From Taclug

The Official TACLUG IRC channel is #linux (irc://irc.taclug.org/#linux) on irc.taclug.org hosted by quantumlinux.

Note: If you plan on chatting with TACLUG Members only, we suggest you use the official IRC Channel. If your interested in technical support for a variety of Free/Open Source Projects, we suggest the FreeNode, which allows you to access to the official support channels for thousands of Free Software Projects. A few taclug members also hang out in #taclug (irc://irc.freenode.net/#taclug) on irc.freenode.net.

IRC is a real-time communications protocol that predates instant messaging systems popular today. Several of us hang out in irc channels for extended periods of time. It's a great way of getting in touch with taclug members informally if you want to ask a quick question or just say "HI!". If you like, stick around and help others by answering some questions. Or even stay permanently :-)

To get onto IRC, you'll need an IRC client like XChat (http://www.xchat.org/), Gaim (http://gaim.sourceforge.net/), or ChatZilla (http://www.hacksrus.com/~ginda/chatzilla/). For the more command-line oriented, you can also try irssi (http://www.irssi.org/) or Epic (http://www.epicsol.org/). Resources for Windows based platforms are mIRC (http://www.mirc.com/) and Trillian (http://www.ceruleanstudios.com/).

OR, click here (http://embed.mibbit.com/?server=irc.taclug.org&channel=%23linux&forcePrompt=true) to load a full screen web based chat client connected to the TACLUG IRC Channel!

Client Configuration

When your client is installed, try connecting using the following instructions:

• Start your client and type: /SERVER irc.taclug.org
• After the connect message type this to give youself a name: /NICK yourhandle
• Next join the #linux channel. /JOIN #linux
• You can list users with: /NAMES
• And you can list channels with: /LIST
• When you're done, type: /QUIT

Rules

The purpose of the TACLUG irc channel is to encourage free and open discussions about a variety of Linux and computer-related topics.

In order to keep things clean and fun, we ask that you read and adhere to these guidelines:

After Chatting

• When you've been served well, stay long & prosper to help others (in the channel and add to Wiki)!

Before Chatting

• Be sure to try and help yourself first by reading through any Documentation you may have. This wiki is an excellent place to start.
• If you've already found the answers on your own, then tell us which docs helped you (not?).
• Otherwise, if you want good & fast answers, ask smart questions (http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html) (must read this, but don't pester the authors, pester us!).
  • No mindreading here, state most specifically: expected result(s) first, the ones you get, and then all circumstantial info.
  • Quality of answer won't exceed quality of question, you decide how helpful you are to yourself.

While Chatting

• Just ask your stuff, don't ask if we're "alive"!
• Wait some time: eventually, someone will answer, don't count on instant reaction.
• Be supportive: we can't read minds, so be specific! See "smart-questions" above!
• Show commitment: this is not a service hotline, this is a do-it-yourself environment.
• Be patient (with yourself & fellows): answers are favours, not your right.
• Disable auto-away messages & nick-changes! Use the silent /away feature of your client manually, nothing else!
• Abusive language will not be tolerated. Play fair and use common sense.
• Illegal activities of any kind will not be tolerated.