~~NOTOC~~

<box 32% orange right | **Chat Now**>
<javachat2>
[[https://www.afternet.org/cgigw/|Help us test our new CGI:IRC system!]] \\
You can [[:help:installing:webchat|add chat]] to your own website.
</box>

====== Welcome to AfterNET ======

AfterNET is an Internet Relay Chat network that was founded in September 1996 and is dedicated to providing a free quality chat environment, which gives people all over the world a means to communicate with each other. We take special care to ensure that our network provides a place where the [[policies:freedom|freedom of speech]] of all our users is respected.

====== News and Updates ======

  * We now have our own [[http://folding.stanford.edu/|Folding@home]] team, so [[http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=teampage&teamnum=118948|come join us]]!
  * Our [[:junkies|Junkies page]] now includes [[:junkies:aftertube:home|videos]]!
  * Help test our [[https://www.afternet.org/cgigw/|new CGI:IRC webchat]] system.
  * You can now [[https://www.afternet.org/home?do=register|register]] for an AfterNET AuthServ account online! 
  * Users and channel owners can create their own [[:users|user pages]] and [[:channels:home|channel pages]].
  * Display your [[:help:irc:status|AfterNET status]] on your website or user page.

====== Come Join Us ======

[[http://www.cafepress.com/afternet/|{{ teddybear.jpg}}]]

To chat on AfterNET, you can either download and install an IRC client or chat directly from your browser window. Many IRC clients are available for different operating systems. Once installed, connect to [[irc://irc.afternet.org/AfterNET|irc.afternet.org]]. Here are some IRC clients we like:
  * Windows: [[http://www.mirc.co.uk|mIRC]], [[http://silverex.org/|XChat]], [[http://www.mozilla.org/projects/rt-messaging/chatzilla/|ChatZilla]]
  * Mac OSX: [[http://xchataqua.sourceforge.net/|XChat]], [[http://colloquy.info/|Colloquy]], [[http://www.kvirc.net/|KVIrc]], [[http://www.mozilla.org/projects/rt-messaging/chatzilla/|ChatZilla]]
  * Linux: [[http://www.xchat.org/|XChat]], [[http://www.kvirc.net/|KVIrc]], [[http://www.mozilla.org/projects/rt-messaging/chatzilla/|ChatZilla]], [[http://konversation.kde.org/|Konversation]], [[http://www.irssi.org/|irssi]]
  * [[WP>Comparison_of_Internet_Relay_Chat_clients|Additional IRC clients]]
If you'd rather chat from within your web browser, try one of the following:
  * [[chat|Java Chat Applet]]: Requires that you have [[http://java.sun.com/|Java]] installed.
  * [[https://www.afternet.org/cgigw/|AfterNET CGI:IRC]]: Works with almost any web browser.
  * [[http://www.mibbit.com/?server=irc.afternet.org&channel=%23afternet|Mibbit.com WebChat]]: Similar to CGI:IRC, yet different!
If you want to learn more about the various connection options, just /join #Help on IRC.

====== About Our Network ======

<box 32% green right | **Network Status**>
In the event that our main website is unavailable or the network is experiencing technical problems, status updates are now available on a separate server: **http://status.afternet.org/**.
</box>

We pride ourselves on maintaining high-speed [[servers|IRC servers]] around the globe, with a strong emphasis on network and service stability. The network has an average of [[stats|800 people]] connected to it at once, and we are fortunate to have a very loyal group of users. Our main channel is [[channels:afternet|#AfterNET]] and our help channel is #Help.

We provide username and channel registrations via our [[help:irc:x3|AuthServ]] and [[help:irc:x3|X3]] service bots. Many organizations that host websites dedicated to music, sports, software development, gaming, or other special interests choose AfterNET as their chat network because of our "free" nature and our supportive and friendly staff. We hope you enjoy your time on our network, and please [[:contact|let us know]] if there is anything we can do for you!

====== Link a Server ======

If you're interested in linking a server to AfterNET, please visit our [[policies:linkapp|link application]]. Feel free to stop by #AfterNET or #Help and discuss your plans with us. In particular, if you're going to purchase a dedicated server for IRC, we'd be happy to suggest providers we've used in the past. Our current client servers are located in the United States (California, Michigan, New York, and Texas), the Netherlands, and Germany.

====== Live Comic Strip ======

<comic>
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====== Important Notes ======

  * Please be sure to read our [[policies:aup|Acceptable Use]] and [[policies:privacy|Privacy]] Policies.