Your username is invalid.
Connect with your real username, in lowercase.
If your mail address were foo@bar.com, your username would be foo.
======================
I've been on IRC since 1991 and never had this error (above) happen before on any server on any net except undernet and I get this message on all their servers..I have no idea what they want me to change just to get on a undernet server? I'm using MIRC BTW


cathy

**
STEP THREE: Setting up mIRC

Now that mIRC is installed on your PC and the program group and mIRC icon are available in the program manager, this is what is required to set it up:


First make sure you have an active connection to Internet. Normally you just have to start up the modem connection to your Internet provider to do so. To anticipate any problems in the future always first start your modem and then mIRC.

Double click the icon (shortcut) to start up mIRC.

mIRC will start and show the Options Dialog and require you to fill in some information:

In the mIRC Options dialog you see an options tree structure. You can expand a branch of the tree (a Category) by selecting an item (Connect, IRC, Sounds,..) and clicking on the little 'plus' sign. A list of sub-items will unfold. At first only the main 'Connect' menu item seen above, has to be filled in. Select this item and enter the following information in the fields;
Real Name: Your real name (ie, Tjerk Vonck)
E-Mail: Your email address (ie, tjerk@mirc.com)
Nick Name: A one to nine character alias to use on the chat system (ie, Kreet)
Alternate: If someone else is already using the Nick Name you you've chosen on IRC, you will be known by this alternate name instead. (ie, Kreet2)

You also have to select a local or nearby IRC server. A long list of servers is available by default. Just select one. At first the default Random US DALnet server will do fine! Other popular IRC networks are EFnet, DALnet, Undernet, IRCnet,....


Next, you could select the Local Info sub-item. Normally you dont have to fill in anything here. Just make sure the boxes under 'On Connect, Always get :' Local Host and IP Address are Checked (selected). For various Internet Providers and PC setup's you might need other settings here. Dont worry too much for now, if you get problems later just read the help provided on this topic in the mIRC Help file (mirc.hlp) or mIRC FAQ.

Now select the Identd sub-item and Enable the Identd Server. Your User ID should already be filled-in there. Eventually fill in your Account Name in this field. (Your account name is the part before the @ in your email address, like t.r.vonck in my case) The System should allways be set to UNIX and the port is always port 113. 'Show Ident requests' can be left Off, 'Enable only when connecting' can be set On.

Once this is all set, click on the OK button to close the mIRC Options Dialog.

mIRC is now set up and totally ready to use.



[text from http://www.mirc.co.uk/install.html]

You missed where I said I've been on IRC since 1991.
I have all fields filled in appropriately for ALL NETS on IRC..only Undernet giving me this error message. How can I have an "invadid username" ie:

bobby fley
bobby@foobar.org
netr
netr_

all fields are filled in and only one net out of dozens is having a problem.

try using a differet e-mail addr ; see if it works

Found the problem and it's an odd one (for me) when you first try to
log on to a IRC Net server Zonealarm always asks if MIRC will be used as a server..I always say no and I log on to whatever net... except Undernet..it gives me that error message if I don't set MIRC as a server..anyway,problem cured but why Undernet won't allow access like all the other net's I would like to know,I'm not using MIRV as a server?

Thanks for the help

I've experienced some problems myself with ZoneAlarm. Try configuering it step by step so that it will allow you to use mIRC (by use i was reffering to connecting to a server).

What this means in real-world terms is, will your mIRC client be expected to respond to requests made of it from outside, like FINGER, IDENTD, or HOSTNAME requests... in that sense it is 'serving' information about itself.

What you're running into is kown as 'challenge/response' security... the host your are connecting to says 'answer this question' and if no answer (or the wrong answer) is given, the door is shut in your face. Zonealarm is essentially saying "no comment!" to all challenges on behalf of mIRC, which breaks the security protocol and fubars the connection.

If you ask me. I just removed all the special characters in the email add box in mIRC. Try also typing in lowercase (that solved the problem FOR me hehe). Anyways, cya later alligator!