Roll Your Own LAN Instant Messaging Platform with OpenFire
XMPP Server Download and Installation
- Download OpenFire Download
- Run the OpenFire installer
- A browser window should open to http://localhost:9090/setup/index.jsp
- Select a language > Click Continue
- Set the XMPP domain name and input the server fully qualified domain name > Click Continue
- Select Embedded Database > Click Continue
- Select Default on the Profile Settings page > Click Continue
- Input an admin email address and password > Click Continue
- Click the Login to the admin console button
- Login with username admin and the password created previously
- Click the Users/Groups tab
- Click Create New User in the left navigation menu
- Create a username and password for the new user
- Follow the steps to create as many users as needed, at least 2 are needed for testing
- Click the Start Button > Type Control Panel and select it
- Click Windows Defender Firewall
- Click Advanced settings in the left navigation menu
- Select Inbound Rules > New Rule...
- Select Port > Click Next
- Select TCP and specify port 5222-5223 > Click Next
- Select Allow the Connection > Click Next
- Click Next > Name the rule XMPP > Click Finish
- Select Outbound Rules > New Rule...
- Select Port > Click Next
- Select TCP and specify port 5222-5223 > Click Next
- Select Allow the Connection > Click Next
- Click Next > Name the rule XMPP > Click Finish
Setting Up A XMPP Client
- Download Pidgin Portable Download
- Run the Pidgin Portable installer
- Launch Pidgin Portable
- Click Add...
- Select XMPP from the protocol dropdown
- Input the first username created above along with the XMPP domain setup in OpenFire and the user's password
- Click the Advanced tab > Select Use encryption if available from the Connection security dropdown
- Enter the OpenFire fully qualified server name in the server field
- Click the Add button
- Click Accept on the self-signed certificate popup
- Copy the extracted Pidgin Portable folder to another device
- Launch Pidgin Portable on the second device
- Select Modify Account
- Update the username and password to be a different account from the previous device
- From one of the devices, select Buddies > Add Buddy
- Input the opposite devices username
- On the second device accept the message request and the two devices should be able to send and receive instant messages using the OpenFire XMPP server