View Full Version : Host your own IRC server
Today I tried getting onto public chat... and found all of OZ.net was down. So I got the thought - why don't we host our own public chat? It wouldn't cost anything if we used Knoppix Linux to host it - all we'd need was a computer online 24/7. Any thoughts on this?
Technomage,
Teranar
Demonesse
02-09-2003, 05:13
I don't know if hosting our own server is possible, but I DO advocate establishing the AT channel on another server, at least. oz.org's servers are god-awful to log into.
Moongold
02-09-2003, 05:29
Oz.org is generally Ok for us Ozzies!
Seriously, I am only joking. Don't want to be too parochial, only a little!
I believe the Forum server itself is over the US, and sometimes that has implications for us who only have dial up connections. Loading files or graphics can be a nightmare.
I guess Solandia will find the best solution. There was nobody in chat this morning when I got through, nor last night.
wavebreaker
02-09-2003, 06:49
The physical location of a server doesn't matter when it comes to speed, whether you're on a dial-up connection or otherwise. It's the speed of the server itself that matters. When you have a lot of visitors using that server, it needs to be a really powerful machine, otherwise it will be very slow.
I don't know anything about the option you're suggesting, Teranar, but it's definitely worth looking into to see whether it's an option.
Solandia
03-09-2003, 21:48
I'm not sure that a dedicated IRC server is feasible cost-wise, but a different IRC network might be. I am working on getting live chat up and running again, and I'll look into it.
~ Solandia
What I was talking about is using Linux to host an IRC server, and if we selected a computer that had say broadband/dsl/cable/anything that stays on 24/7 we wouldn't have to ever restart/shutdown the computer. Ummm... I think information could be gotten at www.linux.org, or one of its links, it would be easier to read from there than to listen to me talk for a long time, I can also get kinda preachy. BTW linux is free, so it wouldn't actually cost the forums any money.
terenar,
to run an irc server i would suggest a dedicated server, which means a machine for just that purpose. its not the software or the 24/7 online thing, setting up a linuxbox is not hard to do. but you need a dedicated machine as you dont want this on a server where your database is located.
so either you get yourself a machine that runs it, or you go with an existing irc network.
Just for your information, LINUX is not the only option available to run an IRC server. You can also install it on a Windows XP or Windows 2000 server box as well... Although setting up a Linux box is not too difficult, it is much easier to install a windows server.
However, Linux is a (much) more reliable and secure system to be used for any internet serving purposes (IRC, FTP or HTTP)...
Cheers,
Aun
Yeah, but my concern is cost - linux is free, whereas windows costs $$$. If I had a decent internet connection, such as one that I could keep up 24/7 like DSL or cable, I could build a cheap little thing, hook it up, and host it on that. I'm just throwing things out here to prevent things like chat going down because a janitor at oz.net tripped over a server cord or something, and keep it from costing the forum or Aeceletic money.
i would do the same teranar, IF i had the 24/7 connection, thats the only thing that fails me.
56k modem really sucks.
Macavity
07-09-2003, 20:24
Originally posted by Kaz
...56k modem really sucks.Yeah, I empathise :P
The only thing I would connect to the "internet" these days is this linux box - But I haven't yet bitten the bullet on going the (fairly support free) ADSL route...
Aside: I discovered recently, under SuSE 8.2, I actually DO have an IRC client (KSirc) preloaded in KDE. It even works too! Good news, since I had been messing with IRC clients on a WinME box VIA the linux firewall. The problem was I could never remember the "incantations" to get ALL that stuff running at the same time. :laugh:
Hmmmm - Things are looking up. See yous on IRC, maybe? ;)
Macavity