[TriLUG] Jabber server outage

[Joel Ebel]

Jabber is a whole different animal than IRC.  I'm no expert on IRC, but 
jabber, using the multi-user conference component can operate similarly 
to IRC.

Jabber at its core is quite different from IRC.  Jabber should really be 
called XMPP, which is an IETF standard defined by rfc 3920 and 3921. 
XMPP is the extensible messaging and presence protocol.  It is an open 
source alternative to the proprietary instant messaging systems in use, 
such as AIM, MSN, Yahoo, etc. and it has numerous advantages over them.

Notably it is decentralized, like our email system.  Anyone can run an 
xmpp server and communicate with any other server that has 
server-to-server communication enabled.  It can be made to be secure, 
with TLS or SSL on both the client-to-server and server-to-server links. 
  Plus it is extensible, as the X implies.  All sorts of things can be 
built on top of xmpp.

A common use of jabber is transports.  These are links to other 
messaging systems from your jabber account.  Unlike a multi-protocol 
client like GAIM, where you configure the client to log into each 
account, with jabber transports, you configure the server to log into 
each account for you when you log into your jabber account.  And your 
roster (buddy list) is always stored on the server, so wherever you log 
in from, you only have to use one login and password, and the server 
logs you into every other service for you, saving all of your contacts 
on the server.  This is great if you frequently log in from many 
different locations.  There are even IRC transports so you can use 
jabber to communicate over IRC.

Multi-user chat is the irc-like component of jabber, providing "chat 
rooms".  Jabber can be used for file transfer, and can use a proxy if 
you're behind a firewall.  Many people use jabber for syndicated news 
feeds.  Jabber can even run over http using HTTP polling or HTTP Binding 
allowing web based jabber clients such as JWChat, which is great if 
you're behind a firewall that only lets you use port 80.

I hope this gives you an idea of some of what Jabber can do.  Check out 
jabber.org, in particular the "What is Jabber?" link and the User FAQ if 
you want to learn more.  jabber.org is filled with great information 
about jabber.

Joel

Augie Schwer wrote:
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> On 6/8/05, Joel Ebel <jbebel at ncsu.edu> wrote:
> 
>>Yeah.  Actually, this was one of my platforms when I ran for system
>>administrator.  I want to make members more aware of the available
>>services.  First I have to get a handle on the services though!  Server
>>moves and dieing hard drives aren't making this task easy on me.  I'm
>>getting there though.
> 
> 
> Not to kill the coolness factor or anything, but what's the point of
> the Jabber server? What's wrong with just the IRC channel?
> 
> Augie.
> 
> 
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> Registered Linux user #229905
> GPG Public Key: http://www.schwer.us/schwer.asc
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