|
PDF Available |
|
|
PDF Available |
Abstract
Jabber is an open, XML-based protocol for instant messaging which allows you to "chat" in real time with others.
CNS provides a Jabber instant messaging server called Openfire. One of Openfire's features is support for Instant Messaging Transports that provide connectivity to multiple external Instant Messaging services such as AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messaging, MSN/Windows Live Messaging, ICQ, and Google Talk messaging (still in beta at this writing).
The Openfire Jabber server allows you to consolidate the use of all of your IM clients into a single Jabber-compatible client.
This also provides a higher degree of security to the end user, since you can connect to the CNS server using an SSL secured connection. Messages sent from the CNS server to IM servers are also secured using SSL as well, so traffic streams in both directions are encrypted.
<editor@cns.ufl.edu>Table of Contents
Jabber is an open, XML-based protocol for instant messaging. This means you can log in and "chat" in real time with others who have the software.
In the Spring of 2008, CNS implemented a new Jabber instant messaging server called Openfire. One of Openfire's features is support for Instant Messaging Transports that provide connectivity to multiple external Instant Messaging services such as AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messaging, MSN/Windows Live Messaging, ICQ, and Google Talk messaging (still in beta at this writing).
The Openfire Jabber server allows you to consolidate the use of all of your IM clients into a single Jabber-compatible client.
This also provides a higher degree of security to the end user, since you can connect to the CNS server using an SSL secured connection. Messages sent from the CNS server to IM servers are also secured using SSL as well, so traffic streams in both directions are encrypted.
When you register to use a messaging transport (IM client), the userid and password for that instant messaging service are stored in encrypted form on the UF jabber server. When you delete or remove the transport from the jabber client , these IM-based credentials are removed from the server as well.
However, please note that nicknames in conference rooms are not anonymous on this system. Anyone can look up a nickname and discover the Gatorlink userid associated with it.
There are many jabber clients available that support this new technology. We've configured and tested four of the most common ones: Exodus, Psi, Gajim, and Spark.
Any regular Jabber-compatible client may be used with the UF server. However, some popular clients, such as Pidgin, may not offer support for the instant messenger transports that are available on the server. However, they may be used to communicate with any other UF person using a Jabber-compatible client.
The rest of this document will show you how to configure and get started using each of the four jabber clients listed above: Exodus, Psi, Gajim, and Spark. All are currently free to download and use. You will find a url at the beginning of each section to indicate where you can find and download that client. We do not recommend one client over another in particular - they are listed in the order tested.
For most clients, your userid/screen-name and your password is all that you need to configure them.
Please enter your GatorLink email address as your userid or screen-name if possible, in the form of:
gatorlinkuserid@ufl.edu
If you're not allowed to enter the
"@ufl.edu" after your userid, then you will need
to enter a domain or server value. This should be:
ufl.edu
The domain name server (DNS) will then point the client to the appropriate server address.
http://code.google.com/p/exodus/
When Exodus runs for the first time, it starts the New User Wizard. We recommend canceling out of this wizard because it fails during the "registration" process. Since you already have an existing account on the server (your GatorLink account), registration is not necessary.
Click on the "Create a New Profile" item at the bottom of the window, or go to File, My Profiles, Create a New Profile.
Call your profile anything you'd like. In the example, we just call it "default".
Sometimes the first screen you see is the "default profile Details" screen. If this is the case, just proceed from this point in the instructions.
4. On the Account Details tab, specify your userid as:
Jabber ID:
gatorlinkuserid@ufl.edu
Uncheck "This is a new account" and "Save password".
Click on Connect.
Enter your GatorLink password.
If you are asked to enable a plug-in for message logging, click on OK. Then,
Go to Options
Select Settings
Select Plug-ins
Place a check next to "ExHTMLLogg... Save chat message history"
Click OK
We use AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) in this example, but it's the same procedure for other instant messaging services.
Click on the People menu and choose Contacts, then Add Contact.
Click on the pull down list next to Contact Type and choose the service that your buddy uses.
Right click on the transport or service under the Transports category.
Choose Remove.
There are two ways to connect to jabber chat rooms.
Click on the Jabber browser icon in the toolbar.
Click on the "Public Chat rooms" icon.
A list of available chat rooms will display. Right click on the one you want and choose "Join Conference".
Click on the "Join a Conference" icon in the toolbar.
If you know the name of the room that you want to join, pull down the Conference Room Server box and choose the conference.ufl.edu server, then type in the name of the room you want to join under "Conference Room Name". Enter a password if required, and choose Finish.
If you don't know the name of the room, click on "Browse servers for a conference room to join", then click on Next. A listing of conference rooms will appear. Click on the one you want to join, then press Finish.
Nicknames are not anonymous. Anyone connected can query a nickname and get the GatorLink userid of the participant.
Click on People, then choose Conference, and click on "Join/Create a Conference Room".
Click on the pull-down box next to Conference Room Server and click on "conference.ufl.edu".
Enter a room name (and a password if you want to keep the room private), then click Finish.
The room configuration screen will appear - in most cases, you can accept the defaults and choose OK.
If you click on the "Perisistent" option on the room configuration screen, the room will remain active on the server even with no participants present. This option should only be used for rooms that have regularly scheduled use.
