Setting up Pidgin with IRC (For GRChat)
Written by: teflonpanWritten on: Sat Dec 04, 2010 1:49 am (This article has been viewed 262 times)
Article Description: This is a pretty good how-to with screenshots. Pidgin (or an IRC client in general) is a great way to communicate with other forum users in real-time without having to actually be on the website.
Step 1. Install pidgin.
You can get it here
Step 2. Add an Account.
Go to Accounts >> Manage Accounts at the top of the buddy list.
Click on the "Add" button:
Step 3. Configure the Account.
Protocol: Should be "IRC"
Server: overlord.irc.arloria.net. Sometimes the server breaks. You can modify your account and use a different server, listed here
Username: Should be your GR name for simplicity, but you can use whatever you like.
Password: This is your IDENTIFY password. You don't need this; see Note #1 at the end of this HOWTO
Click on the Advanced tab..
The settings by default are fine. See Note #2 on some cool advanced stuff.
Click Save.
Usually the account will automatically try to connect. You may see a chat dialog box pop up with two tabs: NickServ and ChanServ. NickServ is slightly important, detailed in Note #1. ChanServ is irrelevant, and you can close it. If it does not automatically connect, you might have to go to Accounts > Enable Account, and enable it.
Step 4: Add a chatroom!
Go to Buddies >> Add Chat
Account: the IRC account you created
Channel: #galaxyraver
Password: This is important. Currently it's "gr4life"
Alias: Optional. Enter a nickname for this chatroom.
Group: Optional. If you have groups in your buddy list, you can set a group.
AutoJoin checkbox: If checked, as soon as you open Pidgin and the IRC account connects, the chat will be automatically joined. Unchecked, you'll still connect to the server, but you won't connect to the chat.
Remain in chat checkbox: If checked, shows you in chat even if you closed the chatroom. Useful for logging the chat (pidgin automatically logs everything on your computer). Unchecked, disconnects you from chat when you close it.
That's it! If you have any other issues with Pidgin, check out their website.
Note #1: IDENTIFY
IDENTIFY is a command used to "prove" you are who you are. It's not a mandatory thing, however its helpful when other people pretend to be your nick. When you set up your IDENTIFY password with NickServ, you would fill it in the field mentioned in Step #3.
To set up your IDENTIFY password, either message nickserv directly (using his tab) or in the chat tab by typing:
password is the password, and email is your email address (in case you forget your password)
Example:
The / is important as that tells the IRC channel/network that the text is actually a command.
When its all working proper, when you're account connects, the nickserv tab will show the following:
If you neglect to put in your IDENTIFY password into the account settings, you can manually do it by sending the following command to NickServ:
If someone connects or changes their nick to pretend to be you (very rare, but happens) you can GHOST them. GHOSTing kicks the user out of the chatroom, giving you the opportunity to reclaim your nick. To do it, type in the following lines as seperate commands:
"username" is your nickname, obviously.
See this link for more NickServ references
Note #2
Some people are paranoid. IRC chats are sent over the network in plaintext, meaning its relatively easy to spy on what your conversation is about. If you use a public network (such as wifi at starbucks) or school or work network to chat, it may be wise to use encryption. If you change the Port number to 6697 and check the "Use SSL" box, it will enable encryption. You may need to re-enable the account for it to take effect. When prompted about a security certificate, Accept it.
You can get it here
Step 2. Add an Account.
Go to Accounts >> Manage Accounts at the top of the buddy list.
Click on the "Add" button:
Step 3. Configure the Account.
Protocol: Should be "IRC"
Server: overlord.irc.arloria.net. Sometimes the server breaks. You can modify your account and use a different server, listed here
Username: Should be your GR name for simplicity, but you can use whatever you like.
Password: This is your IDENTIFY password. You don't need this; see Note #1 at the end of this HOWTO
Click on the Advanced tab..
The settings by default are fine. See Note #2 on some cool advanced stuff.
Click Save.
Usually the account will automatically try to connect. You may see a chat dialog box pop up with two tabs: NickServ and ChanServ. NickServ is slightly important, detailed in Note #1. ChanServ is irrelevant, and you can close it. If it does not automatically connect, you might have to go to Accounts > Enable Account, and enable it.
Step 4: Add a chatroom!
Go to Buddies >> Add Chat
Account: the IRC account you created
Channel: #galaxyraver
Password: This is important. Currently it's "gr4life"
Alias: Optional. Enter a nickname for this chatroom.
Group: Optional. If you have groups in your buddy list, you can set a group.
AutoJoin checkbox: If checked, as soon as you open Pidgin and the IRC account connects, the chat will be automatically joined. Unchecked, you'll still connect to the server, but you won't connect to the chat.
Remain in chat checkbox: If checked, shows you in chat even if you closed the chatroom. Useful for logging the chat (pidgin automatically logs everything on your computer). Unchecked, disconnects you from chat when you close it.
That's it! If you have any other issues with Pidgin, check out their website.
Note #1: IDENTIFY
IDENTIFY is a command used to "prove" you are who you are. It's not a mandatory thing, however its helpful when other people pretend to be your nick. When you set up your IDENTIFY password with NickServ, you would fill it in the field mentioned in Step #3.
To set up your IDENTIFY password, either message nickserv directly (using his tab) or in the chat tab by typing:
- Code: Select all
/msg NickServ REGISTER password [email]
password is the password, and email is your email address (in case you forget your password)
Example:
/msg NickServ REGISTER dickbutt tef@aim.com
The / is important as that tells the IRC channel/network that the text is actually a command.
When its all working proper, when you're account connects, the nickserv tab will show the following:
- Code: Select all
(12/2/2010 8:12:22 PM) NickServ: (notice) This nickname is registered and protected. If it is your
(8:12:22 PM) NickServ: (notice) nick, type /msg NickServ IDENTIFY password. Otherwise,
(8:12:22 PM) NickServ: (notice) please choose a different nick.
(8:12:22 PM) NickServ: (notice) Password accepted - you are now recognized.
If you neglect to put in your IDENTIFY password into the account settings, you can manually do it by sending the following command to NickServ:
- Code: Select all
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY password
If someone connects or changes their nick to pretend to be you (very rare, but happens) you can GHOST them. GHOSTing kicks the user out of the chatroom, giving you the opportunity to reclaim your nick. To do it, type in the following lines as seperate commands:
- Code: Select all
/msg NickServ GHOST password
/nick username
/msg NickServ IDENTIFY password
"username" is your nickname, obviously.
See this link for more NickServ references
Note #2
Some people are paranoid. IRC chats are sent over the network in plaintext, meaning its relatively easy to spy on what your conversation is about. If you use a public network (such as wifi at starbucks) or school or work network to chat, it may be wise to use encryption. If you change the Port number to 6697 and check the "Use SSL" box, it will enable encryption. You may need to re-enable the account for it to take effect. When prompted about a security certificate, Accept it.
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