XChat
Join a Chat
IRC chatting relies on connecting to an IRC server. There are many free servers available on the net. You can take your pick or you can set up one of your own.
Join a server with XChat is very simple. When you first start the software you will see something like this :
This window lists the default nickname and information about you, and offers a list of servers to connect to. It is not necessary to change the default information but you may wish to use a more imaginative nickname as this is the name that will be displayed in the chat room.
The username actually identifies you to the server. You can change the nickname when you are connected but the username is how the server identifies you so this must be specified and you cannot change it once connected. You need a username and a nickname, but you do not have to specify a real name if you do not wish to.
The list under Networks are the IRC Networks you can choose to join. If you have a specific channel (chat room) you wish to join then you must know both the network name and the channel name. In the above example the "Ubuntu Servers" network is highlighted by default. I want to change this to the "FreeNode" network because I know my chat room is on that network. I then scroll down the list until I see "FreeNode" listed :
Now I press "Connect" and I will see a new window and a huge text message that ends with something like this :
* - By registering your nickname with Nickserv you agree that you * - are 13 years of age, or older. For more information about the * - Children's Online Privacy Protection Act please see their * - website at (http://www.coppa.org). * - * - freenode runs an open proxy scanner. Your use of the network * - indicates your acceptance of this policy. For details on * - freenode network policy, please take a look at our policy * - page (http://freenode.net/policy.shtml). Thank you for using * - the network! * - * - freenode is a service of Peer-Directed Projects Center, an * - IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Our yearly * - fundraiser will begin soon; if you'd like to donate early, * - please see http://freenode.net/pdpc_donations.shtml for more * - information. Thank you for using freenode! * End of /MOTD command. * Received a CTCP VERSION from freenode-connect -NickServ- This nickname is registered. Please choose a different nickname, or identify via /msg NickServ identify <password>. * Found your IP: [xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] * Unknown MODE flag
XChat will also open another window :
Enter in the channel (chat room) ou wish to join in the "join this channel" box...make sure that you put the name of the channel after the '#' symbol with no spaces... For example, if I wish to join the "booksprint" channel I would type it like this:
Then press "OK" and you will be taken through to the channel.
