BNCS messages

BNCS (Battle.net Chat Server) is the protocol every Classic game uses for its main connection: logging on, chat, friends, clans and the game list. Each message has a one-byte ID and is written SID_NAME.

Every message is framed as FF, the message ID, and a 2-byte length that includes the 4-byte header. See Connecting to a Classic server for framing and data types.

Jump to: All messages · StarCraft · Diablo · Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition · Diablo II · Warcraft III

All messages

ID	Name	Direction	Used by	Summary
0x00	SID_NULL	C → S S → C		Keep-alive. An empty message both sides may send so an idle connection stays open.
0x05	SID_CLIENTID	C → S S → C		The client's first message in the oldest logon: registration numbers and the computer's LAN names.
0x06	SID_STARTVERSIONING	C → S S → C		Starts the version check in the older logon: the client names its game, and the server says which check to run.
0x07	SID_REPORTVERSION	C → S S → C		Finishes the version check in the older logon: the client reports its EXE hash, and the server accepts or rejects it.
0x0A	SID_ENTERCHAT	C → S S → C		Moves a logged-on client into chat and tells it the name it will appear under.
0x0B	SID_GETCHANNELLIST	C → S S → C		Asks for the list of public channels shown in the client's channel picker.
0x0C	SID_JOINCHANNEL	C → S		Joins a chat channel.
0x0E	SID_CHATCOMMAND	C → S		Sends a chat message or a slash command such as /whisper or /join.
0x0F	SID_CHATEVENT	S → C		Everything that happens in chat: joins, leaves, messages, whispers and server notices.
0x12	SID_LOCALEINFO	C → S		The client's clock, time zone, language and country.
0x14	SID_UDPPINGRESPONSE	C → S		Tells the server the UDP test worked, by echoing the code the server sent over UDP.
0x1D	SID_LOGONCHALLENGEEX	S → C		Gives the client the UDP code and the server token for this session.
0x1E	SID_CLIENTID2	C → S		A newer form of SID_CLIENTID, sent first by Diablo and Warcraft II.
0x25	SID_PING	C → S S → C		Measures latency. The server sends a value and the client sends the same value back.
0x28	SID_LOGONCHALLENGE	S → C		Gives the client the server token for this session, without a UDP code.
0x29	SID_LOGONRESPONSE	C → S S → C		Logs on to an account in the older logon. Same proof as SID_LOGONRESPONSE2, but a simpler reply.
0x2A	SID_CREATEACCOUNT	C → S S → C		Creates an account in the older logon. Same request as SID_CREATEACCOUNT2, but the reply is only success or failure.
0x2B	SID_SYSTEMINFO	C → S		The client's hardware: processors, memory and free disk space.
0x30	SID_CDKEY	C → S S → C		Sends a 13-character CD key unhashed. Only StarCraft Japanese used it.
0x36	SID_CDKEY2	C → S S → C		Sends a hashed CD key in the older logon. Warcraft II uses it.
0x3A	SID_LOGONRESPONSE2	C → S S → C		Logs on to an account with a salted X-SHA-1 password proof.
0x3D	SID_CREATEACCOUNT2	C → S S → C		Creates an account using an X-SHA-1 password hash.
0x50	SID_AUTH_INFO	C → S S → C		The client names its game, platform and version. The server replies with a session token and the version check to run.
0x51	SID_AUTH_CHECK	C → S S → C		The client proves its game version and CD keys. The server accepts or rejects them.

StarCraft

Logon sequence: StarCraft and Brood War: logon to chat · StarCraft Shareware and StarCraft Japanese: logon to chat

