IRC: An alternative to P2P
[ IRC: AN ALTERNATIVE TO P2P ]
INTRODUCTION
Anyone who has been using The Internet must be aware of the term p2p. Well, for the uninitiated ones, p2p means peer2peer :D
Kazza, e-donkey, mldonkey, etc are the famous ones. But, have you tried to download software from them..? Yeah sure you'll get your stuff, but, sometimes with an added bonus, which could be some spyware or even a virus. Anyway the point I am making is: p2p sucks!!!
Anyways, you want some better stuff, eh? OK... There are two better things to go with: FTP servers or bots on mIRC servers. I'll be detailing on the mIRC aspect of the deal.
BACKGROUND INFO
So, what is IRC anyway? [basic question; taken from IRChelp.org]
Quote:
IRC (Internet Relay Chat) provides a way of communicating in real time with people from all over the world. It consists of various separate networks (or "nets") of IRC servers, machines that allow users to connect to IRC. The largest nets are
EFnet (the original IRC net, often having more than 32,000 people at once),
Undernet,
IRCnet,
DALnet, and
NewNet.
Generally, the user (such as you) runs a program (called a "client") to connect to a server on one of the IRC nets. The server relays information to and from other servers on the same net.
Recommended clients:
Once connected to an IRC server on an IRC network, you will usually join one or more "channels" and converse with others there. On
EFnet, there often are more than 12,000 channels, each devoted to a different topic. Conversations may be public (where everyone in a channel can see what you type) or private (messages between only two people, who may or may not be on the same channel).
Now you do have a little background on what IRC is.. http://www.techarena.in/forums/image...s/biggrin2.gif
I'll be using a proggie called mIRC for windows platform as our client.
mIRC is a little program developed by Khaled Mardam-Bey, its a shareware (but, is not "crippled" in anyway) and the latest version is 6.14
The purpose of mIRC is to connect you to IRC servers (IRC = Internet Relay Chat). It was basically designed for chatting and occasional file send.
Basically one person can send a file directly to the other..this is called DCC (Direct Client Connection)
INSTALLATION
LOL, yeah!
Setup the client the way it is shown in the following screenshots...
Step 1:
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-1.jpg
Get mIRC from: mirc.com
Step 2:
DCC Options-1
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-2.jpg
Step 3:
DCC Options-2
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-3.jpg
Step 4:
DCC Options-3
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-4.jpg
and, that it.. your mIRC is configured.
THE REAL DEAL
Ok, if you are a total stranger to IRC then you musct be having too many questions in your head...well, believe me, once you get it going, theres nothing like it!
Remember I told you that one person can send a file to another ?! now who will send a file to you..? guess..well, the answer is the Bots.
What the hell is a bot ?
Bot is a computer program logged onto IRC servers as a user. Their purpose is to wait for certain triggers and perform actions. When you type some command it will perform some function, which here is send you a file.
For example: If you type a command like "/msg fserve-0019 xdcc send #22". this will ask the bot "fserve-0019" to send you the content of the packet #22.
Some Bots are very funny also, type "microsoft" and they say hilarious things..keep in mind they can kick you out too...for indecency,flooding,hammering,or for flirting with them..LOL http://www.techarena.in/forums/image...s/biggrin2.gif
Also note, the users having @ before their names are the OPs (Operators of the channel).
Suppose you joined a software channel...you have a s/w in your mind, say "Virtualdub 1.5.7". Now how do you know if its available or not?
well, the standard method is to sit in the channel and wait for the bot to drop/display its packets.
The packet dropped by the bot looks like this...
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...irc/irc-11.jpg
Other way is to use XDCC search engines...
