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- For irc info and FAQ, you can browse files on cs-ftp.bu.edu or any ftp site
- that carries irc specific files in the /irc/clients directory, pick up
- IRCPRIMER.1.1. (I forget the rest of the extension) it has a very good
- primer for irc beginners. This tutorial will not attempt to replace that
- document.
-
- First, you must be running MS-Windows. WSIRC and WINSOCK.DLL are MS-Windows
- based software.
-
- Second, you must use an implementation of tcp/ip for MS-Windows which is
- called WINSOCK.DLL (it is actually the name of the file, but we refer to the
- protocol by the same name).
-
- Third, you must either be connected to a TCP/IP LAN or a modem. When you use a
- modem, you must subscribe to a SLIP account with your Internet Service
- Provider. You must ask them: your username, your pchostname, your permanent ip
- address , their DNS ip address. These will be required for WINSOCK.DLL
- configuration setup.
-
- Fourth, there is a configuration setup you need to do with WINSOCK.DLL, the
- specifics are covered by each vendor's documentation. Commercial WINSOCK
- software costs US$ 199.- to US$ 299.-. Shareware WINSOCK software costs US$
- 20.- to US$ 40.- (Peter Tattam's WINSOCK.DLL is US$ 20.- has an internal
- SLIP driver and works very well).
-
- Fifth, assuming all of the configuration works. Dial up your internet service
- provider to your SLIP account (a script file can automate this process).
-
- Sixth, once connected, start up WSIRC. Open up the Options | Server dialog box
- and enter all information in the boxes provided. For server names, browse the
- SERVERS.TXT file, I have used irc.funet.fi, poe.acc.virginia.edu,
- cs-pub.bu.edu, irc.eskimo.com, irc.colorado.edu, etc. Do not use the actual
- ip address (123.222.222.222) use the human text name (irc.funet.fi). Use port
- 6667. Use the username and pcname provided by your SLIP provider. Use
- nicknames that are NO LONGER than 9 characters. Use no spaces in between for
- anything (except for the email info, but that's optional).
-
- Seventh, click on the connect button (or use File | Connect). If it doesn't
- connect, try another server. If 11004 error occurs, either your DNS ip address
- is wrong or you entered an invalid server name, enter a valid server name. If
- 10060 or 10061 occurs, either the server is down, busy or otherwise not
- responding, try another server. If the server says "Nickname in use", change
- your nickname on the fly with /NICK mynick. The server should then display its
- MOTD (message of the day) file.
-
- Eighth, once connected to the irc server, you can type /LIST in the Server
- Window entry box (slim long horizontal rectangular window) to see all the
- channels that your server sees. This may take a while, if the server
- disconnects due to ping timeout, use another server that allows a longer
- timeout. Double click on any that you see interesting. You do not always have
- to do a /LIST. You can join a channel immediately e.g. by typing /JOIN #chat
- to join the #chat channel. Channels on irc always begin with the '#'
- character. A Channel Window should pop up, if not check your nickname to see
- that it is 9 characters or less.
-
- Ninth, once in the channel, type anything you want. It's usually common
- courtesy to simple say 'Hello all' to see if anybody is there and friendly.
- Some channels are 'behaviorally challenging', if so simply join another
- channel or create your own. To leave a channel type /LEAVE or /PART or close
- the Channel Window.
-
- Tenth, if you stumble, you can always ask for help by email to
- csamsi@clark.net
-