info-x - IRC

IRC stands for "Internet Relay Chat", a section of the Internet where people communicate, one-on-one or in groups, by typing messages which are instantly viewed by others on their computer screens. This interchange is known as "chatting".

In the above illustration, we'll follow how three IRC users gain access to the IRC and ultimately interact.

First, realize that IRC is a separate protocol, such as FTP and HTTP. This means that you need to access an IRC server. There are IRC servers in almost every country in the world. It's best to connect to one near you (maybe a little tricky in some areas of the world, but not that difficult).

Important Note: Some people have the misconception that you need to be logged onto the same server as another person in order to talk to them. This is not true at all. Anyone accessing through one server is able to talk to anyone else accessing through another server as easily as if they were on the same one!

Let's say that our chatters, Kim, Joe, and Karl, have successfully found a server in their area and have fired up their IRC clients. They simply type the name of the server into their client, then the client logs onto the server. If all goes well, they will then be on the IRC. Not too tough.

Now they can join a channel, or channels, of choice. Notice that Joe, Karl and Kim are in the same channel, one called "#ircbar". (Channel names always start with the "#" sign.) This means they can carry on a realtime conversation with one another, even though they are a world apart and are accessing the IRC through different servers. Amazing what technology can do, eh?

You may notice that Kim and Joe are in two channels at once. This is entirely possible, but not recommended. It doesn't hurt anything, but it makes keeping up with conversations more difficult.

You may also notice that Karl's name is highlighted. This means that either he has created the channel, or has been given operator ("ops") status by another channel operator. Operators monitor the channel for disruptions and decide how to deal with any troublemakers.

So you see, the IRC enables people from all over the world to come together and converse on many subjects, without spending a dime on long distance charges or airline tickets.

Channel	An individual gathering place for users to communicate. (Online services, such as America Online, refer to such areas as chat "rooms".) Channel names are always preceded by a "#" (pound) sign.
DCC	DCC stands for "Direct Client to Client" and is a way of chatting or sending files directly to another person's IRC program. No data is sent through IRC servers, resulting in a faster connection. There are three DCC commands: "/dcc send" which sends a file directly to another user; "/dcc get" which receives a file sent by another user; and "/dcc chat" which opens a private chat area between you and the other user.
EFNet	Stands for "Eris Free Net", The "Original IRC" network of servers. Because of the massive number of users, EFNet is plagued by problems with netsplits and lags. In response, various other IRC networks have sprung up.
Flame	Derogatory comments communicated in a posting to a newsgroup.
Flame War	When a discussion degenerates into nothing but a series of personal attacks, or flames (see above).
Lag	When a server's processing slows dramatically because of an overload caused by the sheer number of users. Many popular servers lag almost all the time.
M.O.T.D.	Short for "message of the day", a message displayed in the status window when you first connect to a server.
Netsplit	When a server disconnects because of an overload caused by the sheer number of users. The server automatically reconnects, but it may take anywhere from 2-15 minutes to do so.
Nickname ("Nick")	Your self-chosen "alias" or alter ego on the IRC, which can be anything you want up to nine letters.
Notify	A user can set up a "notify" list of other users. When any of them log on to an IRC server, the person with the notify list is informed.
Operator ("Op")	The moderator or "boss" of a channel. Responsible for setting the topic of the channel and keeping out any troublemakers. (There may be more than one "op" in a channel.)
Private Chat	Communicating with just one other person at a time. This can be accomplished with the slash command "/msg" followed by the person's nickname which will display your message only on that person's screen. An alternative method is DCC chat, which will set up a direct link between your computer and his.
Server	The computer and/or computer program that supplies the information and resources that enable IRC to work.
Undernet	A separate IRC network created by EFNet users disillusioned by too many netsplits and lags caused by the strain put on servers by the huge numbers of users. The Undernet is not as well known, so there are far fewer users and thus far fewer problems of this type.

There are many actions which you can take while in an IRC session by typing different bits of text preceded by the "/" slash.
Sometimes you add optional information after the command, and always you complete the operation by pressing ENTER or RETURN. Here are some of the most common.

/away		To notify others that you are temporarily away from your computer. You may type a short message after the "/away" command which will be displayed to others.
/bye		Used to sign off. You may type a short message after the "/bye" command which will be displayed in the channel.
/dcc chat		Opens a private chat area directly between you and another user.
/dcc get		Receives a file sent directly by another user (not through the IRC server).
/dcc send		Sends a file directly to another user (not through the IRC server).
/ignore		Use this command with a nick (i.e., "/ignore joeblow") and any messages from this user will not appear on your screen. Useful for blocking a pest or harasser.
/join		Use this command followed by the name of a channel (i.e., "/join #chatzone") in order to connect to that channel.
/leave		Disconnects from the current channel. You don't need to specify the channel name.
/list		Will produce a list of every channel currently active on the IRC. Frowned upon because it taxes the server and will probably result in your being disconnected.
/me		A way of putting a message identified as from you to the channel (i.e., if your nick is sammy, "/me is hungry" will display "sammy is hungry" to the channel.)
/msg		Use this command followed by a nickname to send a private message which appears only on the screen of the person whose nick you have entered. If you'd like to open a separate window for your communication with this person, use "/query" instead of /msg.
/nick		Use this command if you want to change the nickname which identifies you in the channel.
/notify		Use this command followed by a nickname(s) so that when any of them log on to an IRC server, you will be informed.
/part		Disconnects from the current channel. You don't need to specify the channel name.
/query		Use this command followed by a nickname (1) to send a private message which appears only on the screen of the person whose nick you have entered, and (2) to open a separate window on your screen for your communication with just that person. If you don't need to open a separate window, use "/msg" instead.
/quit		Means what it says -- quits the session, not just the channel.
/server		Use this command to change the server to which you are connected.
/topic		A command used by a channel operator to set the topic which will display when someone accesses the channel.
/who		Use this command followed by the channel name displays a list of all users currently in the channel.
/whois		Use this command followed by a nickname will display information about that user, such as e-mail address, username and the IRC server to which they are connected.

EFNet

EFNet (stands for Eris Free Net) is the oldest and largest network of IRC servers, but several alternative networks have sprung up because of the problems generated on EFNet by its sheer size and popularity. The list of servers provided with your IRC software are probably all EFNet servers, unless they are specifically identified as part of the Undernet.

Netsplits and Lags

A netsplit is a disconnection of a server because of an overload caused by the sheer number of users. The server automatically reconnects, but it may take anywhere from 2-15 minutes to do so. A lag is a noticable slowing of the flow of messages on a server, even though it doesn't completely disconnect as in a netsplit.

Undernet

The most popular alternative IRC network, created by EFNet users disillusioned by too many netsplits and lags. The Undernet is not as well known, so there are fewer users and thus fewer problems of this type. However, it is growly rapidly and may soon rival EFNet in its userbase. Here's a link to a Web site which maintains a list of Undernet servers: IRC Undernet Servers.

Other Nets

Here are several other IRC server networks and some links to more information and where to find their servers.

DalNet -- was originally created as a haven for the #startrek channel on EFNet, but has grown substantially beyond that limited emphasis.

UpperNet -- is relatively new, but growing fast. The atmosphere is very loose.

ChatNet -- is a friendly, family oriented alternative.

AnotherNet -- also bills itself as a clean, family-oriented space for conversation.

GalaxyNet -- is a brand new network dedicated to channels related to computer game playing.