Using IRC for Electronic Meetings?

paenguin asks: "Our Linux User Group sometimes needs to hold Exec meetings, electronically. We have used IRC in the past, but it leaves us with a problem: there is no easy or built-in way to prove who is who. Do Slashdot readers know of a way to provide non-repudiation over IRC, or of another open source method of holding group electronic meetings where we can verify that everyone is who they say they are?" Wouldn't a private IRC server, with a combination of suitable IRC services (ala NickServ and ChanServe) and fairly restrictive policies, be one solution to this problem? How would you set up such a system? For those willing to brave the setup hassles, might some form of secure IRC also be an option?

Comments

Don't you have OSS IM software?

[ObviousGuy]

What's stopping you from using an IM client that allows multiple users in a conference-type configuration?

The IM server is responsible for authentication, so you just add your buddies and then start chatting. Seems simple.

Re:Don't you have OSS IM software?

[acaird]

Jabber and OpenLDAP can do this. It might be a bit overkill, but it certainly works, and has decent client support for Linux (and other Unixes), Windows, and OS X.

Jabber also supports SSL and is extensible (so can support things like group-conference room logging).

uhh - other IM services?

[jeffy124]

just exchange AOL Screen Names in a face-to-face setting, and set up a private chat room. Done!

Re:uhh - other IM services?

[GiMP]

Except all communications go through AOL, unencrypted.

Identification in IRC

[robbkidd]

It's been a while since I spent much time in IRC, but even several years ago we would identify channel ops with a bot (eggdrop, if I recall correctly). Giving everyone ops isn't necessary, either. It is simple to have usernames and passwords maintained and authenticated on a bot and to set the IRC channel to require members to be given a voice (by the bot upon authentication) to speak in the channel.

Again, MOOs work for this sort of thing.

[Cecil]

This purpose has been adequately served for several companies I'm involved with by using a MOO or other MU*s. My bias may be revealed by the fact that one of those corporations is in fact dedicated to running a particular MOO.

However, I have to say that it satisfies all of your requirements and provides a great deal of flexibility for the future as well. It has its own internal programming language (affectionately but not officially known as C&) which allows you to modify basically everything without requiring a restart. It has full support for TCP/IP and file IO, and though the binary support leaves something to be desired, it is quite possible to write a fully functional HTTP server for example.

Re:Again, MOOs work for this sort of thing.

[Twylite]

You are in a board room. Its long, polished oval table and leatherette chairs are quite intimidating. A filter coffee machine bubbles quietly in the corner.

A Board Member is here.
A Chairman is here.
An Executive Directory is here.
An Axe is on the floor.

Re:IRC is probably not what you want

[spitefulcrow]

Yeah, SSL-enabled IRCds are available, including UnrealIRCd (www.unrealircd.com). Haven't tried to use the SSL myself, but it's a good IRCd with a nice set of features and good Services integration. I think you can even have SSL server links as well as client connections. The network I frequent uses Anope (www.anope.org) IRC Services, which include the password-based nick registration system mentioned above.

IRC for meetings? I can see where that will go.

[Jorkapp]

we need more money
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