Why can't I connect to Freenode on my university network? reddit / irc ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wizengamut · 2011-11-03 22:20 I guess it's a ports problem, but how can I test which ports are open and if none usable are open, what can I do? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- wizengamut · 2011-11-03 22:34 I have determined that the freenode ports are closed, what can I do? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Anthaneezy · 2011-11-03 22:43 Freenode's ports are closed? Or that your university blocks those outbound ports? They are different. I"m inclined to think the latter because I am currently connected. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- fastbiter · 2011-11-03 23:07 My old school blocked port 6667. If I remember right, connecting via ssl solved the problem by using port 443 which is almost never ever blocked. Failing that, you can use freenode's webirc client. Do any other networks work? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- b3d0u1n · 2011-11-04 03:59 Maybe they're blocking IRC ports due to some viruses that rely on IRC bots. You might want to look into a bouncer (most run on non-standard ports) assuming the other poster's SSL tip does't work -- though if that's broken it would make me think something other than port blocking is to blame. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sleelin · 2011-11-04 05:54 Obviously he meant the latter if you're connected now. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Sleelin · 2011-11-04 06:14 The ports are probably blocked. Freenode offers a number of ports for you to connect via, specifically ports 6667-9, 7000 and 7070. Pretty sure you can also connect on port 443 as well, and only asses block that port. If all else fails, use webchat.Freenode.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [deleted] · 2011-11-04 15:51 Have you tried using SSL on ports 7000 / 7070? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HenkPoley · 2011-11-04 16:11 Lame solution would be to connect over tor. But your IRC client probably has more support for some kind of proxy ('bouncer' in IRC parlance) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- liquoranwhores · 2011-11-04 16:37 * Call in bomb threat * Run into NOC, unblock ports * ??? * Profit ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dopefish7590 · 2011-11-06 05:53 443 is not open... Too bad really, because I wish it was. :\ The ports 6666, 6667, 7000, 7070, 8000, 8001, and 8002 are open, but not 443. Edit: To clarify, I am talking about the [ports that *Freenode* has op en...](http://www.reddit.com/r/irc/comments/lzj1y/why_cant_i_connect_t o_freenode_on_my_university/c2xt3vz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- fivre · 2011-11-07 15:26 So what, they block every HTTPS site ever? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dopefish7590 · 2011-11-07 16:29 I am talking about Freenode... Check it out for yourself... Port scan irc.freenode.net. (If you have nmap, just "nmap irc.freenode.net", but if you only have Netcat, you have to settle for "nc -zv irc.freenode.net 1-10000 2>&1 | grep succeeded") Hell, you can even try a singular port with that... dopefish7590@Angelfire:~ (>'.')>$ nc -zv irc.freenode.net 443 nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection timed out nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection timed out nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection timed out nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection timed out nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Connection refused nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Network is unreachable nc: connect to irc.freenode.net port 443 (tcp) failed: Network is unreachable dopefish7590@Angelfire:~ ^('.')^$ That is trying each Freenode server, some are down, but most are up, without port 443 open. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- haywire · 2012-01-13 00:38 Get a cheap VPS, make sure ssh is set up on a port you can access and use tmux/irssi. You can probably get a shell account with BitchX installed for free somewhere.