How To Register YourSelf In IRC (A Low Bandwidth Communication System)

 

Overwhelmed by trying to set yourself up on IRC? Don't worry; we've got your back. By following these simple steps, you'll be up and running in less than 10 minutes. Ok, let's dive in!

Note: This guide is geared towards the Freenode IRC network, but with a few small tweaks should work against most public IRC networks.

Step 0 ‐ Are you Eligible?

Freenode is primarily a network for people involved in open source software. Read Freenode's guidelines to determine whether you are on topic before getting started

Step 1 ‐ Registering Yourself

Open your IRC client (see our recommended clients), and setup a connection to Freenode. If there isn't already a preset for it, use the following settings:

• Server: chat.freenode.net
• Port: 7000
• SSL: enabled

Choose a preferred nickname or nick and enter your desired password. Freenode has good docs on registering a nick, but it boils down to this command:

/msg NickServ REGISTER <password> <youremail@example.com>

Replace <password> with the password you entered in your client and <youremail@example.com> with your email address. In case the nick you want is registered, you can change your nick using this command:

/nick <newnick>

If it is available, register it and update your IRC client settings.
Once you've registered a nick and confirmed your email address, login to IRC. The easiest way to do this is to just restart your IRC client and make sure it logs in correctly. Alternatively, you can run this command:

/msg NickServ IDENTIFY <nick> <password>

After logging in the first time, use this command to force anyone using your nick to login, preventing potential abuse:

/msg NickServ SET ENFORCE ON