'Start by telling the portal to start a new session.
Args:
ev_channel (str): Key of the Evennia channel to connect to.
irc_botname (str): Name of bot to connect to irc channel. If
not set, use `self.key`.
irc_channel (str): Name of channel on the form `#channelname`.
irc_network (str): URL of the IRC network, like `irc.freenode.net`.
irc_port (str): Port number of the irc network, like `6667`.
irc_ssl (bool): Indicates whether to use SSL connection.'

def start(self, ev_channel=None, irc_botname=None, irc_channel=None, irc_network=None, irc_port=None, irc_ssl=None):

    if (not _IRC_ENABLED):
        self.delete()
        return
    global _SESSIONS
    if (not _SESSIONS):
        from evennia.server.sessionhandler import SESSIONS as _SESSIONS
    if irc_botname:
        self.db.irc_botname = irc_botname
    elif (not self.db.irc_botname):
        self.db.irc_botname = self.key
    if ev_channel:
        channel = search.channel_search(ev_channel)
        if (not channel):
            raise RuntimeError(("Evennia    Channel    '%s'    not    found." % ev_channel))
        channel = channel[0]
        channel.connect(self)
        self.db.ev_channel = channel
    if irc_channel:
        self.db.irc_channel = irc_channel
    if irc_network:
        self.db.irc_network = irc_network
    if irc_port:
        self.db.irc_port = irc_port
    if irc_ssl:
        self.db.irc_ssl = irc_ssl
    configdict = {'uid': self.dbid, 'botname': self.db.irc_botname, 'channel': self.db.irc_channel, 'network': self.db.irc_network, 'port': self.db.irc_port, 'ssl': self.db.irc_ssl}
    _SESSIONS.start_bot_session('evennia.server.portal.irc.IRCBotFactory', configdict)
