[IRCServices] Services 4.5pre0 released

[Andrew Church]

     Services 4.5pre0 has been released, and can be downloaded from:

ftp://ftp.esper.net/ircservices/ircservices-4.5pre0.tar.gz

ftp.ircservices.za.net and the mirror sites should have it soon.

     Please note that this is a BETA VERSION and as such may have numerous
bugs in it.  (It's been running without incident on EsperNet for close to
2 days now, however.)  Networks which require stable versions of Services
should stay with the current stable version until 4.5.0 is released.
However, testing would be appreciated on those networks which can afford
to.  In particular, experimental support has been added for the Unreal IRC
server, version 3.1.1; if you are using this server, please try out the
new support (option 31 in the configure script) and let me know of any
bugs or problems.

     As usual, Services 4.5 uses a data file format incompatible with
previous releases of Services, so be sure to keep backups of your earlier
databases in case something goes wrong.  I am looking at another format
which would allow for backwards compatibility for the 5.0 release, which I
am planning to follow 4.5.

     Also, a note to users of languages other than English:  The language
files in Services are currently very outdated, and many messages,
including most of the "main" help messages, are commented out in the
language files and available in English only.  Any assistance in updating
the language files would be appreciated; please send updates to me at
<achurch at achurch.org>.

     Following is an extract from the Services 4.5pre0 WhatsNew file:

  ! NOTICE to those using encryption:  Services 4.4.x and earlier had a bug
	in the encryption routine causing passwords to be incorrectly
	encrypted.  This bug is fixed in 4.5.0, but as a consequence, all
	passwords set in earlier versions are not directly readable by
	Services.  A workaround is available in the "configure" script, but
	enabling this workaround may decrease the security of some
	passwords.  I recommend enabling the workaround for the first 30
	days (or whatever you have your nickname expiration period set to),
	adding a logon news item asking users to set their password again
	(this can be the same as the old password, as long as they run the
	SET PASSWORD command again), and disabling the workaround after
	that time has passed.
  + Services now supports the "Services stamp" feature in DAL 4.4.15+
	compatible servers (including Dreamforge and Bahamut).  This feature
	allows Services to attach an ID value to each user which will be
	retained even when the network splits, for increased security when
	re-granting privileges after a split.
  + Added SOP, AOP, and VOP commands as an alternate method of managing
	channel access lists.  (ACCESS can still be used as before.)
  + Added support for suspending channels.  Like suspended nicknames, all
	settings will be retained during the suspension period.
  + Services can now be configured to require an E-mail address at nickname
	registration time.
  + Added UNSET command to NickServ and ChanServ for clearing URLs and
	E-mail addresses.
  + Added OperServ CLEARCHAN command to remove all users from a channel.
  + Added OperServ SU command to allow any Services admin to gain super-user
	privileges (with the appropriate password).
  + Time specifications (in services.conf, for autokills, etc.) can now
	include multiple units, for example "1h30m".
  + Sending a SIGUSR2 signal to Services will cause the log file to be
	closed and reopened.  Use in combination with "mv" to rotate the
	log file.
  + Added experimental support for the Unreal server (version 3.1.1).
  * Support for the DALnet Bahamut server has been improved.  Note that
	only versions 1.4.1 and later are supported (support for earlier
	versions has been dropped).

  --Andrew Church
    achurch at achurch.org | New address - please note.
    http://achurch.org/ | $B%a!<%k%"%I%l%9$,JQ$o$j$^$7$?!#(B