Currently am not about to document for linux or mac, however if you are running linux you should know. There's such clients like bitchx or ircii.

 

3.0 Ready to connect

Once you have downloaded and run the setup successfully installing IRC which is a free to use program, you will need to connect to our server. In mIRC options (which should pop up automatically after the welcome message) enter the following details in the connect box. Enter your name or give a name, any email, a nickname you use when you go online. Nobody uses their real names however there's nothing stopping you using it. An alternative incase that name or nick is taken it will automatically switch to a 2nd one. You can provide for example;  kriss and the alternative,  kriss^ Invisible mode deosn't do much. Other people can't search and find you on IRC unless they know your exact nickname which is easy to find out if they know which channel your in.

Next go to the Identd selection under the connect tree that your looking at on the right.
 

This will allow the server to allow you use their network by identifying your computer   Tick Enable server User ID is any word or name however preferably your account name you use to connect ie; thename before the @ in your email. System: UNIX Port: 113 Tick show Ident requests Hit [OK]

3.1....take these steps

Before you hit the final [OK] you may like to take these steps to make it easy to connect in the future and once you take the few minutes to do this you won't need to do it again for sometime. The IRC program comes with a list of servers around the world, we are on OZ.ORG which is the main server set in Australia. However they have not added all the servers so it could be a wise thing to add them to your IRC now.

In the very same window click the [add] botton

list of current oz.org servers available to you;
 

• alphalink.melbourne.oz.org
  This server is located at Alphalink in Melbourne.
   
• chariot.adelaide.oz.org
  This server is located at Chariot Internet in Adelaide.
   
• client.oz.org
   
• iinet.perth.oz.org
  Only accepts connections from *.au.
  This server is located at iiNet in Perth.
   
• omon.perth.oz.org
  This server is located at The Omon Group in Perth.
   
• rockhampton.oz.org
  Only accepts connections from *.edu.au, *.csiro.au, *.gov.au *.oz.au, and *.id.au.
  This server is located at Central Queensland University.
   
• southern.hobart.oz.org
  Only accepts connections from *.au and 203.*.
  This server is located at Southern Internet Services in Hobart.
   
• wollongong.oz.org
  Only accepts connections from *.edu.au, *.csiro.au, *.gov.au *.oz.au, and *.id.au.
  This server is located at The University of Wollongong.

You will notice that not all oz.org servers will allow any addresses or international users so you will need to use one that allows all domain addresses such as melbourne or client.oz.org. We'll the first add example on melbourne oz.org server.
 

BEFORE	AFTER

The information that you have added in the edit server box once complete hit OK and it will add it to the server database. And next to you connect select the Oz.org and all the servers you added will appear.

I don't quite get what I just put in?
You don't need to worry to much although if your seeking an explanation then here it is;
Description is just the name you give the server your adding
IRC Server is the actual address domain of the server you will be connecting to
Port(s) is the series of ports that it will attempt to connect to those servers starting with the default 6667
Group vitally the group that the server you just added belongs to, in this case OZorg servers.
Password n/a (not necessary on oz.org)

Once you've added the list of servers that mIRC doesn't have you can sit back and pick one, if your in Australia then all should work otherwise select one that allows all connects such as client.oz.org.



once connecting to IRC server you should get something like this;

[23:22] *** Connecting to client.oz.org (6667)
-
If you can't connect, type /QUOTE PONG 2763312911 or /PONG 2763312911
-
PING? PONG!
-
Welcome to the Internet Relay Network MT
Your host is client.oz.org, running version ozircd-1.05.1
This server was created Tue Sep 25 2001 at 11:12:26 EST
client.oz.org ozircd-1.05.1 dioswkf biklmnopstv


NB:
You can also connect to any server by manually typing in the status consol window by pressing cancel you are automatically in the consol window and type;
1. /connect client.oz.org
2. [enter]

It will automatically connect to the server and you get the same desired result as the gui select.
 

4.0 Joining the channel

You've gone through the most difficult part of IRC the rest is just text based commands and talk which is what brings us all together. Once your connected to the oz.org server and get the welcome message you can type the following to join the channel;

/join #hiphop
/j #hiphop

or simply /j hiphop on most systems

[00:00] *** Now talking in #hiphop
[00:00] *** Topic is 'http://ammodotat/hiphop | gruess gott!! | >Welcome to HipHop
[00:00] *** Set by case_one on Sun Oct 07 02:07:25

you have just joined us all in #hiphop chat channel, you are able to talk freely by typing and hitting enter after each line your text and others will appear. In all respect please read the rules of the channel.