I need to setup a chat server pretty quickly. It will be hosted on a FreeBSD server. Could someone recommend chat server software that would meet the following requirements:

- OS: FreeBSD 4.x

- Decent client: Java client. Just something that users would like to use, if you know what I mean. These are mostly AOL level users too, very non technical.

- Stable and supports at least 500 users

- Price under $1k

- Database chat logging a plus, as is some form or database login managment

The ideal product would be iChat, but it does not appear to support FreeBSD (it says only Solaris & Linux). If anyone knows otherwise, I'd like to hear it.

Thanks in advance. I appreciate any help given, as I have no experience with this type of thing.

Are you looking for an IRC server ??
I recommend you to do :
cd /usr/ports
make search key="chat" | more
You'll find a lot of chat clients and servers.

we've been using a company's product called InstantService. It works good for us.

we've been looking at network dweeb's product also, the advantage to that being you actually host the servers. pricing is decent, and they vie towards open source solutions (no windows support on the server end