IRC - Internet Relay Chat FAQ List

Question Listing

1. What is IRC?
2. I am confused about IRC, where can I find help?
3. Where do I get an IRC client?
4. Can I access IRC through my shell account?
5. Where can I get a list of IRC servers?
6. Is there a way to chat on the WWW?
7. Can I run IRC Bots?

Answers Listing

1. What is IRC?

   IRC or Internet Relay Chat is a multi-user chat system, where people convene on "channels" (like a room, usually with a certain topic of conversation) to talk in groups, or privately.

2. I am confused about IRC, where can I find help?

   Check out the Newsgroups:

   • alt.irc
   • alt.irc.questions
   • sonic.help

   An excellent primer on the many and varied uses of IRC is available at http://mirc.com/irc.html

3. Where do I get an IRC client?

   Click on one of the following:

   • I use Windows
   • I have a Macintosh

4. Can I access IRC through my shell account?

   Yes. Login to your shell account and type in "irc". Connect to a server and off you go.

5. Where can I get a list of IRC servers?

   A listing of popular IRC networks and servers is maintained at http://irc.netsplit.de/networks/. There is no central, authoritative index of all IRC servers.

6. Is there a way to chat on the WWW?

   Yes, places to chat on the Web. Simply run a query on any major search engine for "web" and "chat" and you'll get plenty of options.

7. Can I run IRC Bots?

   No. Accounts that run bots will be locked immediately.