Chatting with MSCS users using XMPP/Jabber

If you want to, you can chat with other users in the MSCS department using the XMPP protocol. The only caveat is that the user you are attempting to chat with must have logged in once already (of course, if they haven't, then they are not using the service anyway, so XMPP chat would not be a good way to get in touch with them)

Our servers should work with any XMPP client you want, but this tutorial will describe how to connect the free, open source, pidgin client.

1. If you have not yet installed pidgin, download and install pidgin.

2. Click the pidgin icon to start the program:

   

3. If this is the first time you've run pidgin, you will be prompted to add an account, do so.

   

4. Make sure you select "XMPP" as your protocol (the default is "AIM", which will not work), then fill in the arrowed fields:

   

   • Username should be your MSCS username. (same as your MSCS e-mail, different from your UIC netid)
   • Domain should math.uic.edu.
   • Password should be the password you use to login into MSCS lab machines and your MSCS e-mail .
   • You may optionally specify a local alias for your account.

5. You will be prompted about whether to accept our self-signed SSL certificate, do so:

   

6. To send someone a message, select the buddies menu and then select New Instant Message.

   

7. Now, enter their MSCS username followed by @math.uic.edu

   

8. Now type messages and hit enter to send.

As mentioned, a limitation of our XMPP server, is that you can only send messages to users who have already logged in at least once. Consequently, many MSCS users are not actually possible to chat with.