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Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a global chat network which allows
you to talk in real time to other people from anywhere the world.
IRC networks can support thousands of users at any given time, with
thousands of channels (chat rooms) covering as many topics of conversation.
Each user has a nickname (nick), and converses with other users
directly or with groups of users on a channel.
Table of Contents
IRC is based on a client-server model. Users use client software to
connect to a server, which relays messages between clients. The IRC
model is a little more complex than that, with multiple servers connected
across a network to allow thousands of users to communicate with each
other.
 To
access IRC, you need an IRC client. We recommend mIRC. You'll find
it on your geeksnet installation CD or visit the mIRC
home page.
There are some general settings common to all IRC clients. Other settings
vary from client to client, so specifics are left up to the documentation
for whichever client you choose to use.
IRC Server
There are hundreds of IRC servers on several different IRC networks
which you can connect to. You can use any IRC server which allows
you to connect. There's a large list of servers in the mIRC software.
Most servers run on at least port 6667, some run on several ports.
Ident
Most servers require that the computer you're connecting from be
running an ident server. Ident is a protocol for verifying that
you are who you say you are. Some clients, such as mIRC, have a
built-in ident server. Others may require you to run a separate
piece of software (refer to the software documentation for more
information).
Nickname
Users on IRC are referred to by nicknames, or handles. On most networks,
nicknames may be up to 9 characters long, are not owned, and cannot
be registered in any way.
Channels
Most IRC clients allow you to specify a channel to join automatically
when you connect.
Scripts and Bots
Many IRC clients support scripts and bots. Scripts and bots are
simple programs written in a scripting language, which allow you
to alias frequently used commands to shorter commands, automate
some activities like setting channel modes and messaging people,
etc.
For more info, see below.
Never run a script which you do not
completely understand yourself. Scripts can do harmful as well as
useful things, and backdoors in a script can allow someone else
to gain control of your IRC client or account.
IRC etiquette is a lot like real life etiquette. Most people will
be friendly if you are, some people will not be friendly no matter
what you do. Ignore them, and they'll go bother someone else. Before
you join a new channel, check the channel name and topic to find out
what's being discussed. If you've never been on the channel before,
lurk (hang out) for a little while to get a feel for the channel.
When you join a channel, you can say hello, but don't expect hellos
back from everyone else, especially if there are a lot of people on
the channel. Exchanges of twenty or thirty greetings every two minutes
as people join and leave become bothersome.
It's not surprising that in an environment
where people type a lot, many abbreviations have been adopted into
common use. Some of these have their origins on IRC, some elsewhere
(usually Usenet News).
:)
:P
afk
bbl
brb
imho
j/k
lol
rotfl
ttfn |
The basic smiley
Stuck out tongue
Away from keyboard
Be back later
Be right back
In my humble opinion
Just kidding! :)
Laughing out loud :D
Rolling on the floor laughing
Ta ta for now |
Finally, some tips and tricks to make
IRC safer for you.
- IRC is not suitable for children
without adult supervision
- Do not give out your real name,
location, or phone number
- Do not type commands given to you
by someone you don't know
- Do not accept file transfers from
someone you don't know
- Do not run scripts which you do
not completely understand yourself
All IRC commands start with a forward slash /, anything else you type
is said to the channel you're on.
| /help |
General help information
and command list |
| /nick nickname |
Change your nickname |
| /whois nick |
Get user information
about someone |
| /join #channel |
Join a channel |
| /part #channel |
Leave a channel |
| /query nickname |
Start a private conversation
with someone |
| /ignore nickname all |
Ignore anything from
someone |
| /who #channel |
Get a list of users on
a channel |
| /msg nickname text |
Send a private message
to someone |
| /quit |
Leave IRC |
The
IRC Primer by Nicolas Pioch provides a more complete
list and description of IRC commands.
EFnet is the granddaddy of IRC networks,
and the largest. EFnet has consisted of over 200 servers at times,
and supports over ten thousand users at any given time. EFnet servers
include:
irc.ais.net
irc.concentric.net
irc1.sprynet.com
Undernet
is an alternative IRC network created in January of 1993. It supports
channel ownership and registration, and tends to be a friendlier
place than EFnet.
us.undernet.org
DALnet
is another alternative IRC network created in July of 1994. It supports
30 character nicknames, nick and channel ownership and registration,
and it tends to be a friendlier place than EFnet.
irc.dal.net
IRC-net is yet another alternative
IRC network, created in August of 1996 by a group of IRC servers
which broke off from EFnet.
ircnet.sprynet.com
IRC bots are robots, scripts and programs
written to function on IRC without direct supervision. Bots can
do useful things, like holding channels open, acting as help and
information servers, distributing software, and playing games. They
can also do malicious things, like flooding users or channels, cloning
to take over a channel, or killing connections. Bots are generally
disliked by IRC operators, because even the best ones tend to use
server resources with little regard to actual users. Most IRC servers
do not allow bots, and running a bot on an IRC server can be grounds
for having your entire domain banned from using that server.
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