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).

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.