Most larger companies/institutions are behind a unix firewall running linux, BSD, or whatever else that typically only allows access to email and web browsing (ie IRC is blocked). Is there an interface or service that lets you use an internet port to connect to an IRC server?

If not why?

Wouldn't that kind of defeat the purpose of the firewall?

Computers being computers there are ways and means of doing anything and everything. However... I won't be elaborating on this because if you were to follow such a recommendation from here or anywhere it might cost you your job.

1. Server Administrators can log connections and data to and from their servers.
2. Connecting to proxies is illegal without the permission of the proxy owner.
3. By breaching a firewall in this way could render the gateway(s) liable to being hacked.

I think you miss the jist of what I am saying. I am not proposing to simply circumnavigate the firewall. I know how this is done. I am familiar with the reasons why IRC and especially DCC should be blocked at the firewall. I’m sure you are familiar with the instant messengers (AOL, Yahoo, MSN…), this has a similar function to IRC. I also know that the firewall can be set to block servers/ips but I have never seen one set to block the IM’s(Usually set to block file sharing). I have never heard of any malicious attacks being sent through IM’s, but I am not particularly familiar with them.

I just wonder why there is no software that allows you to connect to an IRC server from a web browser that gives you text only functionality. That is you would be able to send and receive text only, as in an IM, but have none of the scripting ability. I don’t think that this would make you particularly susceptible to attack.

All messenger programmes have exploits, especially AOL and ICQ though MSN has had it's share too. Any popular programme will have exploits, it's not just limited to messengers or even IRC. Look at the Unix mailserver, Sendmail. It's got more holes than a lump of Swiss Cheese. Why? Because it is popular. People who want to cause trouble on the net will target popular programmes because that is the most profitable way of doing damage.

it's called javachat .. most networks have it available on their web sites

No, not necessarily.

On my network Java requires ports 80, 7000 and 8000 to be open. I am not sure about applets like jPilot though.

jpilot uses standard IRC ports(6667, 7000, or whatever the user selects to connect with), and ident if needed).

Ahhh yes, I forgot about port 113...

CGI:IRC is what you are looking for. Search Google for it. That is all I will tell you

PHP comes bundled with IRC gateway functions, so its only reasonable to assume there are some server side scripts written in PHP to allow you to use IRC.I've seen non IRC chat programs written for HTTP that involve javascript and DHTML plus contsatnly polling a server, so this approach could also be taken for IRC. In short; no doubt is possible and already done; but I don't know where its been done.

As vcv pointed out, CGI:IRC does this, url is cgiirc.sf.net.