Accessing the Linux User Group IRC channel

What is IRC and how do I connect?
IRC is short for "Internet Relay Chat" and is a form of real-time Internet text-messaging or "chatting." IRC is great because it operates well over high-latency/slow connections and allows multiple people to communicate with each-other at the same time.

In order to connect to an IRC chat-room, you will need to have an IRC client (software application). There are thousands of different IRC clients available, and one can be found for almost any platform (Linux/Windows/Mac/Blackberry/Pocket PC/Sony PSP and more).

Once you have an IRC client installed and running, you will need to connect to an IRC server. There are thousands of servers across the Internet, each one being a self contained "chat universe" of sorts. The Uganda LUG uses a dedicated IRC server based here in Uganda, details of which can be found at the top of this page.

Once you're connected to an IRC server, you need to join a "channel." This is generally accomplished by typing /join #channel in the input prompt once connected to an IRC server. Note that IRC channel names are typically prefixed with a hash mark (#).

Here are the details for the Uganda Linux User Group IRC channel:
Server: irc.pamoya.com
Port: 6667
Channel: #lug

Information about IRC clients
Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_IRC_clients

This site only covers a small number of IRC clients available. If you have a particular device or platform you wish to run IRC on, don't be afraid to use Google to search for one. If your device/platform can be used on a network, there is probably an IRC client for it.

Tutorial: Connecting to the LUG IRC channel with Pidgin
Pidgin is an easy example to use, because it comes pre-installed with Ubuntu and most other Gnome-based Linux distributions.

Pidgin is packaged for many specific platforms as well:

• OpenSUSE: http://en.opensuse.org/Pidgin
• Ubuntu: It should be installed by default in 8.04+ but if not, typesudo apt-get install pidgin in any terminal to install it.
• Redhat: http://www.pidgin.im/download/centos_rhel/

If you use the Microsoft Windows operating system, you can get a copy of Pidgin from the Mountbatten downloads page.

Once Pidgin has been installed, follow these steps to connect to the Uganda LUG IRC channel:

1) Start Pidgin.

2) Once Pidgin is running, navigate to “Accounts > Manage Accounts” in the Pidgin menu. Click “Add” to add a new account.

3) The account setup screen should now be open. Enter the following information:

Protocol: IRC
Username: [choose a chat nickname for yourself]
Server: irc.pamoya.com
Password: [leave blank]
Local Alias: [leave blank]
Port: 6667
Username: [leave blank]
Real Name: [enter your name here]
Click "Add" and then click "Close".

You should now see a new window open with messages like:
Conversation with irc.pamoya.com on Wed 29 Apr 2009 08:40:54 EAT:
(08:40:54) irc.pamoya.com: (notice) *** Spoofing your IP. congrats.
(08:40:55) irc.pamoya.com: (notice) *** You are exempt from K/D/G lines. congrats.
(08:40:55) irc.pamoya.com: (notice) *** You are exempt from user limits. congrats.

4) Select "Buddies > Join chat" in the Pidgin menu. Enter "#lug" in the dialog box and click "Join".

That's it! See you there!