It turns out that they changed the value of erc-mode-line from "%s %a" to "%S %a" which comes out with %S containing "@unknown" as the "network name" if you are not connected to a particular IRC network (this is the case for our intranet's IRC servers, for example). Resetting the mode line format spec to "%s %a" brought back the desired functionality.
** Changed in: emacs23 (Ubuntu) Status: New => Invalid -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/655543 Title: Regression: server is always "Uknown" To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/emacs23/+bug/655543/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs