[Techtalk] Chat Server, Take 2

[James]

For some reason my sysadmin is obsessed with the idea of having a chat server so teachers and students can logon and reviews can be done during finals week.  

<rant mode="engage">
I'm against it:  

1.  I'd much rather use the box sitting over here for a web based email server for teachers so we don't have to go around setting up pop accounts and configuring Outlook Express.  It would also allow teachers to access their mail anywhere.

2.  It is a liability.  

3.  Kids here in this district are obnoxious.

4.  Kids here are also stupid.

5.  Kids here are lazy and it will be another web thing we put so much time into and they don't use.  

</rant>

Now this time, my sysadmin is so obsessed he is willing to pay for it (Since somehow we got state money for software).

Anyone know any good web based chat apps?  Of course the $4000 ones are out of the ball park, but maybe a couple hundred to $1500 might be okay.

The requirements are:
- Run on Linux and Apache, though NT is a slim possibility, but I sure as hell won't be doing setting it up and maintaining it.
- Easy to use, configure and maintain
- Be able to support moderation (a la +m in IRC), so we can control the flow of chat
- Be able to ban pesky kids
- Be able to kill the server when not in use so the dumb kids here won't get seduced by a 45 year old unemployed construction worker at 3am.

I tried phpChat and the Java chat thingy Jen V showed me... neither worked well enough (Actually the Java thing did not work at all).

Any ideas?

- Perturbed
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