How to connect to IRC

The typical way to connect to IRC network is to use locally installed client program, which connects the user to the nearest IRC server. Often referring to hostname "irc" finds out the nearest server. If that doesn't work, here is list of servers in the IRC Net.

On a unix host one can initiate session by: 

	% irc nickname
or if some specific server should be used 
	% irc nickname servername
There are clients for various platforms; Unix, DOS, VMS, macs, .. In Unix, which is most common environment, there are clients for dumb terminals, emacs and graphical interfaces like X11. To find all these clients check the software page.

For those without local IRC client installed yet, there are not many telnet'able public access clients. This is all I know of:

irc@irc.funet.fi