Running a persistent IRC client over SSH
Solution 1:
I've got 3 suggestions, I think you'll like number 2. best.
1. My preferred solution is to install 'screen' then run irssi inside. You can ssh in and reattach to the screen or....
Load the proxy module: http://www.irssi.org/documentation/proxy You'll then be able to attach your preferred client.
In my opinion irssi is better than any gui.
2. However, I think you want Quassel. Its a graphical version. It lets you detach clients from the server as you want:
one (or multiple) client(s) can attach to and detach from a central core that stays permanently online -- much like the popular combination of screen and a text-based IRC client such as WeeChat, and similar to (but much more featureful than) so-called BNCs
Re-attaching your client will show your IRC session in the same state as you left it in (plus whatever happened while you were gone), and this even when you re-attach from a different location.
(emphasis added)
3. And as it says, BNCs (bouncers) will let you attach any client to them, but will be much more limited in features, for example scrollback. Check out BNC/ZNC etc. etc.
Solution 2:
As you already suggested, the best option is to use irssi
as your IRC client, which you will run in screen
to keep running even after you disconnect from ssh
.
So you go like this:
- Install
irssi
- Install
screen
- Deploy
ssh
- Connect to the server with ssh
- Run
screen
(without any further parameters) - Then run
irssi
- Press
CTRL+A
followed byCTRL+D
. This detachesirssi
into thescreen
- Now you can disconnect from
ssh
. Your IRC will keep running. - When you connect back and want to get to the
irssi
running inscreen
, simply typescreen -r
, to resume
Solution 3:
Sounds like you might be looking for a BNC if you're wanting to keep your client local instead of on the server. You might find ZNC useful.