Is there a such thing as an HTTP-based IRC gateway? Something that can be used as a front end to connect to an arbitrary IRC server/channel, but which doesn't require those specific ports to be open? For instance, such a product running on a public web server could allow someone behind a firewall to use IRC.

Used to be two that I knew of way back when but they both got taken down due to bandwidth problems and abuse. No idea if there are any new ones.

Can't poke holes in your company's firewall?

It's not my firewall that's the problem. It's for someone else.

Can they SSH out? If so, they could setup an ssh tunnel.
Windows OpenSSH can be found here.

If so, they could setup an ssh tunnel.

Tunnel to where?

feeling left out tony?

To any machine they can SSH to.
I figured there has to be a friends machine they can use, or something. Or, no?

It's not my firewall that's the problem. It's for someone else.

Honestly, it's not mine! IRC isn't my bag, baby! Someone must be playing a prank on me!

I use ssh tunnels all the time. I tunnel from work to home and forward all the ports I need. Since I have full control over my home firewall, but have to be careful at work, this helps out a LOT. Of course, sshd is running on cygwin on a 2000 box. Works like a champ. The only drawback is the abysmal upload speed I get at home.

Tony, are you talking about something like this?

feeling left out tony?

Heh, no. Actually, I can IRC whenever I feel like it, I just don't do it that often. I'm serious about this being for someone else. He's a fellow filker that sometimes wants to get to the filk channel.

Tony, are you talking about something like this?

Not sure just yet. It depends on how that applet works.

If it's a java applet which is merely a java replacement for MIRC (in other words, the communication still happens with your local machine using the IRC ports that get blocked by firewalls), then no.

If it's a front end that uses HTTP to communicate with the chrismyden.com server and then something on the server talks to the IRC servers using the "naughty" ports, then yes.

Can't tell right off the bat which of the two this is. I suspect the former.

I know that applet will let you specify IRC server and room name... so it doesn't need to connect to chrismyden.com. It has been years since I used his chat room to learn about EAC, so I don't have any current experience with it..

http://cgiirc.sourceforge.net/

Give it a try.