Little help connecting to freenode via a VPN?
reddit / irc

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ThatThrowa-wayThough · 2015-12-20 08:51

Hi, I've been unable to freenode with my vpn on multiple IRC clients
and I kinda want to know where I am going. I know that you are
supposed to identify with the server via SASL, and have tried to do so
on both Hexchat and aiIRC; but it says:

> [08:47:49] * Looking up chat.freenode.net..

> [08:47:49] * Connecting to chat.freenode.net(my ip address) port
+6697..

> [08:47:50] -holmes.freenode.net- *** Looking up your hostname...

> [08:47:50] -holmes.freenode.net- *** Checking Ident

> [08:47:50] -holmes.freenode.net- *** No Ident response

> [08:47:50] -holmes.freenode.net- *** Couldn't look up your hostname

> [08:47:50] * SASL authentication failed

> [08:47:51] -holmes.freenode.net- *** Notice -- You need to identify
via SASL to use this server

> [08:47:51] * Closing Link: gateway/vpn/*my VPN service*/account
(SASL access only)

I've tried registering the nickname with the server but as I can't
connect it hasn't done anything. Is there something wrong with the way
I am trying to connect via SASL? Thanks for any help.

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IlluminatiEnrollment · 2015-12-20 13:55

I'll assume you've read [this](https://www.freenode.net/sasl/sasl-
hexchat.shtml) and followed the instructions....I'm a little confused
when you say you "tried registering the nickname with the server";
SASL is a method of identifying to network services, which you can
only do if you've already registered.  If you don't have a registered
nick or account on Freenode, you can't connect with SASL.  You'll need
to connect normally first and register, and then use SASL for future
connections.