• KentIRC

Introduction

KentIRC is the IRC network provided by the Kent Computing Society.

IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat, a way of chatting in real time with individuals and groups ("channels") of people. To use IRC, you'll need an IRC client program on your computer; see our recommendations below. For more information about IRC, particularly if you haven't used it before, see the IRC Prelude (http://www.irchelp.org/irchelp/new2irc.html).

IRC Clients

There are hundreds of different IRC clients available for all sorts of computers and operating systems. Your choice of client is very much a matter of personal taste, but to get you started, here are some of the clients that we recommend. Any client that supports the IRC protocol will be supported on KentIRC.

If you're using Microsoft Windows, we'd recommend mIRC or X-Chat. If you're using a Unix-style operating system such as Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris or MacOS X, we'd recommend irssi.

If you're at a public PC, you can use mIRC and X-Chat directly from Compsoc's software collection (which will save space in your account, and avoid you having to configure them yourself): click the Start button, then Run, then type \\compsoc1\apps into the box and press return. Other applications such as Mozilla Firefox and Winamp are also available in the same collection.

If you have access to a Unix machine provided by Computer Science (e.g. raptor, swallow, myrtle or gonzo), Computing Service (heron) or Compsoc (dodo, compsoc1) then you can use irssi to connect to KentIRC. You may also want to run irssi inside a screen session on one of those machines, see this guide: ScreenIrssiHowto

How to connect

For best results, connect to irc.compsoc.kent.ac.uk on port 6667. KentIRC's servers are internal to the University of Kent Network, and only clients inside the network (i.e. clients connecting from Public PC's, Study Bedroom computers, or network servers) can connect directly to KentIRC. This includes all computers at the UKC (Canterbury) and UKM (Medway) campuses.

If you are off campus, you can connect to KentIRC using the Computing Service VPN, or a Dodo account (provided by us). To register for the VPN service, please visit http://www.kent.ac.uk/is/computing/shared/vpn/index.html and to claim a Dodo account, look at UsingDodo. Computer Science students can also access KentIRC from off campus with their Computer Science Unix accounts.

Web-based IRC client

You might also like to try the web-based IRC client offered by Computer Science. It's a bit limited, but could be useful if you can't (or won't) run an IRC client. It's open both on and off campus for anyone with a University login.

http://compsoc.co.uk/chat/

Servers

Main rotation address:

• irc.compsoc.kent.ac.uk

Actual servers:

• compsoc1.ukc.ac.uk (Provided by Compsoc) currently inactive

• irc.cs.ukc.ac.uk (Provided by Computer Science)

• kitten.ukc.ac.uk (Provided by the Templeman Library) currently inactive

We advise you to connect to irc.compsoc.kent.ac.uk rather than directly connecting to the above servers.

Channels

Here's a quick list of some of the public channels on KentIRC. Don't forget that you can create your own public or private channels too. Please note that KentIRC is only responsible for the KentIRC Network Channels; other network channels are not provided by KentIRC.

KentIRC Channels

#cs

General discussion; this channel would be a good place to start finding other KentIRC users. (The name's just historical...)

#compsoc

Kent Computing Society. Network support can be found in the channel. This channel is also for discussion about Compsoc in general. Find out more - Compsoc.

#ithelp

Help with computing-related issues (an unofficial service). See also the Computer Science channels listed below.

#netgames

Chat about networked computer gaming at UKC.

Societies

Some of UKC's societies have their own IRC channels.

#lgbt

LGBTSoc, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered society. See the LGBTSoc web site for more information. http://www.su.ukc.ac.uk/societies/lgbt/

#rock

The Rock Society. See the RockSoc web site for more information. http://www.kentrocksoc.co.uk/rocksoc/home.htm

Computer Science

If you're doing Computer Science (or you're doing another subject that involves programming, or you do it as a hobby), then one of these channels might be useful to you.

#javahelp

The Java programming language.

#occam

The occam parallel programming language.

IRC games

Many channels feature IRC robots (short form: bots) ? computer programs that can talk to you on IRC. Some of these let you play games over IRC.

#idle

One of the network's quieter channels.

#mafiozi

A Mafia game.

Services

KentIRC runs with a fairly normal set of services - most notably NickServ and ChanServ. More information can be found on the NetworkServices page.

Staff

IRC Operators are staff members who can help users out on the network. If you have a problem or wish to ask a question, join #compsoc, or contact one of the following Staff members:

Websites

Abuse

If you suspect any person(s) of abusing the network, please contact us directly at abuse@compsoc.co.uk as soon as possible, or speak to an IRC Operator in #compsoc. For a formal complaint, make sure you do e-mail abuse@compsoc.co.uk as well as contacting an IRC Operator.

History

KentIRC was previously called ukcIRC, UKC being the old name for the entire University. Kent has since joined with Medway College, and the joined entity has become the University of Kent, as this is more inclusive than the old name of "University of Kent at Canterbury". The name of the IRC network was changed on Monday the 28th of Feburary 2005.

Tim Bishop ( T.D.Bishop@kent.ac.uk ) set up the first IRC server and the service itself sometime during mid 1999 on the Compsoc servers where he was sysadmin. The service then expanded to other servers over the years, and became used by a far wider audience than the original CS students that it started out with.

Technical Information

KentIRC is made up of three IRC servers, irc.cs.kent.ac.uk being the network hub. The other two servers, kitten and compsoc1 connect to irc.cs. All three servers run bahamut, the ircd software. See http://bahamut.dal.net/. Our servers are not all provided by Compsoc, kitten is provided by Information Services (Templeman Library), and irc.cs is provided by the Computer Science department.

KentIRC Network Services (services.compsoc.ukc.ac.uk) are provided by ircservices. KentIRC is running a modified version of those services to adapt them to the KentIRC network.

About this Page

This guide was written by Dave (evad), Adam (azz) and Lizzie (Trapper).