This article refers to a server ban in IRC. For other meanings, see K-line (disambiguation).

A k-line or kill line, also written k:line, etc. is an Internet Relay Chat term, applied to a specific user. When a user is k-lined, they are usually disconnected from an IRC server. In some configurations, this disconnection is a temporary ban, which is recorded in the server's IRC daemon configuration file, hence the origin of the term.

Reasons

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While the precise reason for the disconnection varies from case to case, usual reasons involve some aspect of the client or the user it is issued against.

User behaviour

The most common cause for a k-line is inappropriate behaviour on the part of the user, such as multiple channel flooding, harassing other users via private messaging features, etc. which cannot be corrected through use of channel operator privileges alone.

Client software

Some IRC Daemons can be configured to scan for viruses or other vulnerabilities in clients connecting to them, and will react in various ways according to the result. Outdated and insecure client software might be blocked to protect other network users from vulnerabilities, for instance. Some networks, e.g. freenode, will disconnect clients operating on/via open proxies, or running an insecure web server.

Geographic location

An IRC network operating multiple servers in different locales will attempt to reduce the distance between a client and a server. This is often achieved by disconnecting (and/or banning) clients from distant locales in favour of local ones.

Other "lines"

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There are a number of other network "lines" relating to the k-line.

G:Line/AKill

A Gline or AKill is a global network ban applied to a user; the former term comes from Undernet and the latter from DALNet. The term "AKill" comes from an earlier implementation in which the IRC Services would automatically "kill" (disconnect) the user remotely upon login, rather than the individual servers simply denying the connection.

Z-line

A Zline is similar to a g-line, but applied to a client's IP address range, and is considered to be used in extreme cases.

See also

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• O-line
• Jupe
• OperServ

External links

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• Undernet K-Line and G-Line FAQ with reasons for them, amongst other things
• EFnet FAQ with several -line terms explained
• Quakenet General FAQ G/K-Line

IRC

K-line | K-line