USING THE SEARCH ENGINES
Step 5:
I'll take example of the best and the easiest one out there: packetnews.com
Step 5.a:
Goto packetnews.com and enter "virtualdub" in the box. Select "xdcc" radio button and click "search"
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-5.jpg
[1] shows what packet is having your desired file
[2] shows how many slots are occupied
[3] the total bandwidth offered
Step 5.b:
Click on the #x link (marked as [1] in the image)
Step 5.c:
This will launch mIRC automatically and copy the command in your clipboard, ie. if you are using IE. If you use someother browser like me (Firebird, opera etc) Place the mouse pointer over the hash link and the command will be displayed as a tool-tip.
You'll see this when mIRC launches
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-6.jpg
If you have any other connection open already, then open a new connection (3rd option).
Select the 3rd option if unsure.
Step 6:
So you are in the channel now. It would look something like this...
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-7.jpg
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-8.jpg
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...irc/irc-10.jpg
Step 7:
See the box at the bottom-most, ctrl+v there, or enter the command yourself if u prefer like that. The download will begin as soon as the slot is
available.
http://rock-ya-baby.techarena.in/for...mirc/irc-9.jpg
So there you have it! easy.. hmm?
TIPS & TRICKS:
1) The "get" commands aren't getting copied to the clipboard in firefox?
Type about:config in the URL field. Look for signed.applets.codebase_principal_support. Change it from false to true.
(thanks to "someone.i.cant.remember.yourname" on neowin for this tip)
2) Auto-get file.
In dcc options 1 select this (step 2):
Under On Send request select Auto-get file and choose Yes in the dialog box that pops up. Check minimize next to Auto-get file and choose Resume under If file exists.
(thanks ace)
3) Specify the default folder for all the downloads.
Select Folders in the left menu. Select default under Type then click Edit. Either make note of the directory under Into this Folder or click on the directory to change it. This will be where your downloads will go.
(thanks ace)
4) Allow/Disallow certain extensions.
Goto DCC Folders, click add and then add the following extensions (what this will do is that these extensions will then be taken up when you download)
*.wmv,*.avi,*.mpg,*.sfv,*.m3u
*tar,*rar,*zip,*ace,*avi,*nfo,*.mp3
*.iso,*.jpg,*.bin,*.cue,*.rfl,*.exe
Into the box entitled Save Files With These Extensions, Then in the Into This Folder, simply click the button with the default text c:\program files\mirc and then change it to a new drive or folder of your choice. Now all your IRC downloads will go into a new folder.
(thanks ace)
5) Queue it up!
When you suppose want a new file download you can click on get file or that slot. It may so happen that its in queue. At that time you may end up getting a mesage of the type: "adding your filename"filename" to the que slot #. it will be sent as soon as possible.
Now you have to wait till you get the file and others have downloaded. You can queue files until you reach a queue limit. Each server sets their own queue limits. Some may allow you to only queue one file, while others may allow you two queues or even more. It depends on the server.
At any stage you can know the status of the que by entering 'queues' in the channel window, or in case of an op you can enter @op-que. Depends on the server.
If you want to clear a que for any reason you can do that with the command clr_queue [queue slot].(where your que slot is the one assigned to you by the op)
Apart from this i advice you to use a script. Although it is basically for advanced users but a very good and simple one i like is this: Anaconda.
Download it here (available for 6.14 MIRC) : anaconda
(thanks ace)
TROUBLESHOOTING
(1) PROBLEM: I joined #something, asked for a pack, got queued, and then got the msg :-
*** Sending You Your Queued Pack Which Is 470MB. (Resume Supported)
but, after that i got error :-
DCC Get of $$$.mpg from $$$ incomplete (unable to connect)
Why i'm getting this unable 2 connect msg?
SOLUTION: Most channels have a nagging bandwidth limitation of 5kbps, if avg. b/w drops below that you will be disconnected. So, freeing up some b/w might help.
(2) PROBLEM: When i click on CONNECT.. It says connecting to IRC servers but then again i get a get a message saying "DISCONNECTED".
SOLUTION: Three things to check out:
a) Check your firewall. See if the port is not blocked
b) It may also happen if your connection is very very slow.
c) Most of the IRC networks scan your ports as soon as you login so that they can kick any users who are running risky ports which can be used against other users by some crackers.
