LAN Instant Messaging

[cookie_monster]

We are looking at options for improving communication withon the school and are considering looking at LAN/Intranet instant messaging.

 

One that has caught my attention is Jabber server, does anyone here use this or similar?

 

http://www.jabber.org/

[fooby]

I have used a Jabber based system called OpenFire from Jive Software. This is free open source software.

 

however we are now evaluating office comms server 2007

[Richie1972]

I've just installed Openfire (links into active directory and uses SQL Express 2005 database) with Spark IM clients.

Works perfectly, just got to get more staff using it now

[localzuk]

The jabber server mentioned in my signature runs on openfire. Stable, easy to manage, easy to integrate with AD etc... Ideal for in school use.

 

One of my coding projects is a little jabber client that automatically logs in and can only receive Jabber messages (not chats) - so then a network admin can send out messages easily and securely. Should be fairly easy using either Java or c# (probably the latter to ease windows integration).

[cookie_monster]

Someone else has recommended this it's free for upto 100 users and is supposedly well supported commercial software. It also links into Active Directory.

 

http://www.coversant.net/products/server/pricing.aspx

[cookie_monster]

@ localzuk

 

I'll take a look at openfire.

[cookie_monster]

I've downloaded openfire but i'm having trouble getting the active directory communication setup, any tips?

[localzuk]

Are you familiar with LDAP? Have you looked at this?

[cookie_monster]

Yep i am i think i've sorted it now though, i had the Enable SSL connections to your LDAP server selected.

[cookie_monster]

Sigh ok i seem to of come unstuck on the group mappings area, if i enter the ldap location of our groups it fails or a specific group fails as well. Have i got the wrong end of the stick here?

 

Cheers.

[cookie_monster]

Update i've managed to get it working and i can now see all of the users in our domain but i'm still having trouble viewing groups so i don't think i got that last setting right.

[cookie_monster]

Ok i've managed to get it all setup and have added a group.

 

When i open the console i see 1000 users displayed is there a way to limit this to just the users in my approved group. I also notice that anyone with a domain user account can use the server not just the users in the approved group.

Is there a way to prevent this?

[cookie_monster]

Ok i've got her installed and working now.

 

Richie_OLSJ what are you using it for at the moment, is the intention to allow teachers to communicate with you from the classroom or with each other between rooms? or both

[techyphil]

We currently use Spark and Openfire but have added users manually. This means another password to remember. Since the launch of the GLPI HelpDesk I rolled out, i've wanted to also resetup openfire to talk to AD.

 

I struggled as all users link into it and I cant seem to get the groups right. Also, does Spark allow usernames with a SPACE in the name?

 

Because when I added users manually, I could not put a space in the usernames?

[cookie_monster]

I'll try a user with a space in it.

 

I created a new OU then put the openfire user in there that i use to connect to Active Directory, then created a group in the same OU this way any user that i add to this group is automatically added as an openfire user due to the group filter.

 

Don't think i've left anything that matters in here :-) let me know if i have

 

 
  
     
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[cookie_monster]

I just created a user in Active Directory called 'Test User' and it was added to Openfire without any problems and it could log into Spark as well.

[techyphil]

Awesome thanks cookie_monster!

 

I'll give it a shot on Monday... not long left now. Oooh Right!

[techyphil]

Hello!

 

Ok i've managed to get it to talk to AD. It's sort of working as I want it only the groups have messed up.

 

I've got all the staff from the STAFF OU in OpenFire. Now when I want to put them into groups, it will not let me create groups, presumably because its using LDAP's groups. Is there any way around this?

 

Also it shows every user as a group as opposed to being inside a group?

 

Any advice please, thank you Merry Crimbo btw

[cookie_monster]

Create a new OU and place a group in there called e.g. 'openfireusers' the line below shows my setup. Any member of the openfireusers group in the openfire OU will be added to the server, also any groups that you create in that OU will be added as groups in Openfire.

 

(memberOf=CN=openfireusers,ou=openfire,ou=THE Users,dc=domain,dc=sch,dc=uk)

 

Remember to set the baseDN above this OU as well mine is as below:

 

OU - The Users
       OU - Students
       OU - Teachers
       OU - Openfire (This contains all openfire groups)

 

as you can see my baseDN points to 'The Users' OU so it will search down from that point for users:

 

ou=THE Users;dc=domain,dc=sch,dc=uk

 

 

Errr if that doesn't quite make sence post back

[cookie_monster]

Create a new OU and place a group in there called e.g. 'openfireusers' the line below shows my setup. Any member of the openfireusers group in the openfire OU will be added to the server, also any groups that you create in that OU will be added as groups in Openfire.

 

(memberOf=CN=openfireusers,ou=openfire,ou=THE Users,dc=domain,dc=sch,dc=uk)

 

Remember to set the baseDN above this OU as well mine is as below:

 

OU - The Users
       OU - Students
       OU - Teachers
       OU - Openfire (This contains all openfire groups)

 

as you can see my baseDN points to 'The Users' OU so it will search down from that point for users:

 

ou=THE Users;dc=domain,dc=sch,dc=uk

 

 

Errr if that doesn't quite make sence post back