Hosting Chat Communities

Hosting Chat Communities

Microsoft Exchange 2000 Chat Service, a self-contained component of Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, provides a multiuser chat system where people convene for conversations on channels. One chat server can host a few users in a department, or up to 20,000 concurrent users throughout an organization or around the world. Exchange Chat Service offers superior scalability, reliability, security, and performance.

For help with specific tasks, see How To.

For general background information, see Concepts.

For problem-solving instructions, see Troubleshooting.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What is IRC?

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a protocol that supports real-time conversation between two or more users over a TCP/IP network. IRC was written by Jarkko Oikarinen in Finland in 1988 and has since been used in over 60 countries. By using IRC, people can meet on channels (also called chat rooms or virtual places) to talk in groups or privately about specific topics.

What is a channel?

A channel, also called a chat room, is a place where group conversations occur. Channels are dynamic, meaning that anyone can create a new channel, and that a channel disappears when the last person on it leaves. In most cases, when a user joins a channel (enters a chat room), the user can read or hear anything that is typed or spoken to the members of the channel. More...

What is a user ban?

A user ban restricts a specific chat user from access to a specific chat community. When the banned user tries to gain access to the restricted chat community, he or she is refused.  More...

What is a user class?

A user class is created by an Exchange system administrator to impose restrictions on a group of chat users. These restrictions affect the ability of each class member to log on to a chat community, to create or join dynamic channels, or to become a channel owner or host. A class can also regulate the processing of messages from class members and limit the number of channels members can create in a chat community. More...

What is IRCX?

Extended IRC (IRCX) is a set of extensions developed by Microsoft that enhances the functionality of the IRC protocol and adds several new commands that you can use to manage users and channels on a chat server. More...

What is the difference between a sysop and an administrator?

A system operator (sysop) and an administrator both perform administrative roles for a chat community. An Exchange system administrator can use the chat community's Security tab to grant administrator or sysop privileges to a user. Both a sysop and an administrator can monitor and control a chat community's channels from a chat client. An administrator, however, can use administrative commands that are not available to a sysop. More...

How do I create a channel on which only the moderator can speak?

A Moderated channel is one on which only the moderator can speak. You can create a moderated channel from the channel's Modes tab. More...

What client software do users need to use the Chat Service?

Generally, the system administrator of the client organization determines which chat client software to use. Considerations for choosing the appropriate client software can include available disk space, required memory, and ease of use. More...

How do I disconnect an unwanted user?

You can disconnect an unwanted user by logging on to a chat client as a channel operator and issuing a Kill command. More...

Can I prevent a user from reconnecting to a chat community?

You can configure a user ban for an individual or a group. You define one user ban for each chat community, so a user banned from one chat community may be able to access another community on your system.  More...

Can I block the use of profanity on a chat community?

You can use the Profanity Filter extension to filter language that you or your employer consider offensive, abusive, or inappropriate for certain segments of your user audience. More...