######### Setup IRC ######### Linux & Windows =============== Install an IRC Program ---------------------- We will install an IRC program called Hexchat. For a Linux distributions like Debian, Ubuntu, or Mint open a terminal and type:: sudo apt install hexchat For a Linux distributions like Redhat, Fedora 21 or earlier, or CentOS open a terminal and type:: sudo yum install hexchat For Fedora 22 or later open a terminal and type:: sudo dnf install hexchat For Windows environment, download latest Hexchat installation binary from `Hexchat download `__ and install it. You will probably also need extra components shown just under Hexchat. Now open the hexchat program just like you would for any Linux program. Edit Nick Name Settings ----------------------- #. Lets first fill out the **Nick name** and **User name** field with our choice of a nickname: #. From the list of **Networks** you should see Freenode. Select that and click 'edit'. .. image:: /_assets/irc/linux/1.png Edit Server Settings -------------------- #. Click the **edit** button and #. Make sure that **Use SSL for all the servers on this network** is checked. .. image:: /_assets/irc/linux/2.png Troubleshooting ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ * If you get a notice that the nick name is already taken, quit and go back to the first set of steps to pick a different nickname. Register Your Nick Name ----------------------- If all goes well we should get a dialog window indicating the connection to freenode has completed, and what to do next.. For now we'll select "Nothing, I'll join a channel later." .. image:: /_assets/irc/linux/3.png When you login to the server for the first time with your nickname, its being used by you, but it's still not registered yet. In order to register we need to send a message to nickserv on freenode, which is a bot that allows us to register and identify ourselves as the owner of a nick name. Type the following to register your nick name with nickserv replacing **mysecretpassword** and **test@domain.com** with your own password and email address:: /msg nickserv register mysecretpassword test@domain.com .. image:: /_assets/irc/linux/4.png If all goes well you should receive a message back instantly that the nick name is registered by you and an activation email will be sent to the email address you provided. Auto-Login On Connecting To Freenode ------------------------------------ In order to identify ourselves that we own the nick name upon logging in, we need to tell Hexchat to communicate our password over upon connecting. #. Click **Hexchat** from the menu and then click **Network List**. We will see a familiar first screen of servers listed. Make sure freenode is highlighted and click **edit**. #. In the **Password** put in the password we picked in the previous step and click close. .. image:: /_assets/irc/linux/5.png Done ---- Congratulations you're now ready to communicate with the OpenStack community and have a registered nick name on Freenode! From here on out when you connect to Freenode with Hexchat you will be identified with your nickname. A good channel to join right away is the #openstack-dev channel. A lot of people hang around in that channel so come on in and say hello! If there is a specific project you are also interested in working on, feel free to join that one as well and introduce yourself there. Interested in joining more channels or need to look up what one is called? Look :ref:`irc-channels`. It's also important to note that given that the majority of contributors reside in the United States, channels will likely be quieter outside of United States work hours and it might be a while before they respond. Mac OS ====== Install an IRC Program ---------------------- We'll install an IRC program called Colloquy. #. Go to http://colloquy.info and follow the download link. #. From your downloads folder, drag the Colloquy application icon to your applications folder to install. Add A New Connection -------------------- #. Lets first fill out the **Nickname** and **User name** field with our choice of a nickname: #. For the **Chat server** type in **irc.freenode.net**. #. For the **Chat Server Port** type in **6697** and check the **SSL Connection** box. .. image:: /_assets/irc/macos/1.png :width: 50% If all goes well in the second window we should see our our new connection and our client connected. .. image:: /_assets/irc/macos/2.png :width: 50% Troubleshooting ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ * If you get a notice that the nick name is already taken * Click **cancel**. * Click the **info** icon. * Type in a different user/nick name as shown in the previous step. * Click **disconnect** and click **connect** to retry connecting with the new nick name. .. image:: /_assets/irc/macos/3.png :width: 50% Register Your Nick Name ----------------------- If all goes well we should be connected and no pop ups as indicted in the previous step's Troubleshooting section. When you login to the server for the first time with your nickname, its being used by you, but it's still not registered yet. In order to register we need to send a message to nickserv on Freenode, which is a bot that allows us to register and identify ourselves as the owner of a nick name. Click the **message user** icon and type:: nickserv A message dialog window will come up. Type the following to register your nick name with nickserv replacing **mysecretpassword** and **test@domain.com** with your own password and email address:: register mysecretpassword test@domain.com .. image:: /_assets/irc/macos/4.png :width: 90% If all goes well you should receive a message back instantly that the nick name is registered by you and an activation email will be sent to the email address you provided. Auto-Login On Connecting To Freenode ------------------------------------ In order to identify ourselves that we own the nick name upon logging in, we need to tell Colloquy to communicate our password over upon connecting. #. Going back to your connection window, highlight your freenode connection and click the **info** icon. #. In the **Password** field type your password. .. image:: /_assets/irc/macos/5.png :width: 50% Done ---- Congratulations you're now ready to communicate with the OpenStack community and have a registered nick name on Freenode! From here on out when you connect to Freenode with Colloquy you will be identified with your nickname. A good channel to join right away is the #openstack-dev channel. A lot of people hang around in that channel so come on in and say hello! If there is a specific project you are also interested in working on, feel free to join that one as well and introduce yourself there. Interested in joining more channels or need to look up what one is called? Look :ref:`irc-channels`. It's also important to note that given that the majority of contributors reside in the United States, channels will likely be quieter outside of United States work hours and it might be a while before they respond. .. _irc-channels: IRC Channels ============ The list of OpenStack related IRC channels is maintained on a `wiki page `__. IRC Meetings ============ In OpenStack all the meetings are happening on a variety of IRC channels. Check the `list of meetings `__ for meetings times, IRC channels, and archives of meetings. IRC Archives ============ Most IRC channels are archived, you can read the logs on the `eavesdrop `__.