ID	Name	Direction	Used by	Summary
0x00	SID_NULL	C → S S → C		Keep-alive. An empty message both sides may send so an idle connection stays open.
0x05	SID_CLIENTID	C → S S → C		The client's first message in the oldest logon: registration numbers and the computer's LAN names.
0x06	SID_STARTVERSIONING	C → S S → C		Starts the version check in the older logon: the client names its game, and the server says which check to run.
0x07	SID_REPORTVERSION	C → S S → C		Finishes the version check in the older logon: the client reports its EXE hash, and the server accepts or rejects it.
0x0A	SID_ENTERCHAT	C → S S → C		Moves a logged-on client into chat and tells it the name it will appear under.
0x0B	SID_GETCHANNELLIST	C → S S → C		Asks for the list of public channels shown in the client's channel picker.
0x0C	SID_JOINCHANNEL	C → S		Joins a chat channel.
0x0E	SID_CHATCOMMAND	C → S		Sends a chat message or a slash command such as /whisper or /join.
0x0F	SID_CHATEVENT	S → C		Everything that happens in chat: joins, leaves, messages, whispers and server notices.
0x12	SID_LOCALEINFO	C → S		The client's clock, time zone, language and country.
0x14	SID_UDPPINGRESPONSE	C → S		Tells the server the UDP test worked, by echoing the code the server sent over UDP.
0x25	SID_PING	C → S S → C		Measures latency. The server sends a value and the client sends the same value back.
0x28	SID_LOGONCHALLENGE	S → C		Gives the client the server token for this session, without a UDP code.
0x29	SID_LOGONRESPONSE	C → S S → C		Logs on to an account in the older logon. Same proof as SID_LOGONRESPONSE2, but a simpler reply.
0x2A	SID_CREATEACCOUNT	C → S S → C		Creates an account in the older logon. Same request as SID_CREATEACCOUNT2, but the reply is only success or failure.
0x2B	SID_SYSTEMINFO	C → S		The client's hardware: processors, memory and free disk space.
0x30	SID_CDKEY	C → S S → C		Sends a 13-character CD key unhashed. Only StarCraft Japanese used it.
0x3A	SID_LOGONRESPONSE2	C → S S → C		Logs on to an account with a salted X-SHA-1 password proof.
0x3D	SID_CREATEACCOUNT2	C → S S → C		Creates an account using an X-SHA-1 password hash.
0x50	SID_AUTH_INFO	C → S S → C		The client names its game, platform and version. The server replies with a session token and the version check to run.
0x51	SID_AUTH_CHECK	C → S S → C		The client proves its game version and CD keys. The server accepts or rejects them.

Diablo

Logon sequence: Diablo: logon to chat

ID	Name	Direction	Used by	Summary
0x00	SID_NULL	C → S S → C		Keep-alive. An empty message both sides may send so an idle connection stays open.
0x05	SID_CLIENTID	C → S S → C		The client's first message in the oldest logon: registration numbers and the computer's LAN names.
0x06	SID_STARTVERSIONING	C → S S → C		Starts the version check in the older logon: the client names its game, and the server says which check to run.
0x07	SID_REPORTVERSION	C → S S → C		Finishes the version check in the older logon: the client reports its EXE hash, and the server accepts or rejects it.
0x0A	SID_ENTERCHAT	C → S S → C		Moves a logged-on client into chat and tells it the name it will appear under.
0x0B	SID_GETCHANNELLIST	C → S S → C		Asks for the list of public channels shown in the client's channel picker.
0x0C	SID_JOINCHANNEL	C → S		Joins a chat channel.
0x0E	SID_CHATCOMMAND	C → S		Sends a chat message or a slash command such as /whisper or /join.
0x0F	SID_CHATEVENT	S → C		Everything that happens in chat: joins, leaves, messages, whispers and server notices.
0x12	SID_LOCALEINFO	C → S		The client's clock, time zone, language and country.
0x14	SID_UDPPINGRESPONSE	C → S		Tells the server the UDP test worked, by echoing the code the server sent over UDP.
0x1D	SID_LOGONCHALLENGEEX	S → C		Gives the client the UDP code and the server token for this session.
0x1E	SID_CLIENTID2	C → S		A newer form of SID_CLIENTID, sent first by Diablo and Warcraft II.
0x25	SID_PING	C → S S → C		Measures latency. The server sends a value and the client sends the same value back.
0x29	SID_LOGONRESPONSE	C → S S → C		Logs on to an account in the older logon. Same proof as SID_LOGONRESPONSE2, but a simpler reply.
0x2A	SID_CREATEACCOUNT	C → S S → C		Creates an account in the older logon. Same request as SID_CREATEACCOUNT2, but the reply is only success or failure.

Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition

Logon sequence: Warcraft II: Battle.net Edition: logon to chat

ID	Name	Direction	Used by	Summary
0x00	SID_NULL	C → S S → C		Keep-alive. An empty message both sides may send so an idle connection stays open.
0x05	SID_CLIENTID	C → S S → C		The client's first message in the oldest logon: registration numbers and the computer's LAN names.
0x06	SID_STARTVERSIONING	C → S S → C		Starts the version check in the older logon: the client names its game, and the server says which check to run.
0x07	SID_REPORTVERSION	C → S S → C		Finishes the version check in the older logon: the client reports its EXE hash, and the server accepts or rejects it.
0x0A	SID_ENTERCHAT	C → S S → C		Moves a logged-on client into chat and tells it the name it will appear under.
0x0B	SID_GETCHANNELLIST	C → S S → C		Asks for the list of public channels shown in the client's channel picker.
0x0C	SID_JOINCHANNEL	C → S		Joins a chat channel.
0x0E	SID_CHATCOMMAND	C → S		Sends a chat message or a slash command such as /whisper or /join.
0x0F	SID_CHATEVENT	S → C		Everything that happens in chat: joins, leaves, messages, whispers and server notices.
0x12	SID_LOCALEINFO	C → S		The client's clock, time zone, language and country.
0x14	SID_UDPPINGRESPONSE	C → S		Tells the server the UDP test worked, by echoing the code the server sent over UDP.
0x1D	SID_LOGONCHALLENGEEX	S → C		Gives the client the UDP code and the server token for this session.
0x1E	SID_CLIENTID2	C → S		A newer form of SID_CLIENTID, sent first by Diablo and Warcraft II.
0x25	SID_PING	C → S S → C		Measures latency. The server sends a value and the client sends the same value back.
0x29	SID_LOGONRESPONSE	C → S S → C		Logs on to an account in the older logon. Same proof as SID_LOGONRESPONSE2, but a simpler reply.
0x2A	SID_CREATEACCOUNT	C → S S → C		Creates an account in the older logon. Same request as SID_CREATEACCOUNT2, but the reply is only success or failure.
0x36	SID_CDKEY2	C → S S → C		Sends a hashed CD key in the older logon. Warcraft II uses it.

Diablo II

ID	Name	Direction	Used by	Summary
0x00	SID_NULL	C → S S → C		Keep-alive. An empty message both sides may send so an idle connection stays open.
0x0A	SID_ENTERCHAT	C → S S → C		Moves a logged-on client into chat and tells it the name it will appear under.
0x0B	SID_GETCHANNELLIST	C → S S → C		Asks for the list of public channels shown in the client's channel picker.
0x0C	SID_JOINCHANNEL	C → S		Joins a chat channel.
0x0E	SID_CHATCOMMAND	C → S		Sends a chat message or a slash command such as /whisper or /join.
0x0F	SID_CHATEVENT	S → C		Everything that happens in chat: joins, leaves, messages, whispers and server notices.
0x25	SID_PING	C → S S → C		Measures latency. The server sends a value and the client sends the same value back.
0x3A	SID_LOGONRESPONSE2	C → S S → C		Logs on to an account with a salted X-SHA-1 password proof.
0x3D	SID_CREATEACCOUNT2	C → S S → C		Creates an account using an X-SHA-1 password hash.
0x50	SID_AUTH_INFO	C → S S → C		The client names its game, platform and version. The server replies with a session token and the version check to run.
0x51	SID_AUTH_CHECK	C → S S → C		The client proves its game version and CD keys. The server accepts or rejects them.

Warcraft III

ID	Name	Direction	Used by	Summary
0x00	SID_NULL	C → S S → C		Keep-alive. An empty message both sides may send so an idle connection stays open.
0x0A	SID_ENTERCHAT	C → S S → C		Moves a logged-on client into chat and tells it the name it will appear under.
0x0B	SID_GETCHANNELLIST	C → S S → C		Asks for the list of public channels shown in the client's channel picker.
0x0C	SID_JOINCHANNEL	C → S		Joins a chat channel.
0x0E	SID_CHATCOMMAND	C → S		Sends a chat message or a slash command such as /whisper or /join.
0x0F	SID_CHATEVENT	S → C		Everything that happens in chat: joins, leaves, messages, whispers and server notices.
0x25	SID_PING	C → S S → C		Measures latency. The server sends a value and the client sends the same value back.
0x50	SID_AUTH_INFO	C → S S → C		The client names its game, platform and version. The server replies with a session token and the version check to run.
0x51	SID_AUTH_CHECK	C → S S → C		The client proves its game version and CD keys. The server accepts or rejects them.