What is Jabber?
What isn't Jabber?
Why use Jabber?
How to use Jabber
Clients
Configuration
� Fire [Mac OS X]
� Exodus [Window XP]
Support
Uploaded 03.12.02
Updated 04.12.02
Jabber is an open-source instant messaging [IM] service that uses an XML protocol for the real-time exchange of messages between two or more nodes on the Internet. Jabber is similar to other IM systems such as AIM/AOL, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo!. However, Jabber offers several advantages over these legacy IM systems:
» Open -- the Jabber protocol is free, open, public, and easily understandable, and multiple open-source implementations exist for all components.
» Extensible -- using the power of XML namespaces, anyone can extend the Jabber protocol for custom functionality; to maintain interoperability, common extensions are managed by the Jabber Software Foundation.
» Decentralized -- anyone can run their own Jabber server, enabling individuals or organizations to take control of their IM experience.
» Secure -- a Jabber server may be isolated from the public Jabber network, many server implementations use SSL for client-server communications, and numerous clients support PGP/GPG for end-to-end encryption; more robust security using SASL and session keys is under development.
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// Jabber is not //
» A universal chat client -- while there are Jabber clients for a wide range of computing platforms, they do not offer out-of-the-box interoperability like Trillian or GAIM; interoperability between Jabber and other systems is made possible by server-side "gateways" to the legacy IM systems.
» An automatic solution to interoperability -- some [but by no means all] Jabber servers offer interoperability with legacy IM systems through "gateways" that translate the Jabber protocol into legacy protocols; however, Jabber is not primarily focused on interoperability, because only the legacy IM systems themselves can make interoperability a reality.
» A single IM service or software company -- the Jabber community is not monolithic; instead, there exists a wide range of public and private Jabber servers, open-source projects, and software companies, all using the Jabber protocol to build real-time applications and services.
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// Why use Jabber? //
» it's free -- being an open-source solution, the software required to run Jabber is [usually] free, and is being developed by a large community of programmers ensuring bugs or problems are patched quickly and efficiency.
» it's open -- the code behind jabber is available to anyone, it is not a closed-off proprietary service such as MSN or Yahoo!. If a client does not suit your needs download another one
» it's private -- because we are running the Jabber server [jabberd] from alittlenoise.com, it is completely private, your details are not shared via a central server and you will not be subjected to spam or unsolicited communications from third parties, because only registered members can log on to the service.
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// how to use Jabber? //
if you already have a alittlenoise eMail account, using Jabber is a simple as downloading a client and filling in your details [fullstops '.' in member names need to substituted for an underscore '_']. you can begin chatting to other members straight away. if you require an account [you do not need to register for an eMail address just to use Jabber] contact support at alittlenoise.com with your desired username and your account details will be eMailed back to you ready for you to start using immediately.
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// clients //
some clients may offer a more complete feature set than others. make sure you find a client that suits your needs. below is a brief [and incomplete] list of popular clients...
// Mac OS X //
Fire.app
epicware, Inc.
https://www.epicware.com/fire.html
this free open-source client support communication amongst six protocols natively. Jabber IM, Yahoo!, AIM/AOL, MSN, IRC and ICQ. Mark's msger of choice... :)
JabberFoX
Jason S. Moore & Max Horn
https://jabberfox.sourceforge.net
JabberFoX is written in Objective-C using Apple's Cocoa API and tries to make full use of Apple's new user interface system, Aqua. It aims at implementing all of the standard jabber features including chat, group chat, messages, the roster (buddylist), and agents. Eventually it will incorporate all of the features of the Jabber protocol, including browsing, strong encryption and the new conferencing protocol.
TVJab
terra virtual
https://www.terravirtual.net/tvjab
TVJab is an Instant Messaging client for the Macintosh platform that uses the Jabber protocol. If the server you are connected to supports transports, you can also chat with people on other IM services such as Yahoo!, AIM/AOL, ICQ, MSN or even IRC.
// Windows //
Exodus
p g millard
https://exodus.jabberstudio.org/
Exodus is a free, fully featured jabber client for Windows XP, it supports a wide range of features including file transfer, message history [logs], invisibility, reply indication and SSL support. It is the successor to the very popular 'WinJab' client.
Psi
Justin Karneges & Akito Nozaki
https://psi.sourceforge.net/index.php
Psi is available for Windows XP, Mac OS X and GNU/Linux - it combines a simple ICQ style interface with a cross-platform design. Psi supports transports, you can also chat with people on other IM services such as Yahoo!, AIM/AOL, ICQ, MSN or even IRC
RhymBox
Sebastiaan Deckers
https://rhymbox.com/
RhymBox is a free, open-source Jabber client that also supports transports [MSN, Yahoo!, AIM/AOL, ICQ and IRC] message history, SSL, group chat and reply indication.
more clients can be found at Jabber.org. These applications are listed for convenience and are not supported or endorsed by alittlenoise.com. any questions, complaints or claims regarding the applications must be directed to the appropriate software vendor. if you feel there is a noteworthy addition to this listing, feel free to eMail [email protected] with the relevant details.
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// configuration //
Before you can connect to alittlenoise's Jabber server, you will need to configure your client of choice with the appropriate information, this information is some what consistence across platforms. below are some sample configurations for fire.app [Mac OS X] and Exodux [Windows XP].
// Fire.app //
After launching the application, select Edit Accounts from the Accounts menu [Account > Edit Accounts...] and choose Jabber Account... from the pop up menu. This will provide a configuration panel. [see screen grab below] Use the follow instructions as a guide.
Service: ensure the service is 'Jabber'
Username: enter your alittlenoise eMail account address here
Password: enter your alittlenoise eMail account password in this field, checking the 'save password' box will save you from having to type this each time you launch your client. the downside is, that anyone can log on as you from your machine just by launching the application.
Server: the server address is 'jabber.alittlenoise.com'. some clients add the 'jabber.' prefix, if you receive an error that the address was not found, try 'alittlenoise.com' as the server address. this is a private server and only members of alittlenoise will be able to log on. No records/logs are stored on the alittlenoise server, so please ensure that logging is enabled in the client preferences if you wish to use this feature. [your message history will be stored locally]
Port: the correct port address is '5222'
other clients may offer other fields including [but are not essential] Resource, name of this account, ie. home, work, name of jabber client and Profile, some clients will allow you to save multiple configurations to include Jabber servers other than 'alittlenoise.com'.
// Exodus //
After launching the application, you will be presented with a 'log in' dialog. [see screen grab below] use the following instructions as a guide.
Username:
enter the first part of your alittlenoise eMail account address here [ie.
[email protected] > user]Password: enter your alittlenoise eMail account password in this field, checking the 'save password' box will save you from having to type this each time you launch your client. the downside is, that anyone can log on as you from your machine just by launching the application.
Server: the server address is 'alittlenoise.com'. some clients add the 'jabber.' prefix, if you receive an error that the address was not found, try 'jabber.alittlenoise.com' as the server address. this is a private server and only members of alittlenoise will be able to log on. No records/logs are stored on the alittlenoise server, so please ensure that logging is enabled in the client preferences if you wish to use this feature. [your message history will be stored locally]
Resource: this can be either the name of the client [in this case 'exodus'] or your location such as, work or home etc.
Port: the port details can be found by following the 'Details' button
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// Support //
if you are experiencing problems, please contact [email protected] with details of your operating system and jabber client [version number etc.] for more information.
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