JabberUsage

What is Jabber?

Jabber is a free, open source Instant Messaging system. I have installed the services on my server. The options provided are very powerful.

Jabber Basics

Jabber is made up of Resources. Each resource is like a seperate Instant Messenger. It has its own list of users. You may join as many resources as you want with a single Jabber account.

Jabber also uses Conference rooms, which are chat rooms. The conference server is "conference.mdmserver.mdmsolutions.org". A list of conferences can be obtained by your Jabber client. Each Resource has its own list of Conference rooms.

---

Getting Started

Obtaining An Account

The first step is to get an account on my Jabber server. Select a method:

• Let me register you: Send me an e-mail at mikmorg@mdmsolutions.org with a username and password for your account. I will create it, and let you know when you are added to the Family resource. You can then continue the instructions in GaimUsage, without having to register a Jabber account.
• Register yourself: Send me an e-mail at mikmorg@mdmsolutions.org with a username. Use this same username when you follow the instructions in GaimUsage, including the registration steps.

Note that you must send me an e-mail either way, for me to let you into the private Family group.

Advanced Users

You may use your own software (not Gaim) selection. Just use this information:

• Server: mdmsolutions.org
• Resource: Family (or otherwise specified as below)
• Conference Server: conference.mdmserver.mdmsolutions.org
• Search Server: search.mdmserver.mdmsolutions.org
• Family Conferences: family@conference.mdmserver.mdmsolutions.org
• Jabber Port: Default (5222)
• TLS should be available; please use if available.
• If using Family: You must still send me an email as in above, registering yourself or not.

Jabber Conferences

Conferences in Jabber is another way of saying "chat room." Currently, I have one available Chat Room, which is family@conference.mdmserver.mdmsolutions.org. To join the family conference room, see GaimUsage. Note: You can create your own rooms, and other users don't have to be registered family users to join.

Available Resources (Chat Groups)

A Jabber resource is a group that acts like an independant Instant Messenger system. Resources can be created for either seperating groups of users, usage of different client types (like lluna above), and other things. The following is a list of available resources:

• Family - This resource is for family members to chat with eachother. It will add all family members to your buddy list, as they become available.
• lluna - Used for virtual presence program. Not used currently.
• Public - Public resource for everyone to use; including anonymous users. Not used currently.

---

Jabber Clients

Personally, I use Gaim. This is free software that can connect to almost any Instant Messenger; Yahoo, AIM, MSN, Jabber, IRC, ICQ, SILC, Zephyr, GroupWise?, Gadu-Gadu, you name it.

Available Clients

These are a few clients I know that work:

• Gaim (Download) Supports Jabber among others. It is what I personally use, and will support on my Wiki.
• LLuna (Download) This is a virtual presence client. I will suggest "lluna" as the resource for this client. More information avaiable later (unused as of now).
• Exodus (Download) An alternative client more like Gaim. Only uses Jabber, no other protocols.

Using Gaim

I will support Gaim here. If you wish to use other software, please feel free. Gaim, however, is quite simple to use and supports what we use (Conferencing, File Transfers, etc.). If you wish to use Gaim, download it from the link above. I will be writing an extended How-To at GaimUsage in my Wiki.

---

Future Work

I intend to create a web-based join program, to allow users to join a group as long as they have a group password. This may be based on PAM Authentication later. For now, users must e-mail me with group join requests.