May be your ISP blocks any port scan attempts. it happens with my Sygate firewall. it used to block any port scanning IP for 10 minutes and then i also used to get that "DISCONNECTED". after i got rid of this option, i m able to connect fine.
(thanks ace and abhay)
RESOURCES
http://www.irchelp.org
http://come.to/irctutor
http://www.thekoala.com
http://www.debateroom.com
http://www.ircspy.com
http://www.infabot.com
http://www.xdccspy.com
http://www.xgoogle.com
http://www.xdccsearch.com
http://www.hawkee.com
Ready-made Scripts:
http://www.xdccklipper.sourceforge.net/
http://s92437390.onlinehome.us/
http://xdccklipper.blackrainbow.at/
http://www.xdccklipper.netfirms.com/
http://www.xdccklipper.0catch.com/
http://www.omenscripts.org
http://www.omenscripts.org/autoget/
(thanks anulead)
http://www.mircscripts.org/comments.php?cid=981
http://www.mircscripts.org/comments.php?cid=1991
http://www.mircscripts.org/comments.php?cid=2311
http://www.hawkee.com/view.php?file_id=331
(thanks ace)
FINAL WORDS:
Nothing can beat this... one of the oldest internet service! http://www.techarena.in/forums/image...s/thumbup1.gif
Play Safe !!!
rock_ya_baby (The Rock) :bye1:
--
PS: Thread will be updated regularly with tips, tricks, resources, etc.
Thanks to all the contributers (Y)
--
CHANGELOG:
June 03 2004 - Guide updated to version 1.1
some more things you may wanna do
Apart from what rocky has given you can also carry out the following tweaks:
first about that dcc settings . You may want to put it permanentty to always resume setting feature instead of it asking you all the time.
That is in dcc options 1 select this:
Under On Send request select Auto-get file and choose Yes in the dialog box that pops up. Check minimize next to Auto-get file and choose Resume under If file exists.
Apart from that you can specify the default folder for all the downloads. Select Folders in the left menu. Select default under Type then click Edit.Either make note of the directory under Into this Folder or click on the directory to change it. This will be where your downloads will go.
NOW gow to DCC Folders, click add and then add the following extensions(what this will do is that these extensions will then be taken up when you download)
*.wmv,*.avi,*.mpg,*.sfv,*.m3u
*tar,*rar,*zip,*ace,*avi,*nfo,*.mp3
*.iso,*.jpg,*.bin,*.cue,*.rfl,*.exe
Into the box entitled Save Files With These Extensions, Then in the Into This Folder, simply click the button with the default text c:\program files\mirc and then change it to a new drive or folder of your choice. Now all your IRC downloads will go into a new folder.
On the channel there are other things that you can do.
When you suppose want a new file download you can click on get file or that slot. It may so happen that its in queue. At that time you may end up getting a mesage of the type:
"adding your filename"filename" to the que slot #. it will be sent as soon as possible. Now you have to wait till you get the file and others have downloaded. You can queue files until you reach a queue limit. Each server sets their own queue limits. Some may allow you to only queue one file, while others may allow you two queues or even more. It depends on the server.
At any stage you can know the status of the que by entering 'queues' in the channel window, or in case of an op you can enter @op-que. Depends on the server.
If you want to clear a que for any reason you can do that with the command clr_queue [queue slot].(where your que slot is the one assigned to you by the op)
Apart from this i advice you to use a script. Although it is basically for advanced users but a very good and simple one i like is this:
Anaconda
you can download it here(available for 6.14 MIRC)
http://www.alunos.di.fc.ul.pt/~i3033...onda-ns181.zip
AnacønÐa is a mIRC script designed with a clean and easy-to-use interface, featured with a considerable amount of utilities meant to make your chating on IRC networks more pleasable. For the ones who may be used to previous versions, it has to be said that you must forget everything you know about them. In one quick scripted statement: AnacønÐa NS != AnacØnÐa.
