Create IRC chat - how it works
Internet Relay Chat, IRC for short, is a protocol for group chats. This practical tip explains how to create an IRC chat yourself.
Create IRC chat using mIRC
In order to be able to use the Internet Relay Chat, both you and your chat partner need a client. The program mIRC is recommended for this - you can download the free trial version in our download area. Of course you can use any IRC client, such as the freeware "XChat".
- After you have successfully registered, go to "File" in the tab at the top and select "New Server". In the dialog box you can choose one of the large IRC servers such as Foonetic, EFnet, QuakeNet or Undernet. A list of the 100 largest networks can be found here.
- With mIRC and many other IRC clients, some servers are already preconfigured. If you want to use a different network, click on "Add". You have to enter the host name and port yourself.
- Example: For the IRC network word "indymedia.org", the host name is "irc.indymedia.org" with port 6667. You can obtain this information by clicking on the desired network in the server list.
- Once this is done, click on the little lightning bolt in the top left to connect to the server (see picture gallery below).
- Enter the following command in the new server: "/ join #neuerchannel". You can replace "new channel" with any name for your chat channel. Now you have created a new IRC channel.
- If your friends follow the same steps, they will also end up in the channel.
Register IRC chat and assign a password
To register a channel and thus be able to use it permanently, you first of all need a registered user name. You will receive this when you contact the respective server bot. In our example we will communicate with the bot "ChanServ" in the Foonetic network.
- To register your user name, enter "/ msg NickServ REGISTER" in the chat line. An authentication code will be sent to your email address. You have to include this in the next command "/ msg NickServ AUTH". You have already registered your nickname permanently.
- Important: Before you can create a channel, you have to register with your nickname. You do this by entering the command "/ msg NickServ IDENTIFY" in the chat line.
- To register your channel now, you need the simple command "/ msg ChanServ REGISTER #YourChannel". It is important to also write the rhombus in front of your channel name.
- You can now also add a password to your channel: To do this, use the "/ msg ChanServ SET" command.
Commands in other IRC networks
Different servers - different customs! Every large IRC network has its own server bots with which you have to communicate differently. Fortunately, most networks offer an FAQ page where the most important commands are explained. For example, while you talk to Q in QuakeNet, you have to address the Foonetic ChanServ in a completely different way. IRCnet also has its own rules - just search for the commands for your favorite server on the Internet.
Once you are familiar with IRC, it offers plenty of room for gadgets. Thanks to a series of useful, but also funny commands, the chat experience never gets boring.