Frequently Asked Questions

What is IRC?

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is an on-line, real-time conferencing environment for the Internet. Full IRC compliance means a product is based upon the International standard, RFC 1459. Complete adherence to the IRC standard is important to users because all IRC compliant programs can communicate with each other. This means that users who need to access a ConferenceRoom server can use any IRC client software and IRC compliant servers can inter-operate.

How do I use it?

Access to a chat/conferencing server is via a piece of software called a client. IRC compliant clients are available free on the Internet for all operating systems Windows, Macintosh and UNIX). WebMaster's ConferenceRoom includes a powerful java client for accessing the chat server. Users need only download the ConferenceRoom client to their system to access the chat/conferencing server. Of course, any IRC client software may be used to access ConferenceRoom.

How does it work?

When a ConferenceRoom server is running, users may log on to ConferenceRoom from the client software running on their desktops no matter where the user's desktop resides. Users sign onto the server by typing a nickname or 'nick' by which the user will be known when participating in any of the ongoing discussions on the server. These discussions take place in named rooms (or channels). Whenever a person in a room types, all of the people present in the room can see it. Private messages/discussions can also be conducted between 2 or more users at the discretion of the users in the room/channel.

Can I Customize the Java Client?

Some people prefer to customize the "look and feel" and/or the functionality of the ConferenceRoom Java more than the themes, substitution variables and parameters allow. For these users, WebMaster offers a source license for the ConferenceRoom Java Client in the Developer Edition of ConferenceRoom. Please go to WebMaster's web site or contact WebMaster Incorporated for further information.

How do I connect my server? How do other people connect?

To connect to your own server (from that same computer), enter the following sequence from the Operating System's 'Start' button: Start->Programs->Webmaster18->Chat Now!

To have other people connect to your server, sign onto your server and type the /INFO command. The last 2 messages of the INFO command output give instructions for connecting to the server. You should check this information from time to time. If the hostname or IP address changes, then you have a dynamic IP address.

What is the cost of upgrading ConferenceRoom Editions?

The upgrade cost is equal to the cost differential between the Editions.

Can the Java client be used to connect with a remote server?

Due to the security features of the Java programming language, a java applet can only make a network connection to the same machine that the Java resides on. This cannot be worked around. Check out Sun's Java FAQ (http://java.sun.com/sfaq) question #8 for details.

Where do I go to upgrade my ConferenceRoom server?

Go to http://www.webmaster.com/update.htm

Does ConferenceRoom come with MemoServ?

The MemoServ option is offered to Enteprise editions only. Conferenceroom has the OperServ commands built in internally. So there is no need for OperServ. When you purchase ConferenceRoom Enteprise you need to request to have MemoServ enabled so we can compile them for your access KEY that comes with ConferenceRoom.

Can I use an IRC client to connect to ConferenceRoom?

Yes! ConferenceRoom is fully IRC compliant, and will work with any compliant RFC IRC client.

How can I modify the Java client?

To modify the Java client, you can purchase a Java Source License from WebMaster. The cost of the License is $1, 000.00. While Not For Resale, the License will enable you to change either the "look and feel of the client, including the WebMaster button, or its functionality for your use.

How do I keep ConferenceRoom channel settings without people in it?

See the NICKSERV and CHANSERV sections in the User command section of the manual.

Does ConferenceRoom work with Microsoft Comic Chat?

If you somehow like the idea of playful little aliens infecting your IRC space, then yes, you too can use Comic Chat. Other people who are not using Comic Chat on your server will constantly remind you of the little codes that the Comic Chat clients uses to show the emotions.

How to keep my channels open even when no users are in?

This is really easy, all you need to do is add a server agent/bot to your channel. To do this you need to use the following commands:

/as bot botname add
/as chan #channelname add
/as chan #channelname set bot botname

All channel names start with a # sign. For additional configuration on the channels and bots use the /as help bot and /as help chan commands. You must be a server administrator to use these commands.

How to prevent the first user that joins my channel to get opped?

Very simple, identify as the channel founder using the /ChanServ identify #channel password command. Then use the command:

/chanserv set #channel OPGUARD on

For more security you could also add the following commands

/chanserv set #channel ident on
/chanserv set #channel mlock +tn
/chanserv set #channel keeptopic on

How to change my administrator password?

When you first install ConferenceRoom, the default sign on and passwords are set to be: admin password
Because that is the default and ConferenceRoom has large worldwide exposure, you should always change this password immediately after the installation.

First you will use the following command:

/oper admin password

Once you are opered use the following commands:

/as oper admin password yournewpassword

Passwords are case SeNsItIve.

How to make the difference between opped and opered?

Well a person that is opped has obtained channel op status in a channel. Therefore this person has a spider or @ sign in front of their nicknames.

A channel op manages the channel he/she is opped in. If you are a server administrator and you are not added on the channel aop/sop list you can op yourself in a channel by using the /samode #channel +o yournickname command.

If you are opered, this means you are an IRCop first of all and depending on your flag levels you can be a services or server administrator as well.

An oper manages the server side level unlike an op who manages a single channel.