s 10.8.0.2  # -s source IP (VPN interface)

Step 2: Advanced: Daemonize Netcat (Persistent Listener)

Netcat isn't a full daemon, but use a loop or systemd for persistence.

  • Simple loop script (nc-listen.sh):
    text
    #!/bin/bash
while true; do
    nc -lvp 12345 -s 10.8.0.2 -e /bin/bash  # -e executes shell on connect (dangerous; use cautiously)
done
    • Make executable: chmod +x nc-listen.sh.
    • Run over VPN: Ensure VPN is up, then ./nc-listen.sh.
  • Systemd service (/etc/systemd/system/nc-daemon.service):
    text
    [Unit]
Description=Netcat Listener over VPN
After=network.target openvpn@your-vpn.service  # Wait for VPN

[Service]
ExecStart=/bin/nc -lvp 12345 -s 10.8.0.2
Restart=always
User=root

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
    • Enable: systemctl daemon-reload && systemctl enable --now nc-daemon.

Step 3: Routing Specific Traffic

  • Force netcat over VPN (if not default route):
    text
    ip route add <target_ip> via <VPN_GATEWAY> dev tun0
nc <target_ip> 12345
  • Test: nc -zv <target_ip> 12345 (scan/connect test).

Common Issues

  • No connection? Check VPN interface (ip addr), firewall (ufw status), and port forwarding on VPN provider.
  • Opera VPN? Only for browser-based netcat (rare; use JS tools like WebSockets). For CLI, system VPN is required.
  • Security: Netcat is unencrypted—pair with socat or stunnel for TLS.

If this doesn't match your intent (e.g., using Opera VPN for web IRC), clarify for more tailored advice. Sources: UnrealIRCd docs, OpenVPN guides, Netcat man pages.

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