Using our xmpp server
This page is only now being written, 'till then, here is the email I sent out last spring:
We now have a chat server. It uses the open protocol XMPP aka
Jabber. It can do chat rooms (group chats), messaging (IM) and can
reach and be reached by other XMPP servers around the world (like
google talk). The big advantage over AIM is that XMPP is
decentralized. Your messages only go as far as the servers involved,
so it saves electricity and network traffic. It's greener and more
secure! Messages to other cs.vassar.edu users go from the user to our
server to the other user.
So why all the confusion? Well...
There is a lot of variation in the way differing IM clients are set
up. If you are using a client I have not listed and you figure out how
to connect, please let me know so I can add your client to this list.
Now if the clients would only standardize on a naming convention...
Setup for Ayttm, Emacs, Pidgin and Psi IM clients:
The address USER@cs.vassar.edu is the part you give out to others.
USER does not have to be the same as your email name, but please don't
pick something that is someone else's email address.
(remember to replace "USER" with what you want for your username!)
Client Calls it Give it
------ ----------- -------
ayttm - Service Jabber
Screen Name USER@cs.vassar.edu
then you edit the account
Connect Server talk.cs.vassar.edu
Use SSL
You must then select "OK" at the bottom of the screen BEFORE
you try to connect or it will not work.
pidgin - Protocal XMPP
Username USER
Domain cs.vassar.edu
then select the "Advanced" tab at the top
Require SSL/TLS
Connection server talk.cs.vassar.edu
psi - Server cs.vassar.edu
then check "Manually Specify Host/Port"
Server Host talk.cs.vassar.edu
Encrypt connection Always
Username USER
(username and password are given last for psi)
emacs - jabber-connection-type ssl
jabber-server cs.vassar.edu
jabber-network-server talk.cs.vassar.edu
jabber-username USER
or in your .emacs file:
(require 'jabber)
(jabber-connection-type (quote ssl))
(jabber-server "cs.vassar.edu")
(jabber-network-server "talk.cs.vassar.edu")
(jabber-username "USER")
-Greg