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diff --git a/doc/alt-irc-faq b/doc/alt-irc-faq new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a5bdb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/alt-irc-faq @@ -0,0 +1,293 @@ +(1) What is IRC? + + IRC stands for "Internet Relay Chat". It was originally +written by Jarkko Oikarinen (jto@tolsun.oulu.fi) in 1988. Since starting +in Finland, it has been used in over 60 countries around the world. It +was designed as a replacement for the "talk" program but has become much +much more than that. IRC is a multi-user chat system, where people convene +on "channels" (a virtual place, usually with a topic of conversation) to +talk in groups, or privately. IRC is constantly evolving, so the way +things to work one week may not be the way they work the next. Read the +MOTD (message of the day) every time you use IRC to keep up on any new +happenings or server updates. + + IRC gained international fame during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, +where updates from around the world came accross the wire, and most irc +users who were online at the time gathered on a single channel to hear +these reports. IRC had similar uses during the coup against Boris Yeltsin +in September 1993, where IRC users from Moscow were giving live reports +about the unstable situation there. + +(2) How is IRC set up? + + The user runs a "client" program (usually called 'irc') which +connects to the IRC network via another program called a "server". +Servers exist to pass messages from user to user over the IRC network. + +(3) How do I use a client? + + First, check to see if irc is installed on your system. Type +"irc" from your prompt. If this doesn't work, ask your local systems +people if irc is already installed. This will save you the work of +installing it yourself. + + If an IRC client isn't already on your system, you either +compile the source yourself, have someone else on your machine compile +the source for you, or use the TELNET client. +"telnet ircclient.itc.univie.ac.at 6668". Please only use the latter when +you have no other way of reaching IRC, as this resource is quite +limited, slow, and *very* unreliable. + +(4) Where can I get source for an IRC client? + + You can anonymous ftp to any of the following sites (use the +one closest to you): *** If you don't know what anonymous ftp is, ask +your local systems people to show you *** + +UNIX client-> cs.bu.edu /irc/clients + ftp.acsu.buffalo.edu /pub/irc + ftp.funet.fi /pub/unix/irc + coombs.anu.edu.au /pub/irc + (NB. if there is something related to IRC and it can't + be found under coombs.anu.edu.au:/pub/irc then it isn't + worth having). + ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de /pub/comp/networking/irc/clients + slopoke.mlb.semi.harris.com /pub/irc + there is also a client avaliable with the server code. +EMACS elisp-> cs.bu.edu /irc/clients/elisp + ftp.funet.fi /pub/unix/irc/Emacs + ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de /pub/comp/networking/irc/clients + slopoke.mlb.semi.harris.com /pub/irc/emacs + cs.hut.fi /pub/irchat +X11 client-> catless.ncl.ac.uk /pub + harbor.ecn.purdue.edu /pub/tcl/code +VMS -> cs.bu.edu /irc/clients/vms + coombs.anu.edu.au /pub/irc/vms + ftp.funet.fi /pub/unix/irc/vms + ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de /pub/net/irc +REXX client for VM-> cs.bu.edu /irc/clients/rxirc + ftp.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de /pub/irc/rxirc + ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de /pub/net/irc/VM + coombs.anu.edu.au /pub/irc/rxirc + ftp.funet.fi /pub/unix/irc/rxirc +MSDOS-> cs.bu.edu /irc/clients/msdos + ftp.funet.fi /pub/unix/irc/msdos +Macintosh-> cs.bu.edu /irc/clients/macintosh + sumex-aim.stanford.edu /info-mac/comm + ftp.funet.fi /pub/unix/irc/mac + ftp.ira.uka.de /pub/systems/mac + +(5) Which server do I connect to? + + It's usually best to try and connect to one geographically +close, even though that may not be the best. You can always ask when you +get on IRC. Here's a list of servers avaliable for connection: + +USA: + cs-pub.bu.edu + irc.colorado.edu + irc-2.mit.edu + +Canada: + ug.cs.dal.ca + +Europe: + irc.funet.fi + cismhp.univ-lyon1.fr + disuns2.epfl.ch + irc.nada.kth.se + sokrates.informatik.uni-kl.de + bim.itc.univie.ac.at + +Australia: + jello.qabc.uq.oz.au + + +This is, by no means, a comprehensive list, but merely a start. Connect +to the closest of these servers and join the channel #Twilight_Zone +When you get there, immediately ask what you want. Don't say "I have a +question" because then hardly anyone will talk. + +(6) OK, I've got a client and I'm connected to a server, now what? + + It's probably best to take a look around and see what you want +to do first. All IRC commands start with a "/", and most are one word. +Typing /help will get you help information. /names will get you a list +of names, etc. + +The output of /names is typically something like this-> + +Pub: #hack zorgo eiji Patrick fup htoaster +Pub: #Nippon @jircc @miyu_d +Pub: #nicole MountainD +Pub: #hottub omar liron beer Deadog moh pfloyd Dode greywolf SAMANTHA + +(Note there are LOTS more channels than this, this is just sample +output -- one way to stop /names from being too large is doing /names +-min 20 which will only list channels with 20 or more people on it, +but you can only do this with the ircII client). + +"Pub" means public (or "visible") channel. "hack" is the channel name. +"#" is the prefix. A "@" before someone's nickname indicates he/she is the +"Channel operator" (see #7) of that channel. A Channel Operator is someone +who has control over a specific channel. It can be shared or not as the +first Channel Operator sees fit. The first person to join the channel +automatically receives Channel Operator status, and can share it with +anyone he/she chooses (or not). Another thing you might see is "Prv" +which means private. You will only see this if you are on that private +channel. No one can see Private channels except those who are on that +particular private channel. + +(7) What is a channel operator? What is an IRC operator? + + A channel operator is someone with a "@" by their nickname in +a /names list, or a "@" by the channel name in /whois output. Channel +operators are kings/queens of their channel. This means they can kick +you out of their channel for no reason. If you don't like this, you +can start your own channel and become a channel operator there. + + An IRC operator is someone who maintains the IRC network. They +cannot fix channel problems. They cannot kick someone out of a channel +for you. They cannot /kill (kick someone out of IRC temporarily) +someone just because you gave the offender channel operator privileges +and said offender kicked *you* off. + +(8) What is a "bot"? + + "bot" is short for "robot". It is a script run from an ircII +client or a separate program (in perl, C, and sometimes more obscure +languages). StarOwl@uiuc.edu (Michael Adams) defined bots very well: "A +bot is a vile creation of /lusers to make up for lack of penis length". +IRC bots are generally not needed. See (10) below about "ownership" of +nicknames and channels. + + It should be noted that many servers (especially in the USA) have +started to ban ALL bots. Some ban bots so much that if you run a bot on +their server, you will be banned from using that server (see segment below +on K: lines). + +(9) What are good channels to try while using IRC? + + #hottub and #initgame are almost always teeming with people. +#hottub is meant to simulate a hot tub, and #initgame is a non-stop game +of "inits" (initials). Just join and find out! + + To get a list of channels with their names and topics, do +/list -min 20 (on ircII) which will show you channels with 20 or more +members. You can also do this for smaller numbers. + + Many IRC operators are in #Twilight_Zone ... so if you join +that channel be prepared for a lot of senseless dribble, more like what +you find on the other channels listed above (#hottub). What was once a +place of people who could help you has turned into just another place +for those who have nothing better to do with themselves than just be +there. If you find other documents saying go there to ask questions, +ignore them. They should be considered to be out of date. + +(10) Someone is using my nickname, can anyone do anything about it? + Someone is using my channel, can anyone do anything about it? + + There are not enough nicknames to have nickname ownership. If +someone takes your nickname while you are not on IRC, you can ask for +them to give it back, but you can not *demand* it, nor will IRC operators +/kill for nickname ownership. If you goto #Twilight_zone, you will find +a bunch of people who will refuse to do this for you, yet they will do it +for themselves or their friends or use /kill for even less reasonable uses. + + There are, literally, millions of possible channel names, so if +someone is on your usual channel, just go to another. You can /msg them +and ask for them to leave, but you can't *force* them to leave. + +(11) There aren't any channel operators on my channel, now what? + + Channel operators are the owner(s) of their respective channels. +Keep this in mind when giving out channel operator powers (make sure to +give them to enough people so that all of the channel operators don't +unexpectedly leave and the channel is stuck without a channel operator). + + On the other hand, do not give out channel operator to +*everyone*. This causes the possibility of mass-kicking, where the +channel would be stuck without any channel operators. + + You have one option. You can ask everyone to leave and rejoin +the channel. This is a good way to get channel operator back. It +doesn't work on large channels or ones with bots, for obvious reasons. + +(12) What if someone tells me to type something cryptic? + + Never type anything anyone tells you to without knowing what it +is. There is a problem with typing certain commands with the ircII +client that give anyone immediate control of your client (and thus can +gain access to your account). + +(13) What does "*** Ghosts are not allowed on IRC." mean? + + On IRC, you cannot be banned from every single server. +Server-banning exists only on a per-server basis (being banned on one +server does not mean you are automatically banned from another). "Ghosts +are not allowed on IRC" means that you are banned from using that server. +The banning is in one of three forms: + + * You are banned specifically, you yourself. Only you can be responsible + for this (if you are using a shared account, this obviously does not + apply). Thus the responsibility lies completely with you and you have + noone to complain to. + + * Your machine is banned. Chances are it wasn't you who committed the + wrongdoing. Try using another machine on campus and seeing if you can + use that particular irc server then. + + * Your whole site is banned (where "site" == "school", "company", + "country"). This almost certainly wasn't your fault. And chances are + you won't be able to get the server-ban lifted. Try using another + server. + + The most general answer is "use another server", but if it bothers +you, try writing to the irc administrator of that site --> +/admin server.name.here -- plead your case. It might even get somewhere! + +(14) Where can I find GIF archives of IRC people? + + GIF archives of IRC people are available: + + ftp.funet.fi:/pub/pics/people/misc/irc (NORDUnet only) + ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de /pub/comp/networking/irc/RP + +(15) Where can I learn more? + + The best, basic, IRC user's manual is the IRC Primer, +available in plain text, PostScript, and LaTeX from +cs-pub.bu.edu:/irc/support ... Another good place to start might be +downloading the IRC tutorials. They're avaliable via anonymous ftp +from cs-pub.bu.edu in /irc/support/tutorial.* + + You can also join various IRC related mailing lists: + + * "operlist" is a list that discusses current (and past) server code, + routing, and protocol. *WARNING* this mailling list has a *LOT* of + flame traffic from those who think they know everything but in reality + have no better idea than you. You can join by mailing + operlist-request@kei.com. + + * "irchat" is an elisp client. You can join the irchat mailing list by + mailing irchat-request@cc.tut.fi. + + * "ircd-three" is a list that exists to discuss protocol revisions + for the 3.0 release of the ircd (irc server), currently in + planning. Mail ircd-three-request@kei.com to be added. + + * "vmsirc" is a list for the questions, problems, and discussions + related to the vms IRC clients. Mail vmsirc-request@vax1.elon.edu + (with "subscribe" in the message body). + +NOTE! These are not "Help me, where can I get started?" lists. For +that information, read the IRCprimer noted above. + + Those looking for more technical information can get the IRC +RFC (rfc1459) available at all RFC ftp sites, as well as +cs-pub.bu.edu:/irc/support/rfc1459.txt + +(16) What do I do if I'm still confused or have additions to this document? + + email hrose@kei.com or avalon@coombs.anu.edu.au + |