When Psi runs for the first time, it displays the New User Wizard. Choose "Existing Account" instead of "Register" when you encounter the setup wizard (i.e. your GatorLink account already exists in the system).
You can call the profile anything you'd like. We use the value "Default" in this example. Uncheck the "Register New Account" checkbox - GatorLink accounts are already registered with the server.
For the Jabber ID field, please enter
your GatorLink account address in the form of:
gatorlink_userid@ufl.edu
You do not have to enter your GatorLink password here - if you leave it blank, you'll be prompted to enter your password when you connect to the server. Please note that the "Change password" button has no effect - GatorLink passwords must be changed through the http://my.ufl.edu website.
Click on Save to save your settings.
Go to the General menu and choose "Service Discovery". This will produce a list of transports that are available on the server.
Right click on the desired transport and choose Register.
Enter the userid and password that you use to connect to that instant messaging service.
Click on the Register button to save the information.
Enter the userid for that service, then click on the "Get Jabber ID" button.
The client will automatically fill in the Jabber ID box. It should be in the form of:
your-friend's-userid@transportname.ufl.edu
You can make the nickname whatever you wish - this is the name that will appear in your buddy list.
If you want to add this person to a specific group category (Buddies, Friends, Family, etc), pull down the Group list and choose the group that you want this person to appear in.
Click on Add to save the information.
Expand the Agents/Transports item in the main window, if it's not already showing the transports you're subscribed to.
Right click on the transport and choose Remove.
Go to the General menu and choose "Service Discovery".
Click on "Public Chatrooms". If you expand "Public Chatrooms" (click on the + symbol to expand the list), you'll see a list of all current publicly available rooms.
Right click on a room and choose Join. Enter a nickname (usually your GatorLink userid).
Nicknames are not anonymous. Anyone connected can query a nickname and get the GatorLink userid of the participant.
Click on General and choose "Join Groupchat".
Enter a room name.
Enter your nickname.
Nicknames are not anonymous. Anyone connected can query a nickname and get the GatorLink userid of the participant.
Enter a password if you want the room to have restricted access.
Click Join to create the room.
If you are using Windows, download the Windows
Gajim installer with GTK+ included.
When you run Gaijm for the first time after installing it, the new account wizard will automatically appear.
Choose "I already have an account I want to use" - your GatorLink account is already registered with the server. Click on the Forward button to continue.
In the Username field, enter your GatorLink userid without the "@ufl.edu" suffix.
In the Server field, enter
"ufl.edu"
You do not have to enter your password - leave this box blank, then click on Forward.
Check the "Connect when I press Finish" option, then click on the Finish button to save your settings.
Click on the Actions menu and choose "Discover Services". A list of transports will appear.
Choose the transport that you want to use by clicking on it once to highlight it, then click on the Register button at the bottom.
Enter the username and password that you use for the service, then click on OK.
Gajim will automatically connect you to the service.
Click on the Actions menu and choose "Add Contact".
On the "Add New Contact" dialog box, pull down the protocol box and choose the service that your buddy uses.
Click on the Actions menu and select Discover Services
Double-Click on Public Chatrooms.
A list of publicly available rooms will appear. Click on the one that you want to join, then click on the Join button.
Confirm the information presented (enter a password required to enter the room if it has one), then click on Join to enter the room.
Click on the Actions menu, move down to "Group Chat", then choose "Join New Group Chat".
Enter the room name as:
room_name@conference.ufl.edu
Enter a password if you want to password restrict the room.
Click the Join button.
The Room Configuration screen will appear. In most cases, you can simply accept default values and choose OK.
if you want to change a configuration option after closing the configuration screen, it can be found under the Actions button in the chat window.
If you choose the "Room is Persistent" option, the room will persist on the server after the last person leaves. This option should only be used for rooms that will be staffed during a reoccurring time period.
http://www.igniterealtime.org/projects/spark/index.jsp
Enter your GatorLink userid without the "@ufl.edu" suffix.
Enter your password.
Enter the server address:
ufl.edu
Spark will automatically query the server looking for transports when it connects. They will appear as icons in the toolbar.
Right click on an icon for the service that you want to use and choose "Enter login information".
Enter your userid and password for the service.
Click on Save.
Spark will connect you to the service automatically.
Click on the Contacts menu and choose Add Contact.
Check the "User is on a public network" box.
Click on the pull down box next to "Network" and choose the instant messenger service that your buddy uses.
Enter their Username in the top box, a nickname (optional), and a group to assign them to (optional). Click on Add to add them to your list.
Right click on the icon for the transport in the tool bar.
Choose "Delete Login Information" from the menu.
Click on the Conferences tab at the bottom of the screen.
Double click on the server listed (conferences.ufl.edu)
Choose the room that you want to join (if one already exists) and choose Join Selected Room.
Click on the Conferences tab at the bottom of the screen.
Double click on the server listed (conferences.ufl.edu)
Click on Create or Join Room.
Enter a room name and topic.
Click on Create.
If "Room is Permanent" is checked, it will persist on the server after the last person leaves. This option should only be used for rooms that will be staffed during a reoccurring time period.
We welcome your comments and suggestions on this and all CNS documentation. Please send your comments to:
