<options noservices="no">

If your network does not have services and is unlikely to ever have services, then set noservices to "yes" in your options tag. When this option is set the first person into any channel is silently given the channel mode +q in the same way they are given the channel mode +o for channel operator status. This is because otherwise with no U:Lined servers to give out +q, both +q and +a would be useless without services.

• Channel mode +q: This channel mode marks a user as the channel founder. As only servers and clients of u-lined servers may set mode +q (not even opers with oper override, although opers with SAMODE can) a channel should normally have only one +q user, unless your services package decides to hand out multiple +q modes. A +q user is protected from kicks and deops, and also from deprotects by any other users.
• Channel mode +a: This channel mode marks a user as protected. This means they may not be kicked or deopped. Only a +q user or a U:Lined server may give or take away channel mode +a under normal circumstances, or kick a +a user.