Well, I have gotten to the point where I'm am forced to ask for a little help.  I have the IRC Server set up on one of my nodes, KN5G-002 and have double checked the configuration according to the article found here in the forum.  The server is showing up as a service on the node and I can click on the link and the ChatZilla client opens on the computer connected to the remote or second node, KN5G-001 but that is as far as I can get.

The ChatZilla client complains about "The network "kn5g-002" is not known to ChatZilla.

When I manually tell ChatZilla to join I get the "Unknown host" error shown here, using the string irc://kn5g-002.mesh:6667 in the manual connect to server window.

Obviously I am missing something, (probably something really simple) but I have run out of ideas where to look for the problem at.

What I have done.

I went into the firewall on the computer on the client's kn5g-001 node and opened the 6667 port.

I have the 6667 port open in both mesh nodes for both the LAN and the WiFi.

I have a laptop connected to the LAN port on each node so my setup represents two full nodes with attached computers.

I have called the computers and nodes dirty names, (made me feel better, what can I say).

So, can anyone suggest where else I might check to find and correct my problem?

Are there any issues with using ChatZilla?  I picked it as a client just because I thought it would handy to have a plug-in for the browser rather than a separate client application to keep up with.

Would there be an issue with the "dash" I used in the node's name: kn5g-002 ? (I've seen crazier things blow up a whole system, ha...)

Anyway, rather than continue to pull my hair out I thought I would see if anyone could offer some suggestions as to what to try or what to look at next to get the client talking to the server.  Any help and or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Keith - kn5g - Henderson, TX.

I was going to say try using the ip address 172.27.0.1, but I see you are on a remote node. We're you able to connect to the server while connected via cat5 to the node with the irc server?

73s

w5cwt

No, it does not matter which node I try to access the IRC Server from.  I get the same error that server KN5G-002 is unknown.

I don't know if all clients use the same form to name or point to the desired server but it seems like I am not telling the client the right server name, or I may have not configured something just right in the Server when I was setting it up.

I would be curious to know what others have set in their irc client apps to point to the IRC Server on their nodes.

Thanks,

If you can do this somewhat manually, in the chat client, try to connect to KN5G-002.austin.tx.us.mesh , the fully qualified domain name.

If that fixes it, then you will need to add the FQDN to your DNS so as to NOT have to always add the rest of the URL.

If its Windows, see http://hsmm-mesh.org/documentation/96-using-the-mesh.html and at the bottom where it says "For DNS to work properly.....", specifically the "Append these DNS suffixes" instructions.

Let me know if that works!

K5KTF

Success !

Chalk it up to operator error and 55 plus year old eyes. Yes, it was my typo.  No space between the equal sign and the node name in the server config file.  Been a lot of years since I dabbled around with Linux and the vi editor.  Had forgotten how unforgiving they can be. Typo? No problem, we'll just sit here and do nothing till you figure out your mistake... ha...

Anyway, thanks to those who took the time to offer suggestions while I was pulling out what hair I have left.  At least now the IRC Server is up and working across the MESH Network and both clients can connect and exchange information in the chat.

The "Take-away" from this; always double check your edits for typos ! They will drive you nuts !

David, guess we have a club meeting this Thursday.  You going to be able to make it?

Thanks again,