chat room test at 10pm EST Sat.(accomplished)

[Tom]

Y'all come and join in

[KiwiCharlie]

G'day Tom,

Whats that in Kiwi??!!  But I think I missed you all.  And who is that beautiful baby....
Cheers
Charlie.

[Jeff]

Well, the test was conclusive. There will be no chat room, at least with this software. It only took 3 of us to crash the server!

[Tom]

Hey Kiwi,  We saw you on the forum when this was going on.  You didn't miss much in the chat room.  We just sent messages back and forth for a few minutes until the server overloaded and it was all over.  We got locked up tighter than an old man on cheese.

The baby is the forum mascot.  It looks a lot like Jeff but he denies any roaming around.  I think it may be one of his baby pictures.

[Gordon]

I tried to get on but, I was just a little too slow. The server must have been froze by the time I tried to get on. Thought it was my machine and I rebooted. Tom then sent me a message saying what had happened. Oh well I guess it's all history now.

Would have been pretty cool to have that option. Hay I did see wildflower on there.

Gordon

[Sawyerfortyish]

I was there but couldn't figure out what was going on so I left

[RavioliKid]

I tried to get in, but I couldn't figure out where to go to get in.

Y'all trying to keep me out?

[Tom]

No, we were hoping that somebody else would show up, but they didn't.  We three were in there busily trying to break the thing and we succeeded.  It wasn't difficult.  Jeff and I were writing inane notes to each other and Jeff was able to post a picture and some smileys.  Charlie was taking part as well and punching all the wierd keys on his keyboard.

As it turned out the program would replicate all the input data each time it refreshed itself rather than write over the existing file.  Before long the server slowed and effectively came to a halt.  If you had the time to wait and if you didn't time out, you could still get onto the forum but the wait was so long that even my system timed out eventually.  

It took a phone call by Jeff to the provider of the server  to have them re-initialize the server.  I was trying at 12:30 am, (technically, I was taught by the military, 00:30)  and the server was still down.  When I turned my computer on at 08:00 or somewhere there abouts this morning it was back up.

The chat room is gone and if this is an example of a chat room, Good Riddance.

[KiwiCharlie]

G'day Tom,

That explains a lot.  I was posting on the teaser thread, when you sent your message, and about then the system went lock-up on me, couldnt do anything really, so kept trying on and off for a few hours until I could upload the picture and submit the post.  I thought Jeff must be doing important upgrades, but all the while it was you three gas bags!
Cheers
Charlie.
P.S. I think that baby in there crashed the server, probably sucking on some electical wires!

[Tom]

You mean this one?  

[KiwiCharlie]

G'day Tom,

Will you STOP DOING THAT!!!!   Man thats one scary baby - although with the hat on, its makes him look a bit more debonair.  And I still reckon he was sucking on the wires, look at the hair - right up on end!  
Cheers
Charlie.

[SwampDonkey]

HI Tom and Jeff, concerning Internet Relay Chat. Maybe this has been thoroughly checked into and exhausted by now. I'm not sure of your level of understanding about irc. Here goes, so bare with me.

You don't have to have an independent server for your IRC. Why not use something like us.undernet.org. On this network you can register a channel , say #ForestryForum and #CService (the folks that maintain the undernet network) will send a chat room bot to hold the channel. You usually need the consent of 25 users by submitting their email addresses and Cservice will approve the new channel within 30 days. You can set the level of operator status for each of your forum moderators. (there is a FAQ which you should read over). You can log the channal chats via the bot or your own irc client (most clients do this). One useful service is that they can mask your ip address against personal attacks to channels operators. They also have irc classes that they will send you a notice over the server about. There are servers all over the world on this network and its the most used network. There are hundreds of others. I have been 'Channel manager' to two #channels on this network from 1995 to 1997. On the undernet, as with many others, you can set channel modes such as:

Moderate: when active, only channel operators and voiced operators can type messages to the screen.

-channel operator: those with special privileges to set channel modes, set topics, kick/ban people with bad attitudes etc.

-voiced operator: those with privileges to type in moderated channels.

No messaging: does not allow messages to be sent to the channel if that user is not in the channel.

Topic protection:  Only those with channel operator status can modify or change the channel topic.

Private: Channel is not listed from the server

Secret: Same effect as private

Limit: Limits the number of users to the channel

keyword: sets a keyword needed to enter the channel

Invite only: Enter the channel through invitation only

There are several irc clients available for different computer systems

PC: mIRC, pIrch, Xchat

Linux: Xchat

MacOS: hmmm slips my mind but it's on my emulator

AmigaOS: Amirc, Xchat, Grapevine, BlackIRC

Unix: Eggdrop and webirc daemon software.

Some irc clients allow you to set modes by point and click and others you have to type in the commands. On the PC mIrc is the most used client. Channel operators usually have a green lamp or a '@' beside their nickname in the userlist in your irc client software.

Here is the undernet sitemap for your convenience:
http://www.undernet.org/sitemap.php

If your interested in a web based client for folks to access from the Forum then maybe you can ask the folks here:

http://www.amigaworld.net   click on the link to the irc channel #Amigaworld and look for a channel operator named DavyD (manager) or MikeB or _steve_ these folks live over the pond so you may catch them awake untill 8:00 pm EST. Be patient because they are always busy or away. They are most active on weekends. There are a few other ops that may be able to help in there also. (irc.amigaworld.net  channel #Amigaworld, uses a JavaApplet and port 1024) They have set up their own private irc network and are no longer on undernet.org. Check out the Forums link (and under 'Miscellaneous' at bottom of forums page) for posting IRC server help or questions. (registration required for posting)

If you go to the irc channel #Amigaworld tell the gang that ^Moose^ sent ya. Beware that some of the folks act a little odd over there at times and have a passion for their favorite computer. If you want me to give you an introduction, then private msg me sometime when I'm online.

I think it would be cool to have real time chat on the forum. Then we'de never get nothing done.

[Jeff]

My simple reply is

CHAT SUCKS!

I use MIRC when I need to. Usually to get tech help on something that legit sources wont or cant answer.

[SwampDonkey]

Well, that's been put to rest.  

[Danny_S]

It wouldnt be so bad for just regular chit-chat but problems and ideas would get discussed on there and wouldnt be in the forum for the future availability or other members benifit. I think that has been said in the past

Yahoo is a pretty good chat engine if'n anyone wanted to join that.

[SwampDonkey]

Was a good idea at the time (2 years ago), but they had a bad experience with the provider. It works, and works well if you have the knowledge about how to set up and maintain it. I sure don't have that knowledge to maintain an irc server. With undernet, you let the undernet administrators work that out and you just maintain your #channel. Everything can be logged and if you have a certain topic of discussion, you set that for the channel and set moderate mode. Through experience, I know its alot of work and I'm sure the moderators of the Forum have enough to do, just to maintain the Forum itself. I was thinking it would be fine for real time discussions, but its probably more work then benefit to members. The thing about irc too, is its not very family oriented and there's lots of slime ball lurkers on there that have not yet matured, or they have something loose upstairs.

Anyway we've had the official verdict, so there's no point in debating it further.

[etat]

I make a motion we adjourn.

[Kevin_H.]

I will second that, All in favor raise your right hand...No your other right hand.