| 3 | | In order to connect to a channel you need to follow these steps : |
| 4 | | |
| 5 | | === 1. Get a jabber account === |
| 6 | | Unlike other IM protocols, Jabber is decentralized, meaning that there is no central server. If you have an account to any |
| 7 | | server that talks XMPP you should be able to connect to the GENI chat rooms. GTalk is using XMPP and thus you can use |
| 8 | | your Google Account to connect. If currently you have no account on any XMPP server you can get one at [http://www.jabber.org/]. |
| | 3 | This page describes how you can connect to a GENI channel (chat room) for real-time conversation and help about GENI. Currently we are using the Freenode IRC network (`irc.freenode.net`) to communicate. |
| | 4 | |
| | 5 | = Connecting to IRC = |
| | 6 | |
| | 7 | In order to connect to a channel you need to follow these steps: |
| | 8 | |
| | 9 | == 1. Download an IRC client == |
| | 10 | |
| | 11 | Most multiprotocol IM clients support IRC natively. GPO staffers have experience with [http://adium.im/ Adium] for MacOSX, [http://pidgin.im/ Pidgin] for Windows/Linux/MacOSX, and [http://irssi.org/ Irssi] for Linux. You can find a long list of IRC clients [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_Relay_Chat_clients on wikipedia]. |
| | 12 | |
| | 13 | If you are new to IRC, see the [#UsingIRC Using IRC] section. |
| | 14 | |
| | 15 | == 2. Connect to the freenode IRC network == |
| | 16 | |
| | 17 | Using your client, connect to `irc.freenode.net` with the nickname you would prefer to use. Help on connecting is available [http://freenode.net/using_the_network.shtml here]. |
| | 18 | |
| | 19 | You don't need to register your nickname in order to use freenode, but it ensures that you can use the same nickname every time you connect. Per [http://freenode.net/faq.shtml#nicksetup], the one-time process to permanently register your current nickname is: |
| | 20 | {{{ |
| | 21 | /msg nickserv register <password> <email> |
| | 22 | }}} |
| | 23 | Use a valid e-mail address, since freenode will send a confirmation message to the address you list. (Note: this sends a private message to nickserv; it will not be displayed on the channel you are looking at.) |
| | 24 | |
| | 25 | Once you have a registered nickname, on subsequent logins, send: |
| | 26 | {{{ |
| | 27 | /msg nickserv identify <password> |
| | 28 | }}} |
| | 29 | |
| | 30 | At present, GENI discussion channels are open, that is, you do not need a registered freenode account to join a channel. |
| | 31 | |
| | 32 | == 3. Join a channel == |
| | 33 | |
| | 34 | In IRC, join a channel using: |
| | 35 | {{{ |
| | 36 | /join <channel> |
| | 37 | }}} |
| | 38 | The primary GENI discussion channel on freenode is named `#geni`. |
| 15 | | === 3. Join the channel === |
| 16 | | Start your client and enter your account information. Then in order to join the channel you would need the chat room name |
| 17 | | and the server, which is '''conference.j.ir.bbn.com''' |
| | 43 | Your IRC client should have a box into which you can type text. Most things you type will appear in the active channel or conversation window you are looking at. The `/` character is special in IRC. If you type a line starting with `/`, most IRC clients will interpret it as a command, and either execute that command or pass it along to the IRC server to which you are connected. |
| | 44 | |
| | 45 | Here are a few IRC commands which may be helpful. Some IRC clients may not interpret these commands in this way, but most will. |
| | 46 | |
| | 47 | || '''Command''' || '''What it does''' || |
| | 48 | || `/join <channel>` || Join an IRC channel. Your client will probably open a new window or tab for the new channel || |
| | 49 | || `/msg <nickname> <message>` || Send a private message to a user. This will not open a new window or tab, but the message you send will go to the user you name, not to the channel which is visible in your client at the time. || |
| | 50 | || `/query <nickname>` || Open a new window or tab for a private conversation with a user. This does not actually send the user a message, but simply tells your client to open a window. || |
| | 51 | || `/topic <topic>` || Change the topic on your active channel (if you have appropriate privileges) || |
| | 52 | || `/help` || Learn about available commands not covered here || |
| | 53 | || `/msg nickserv help` || Learn about nickname registration commands provided by the freenode nickname server || |
