Roll Your Own LAN Instant Messaging Platform with OpenFire

XMPP Server Download and Installation

  1. Download OpenFire Download
  2. Run the OpenFire installer
  3. A browser window should open to http://localhost:9090/setup/index.jsp
  4. Select a language > Click Continue
  5. Set the XMPP domain name and input the server fully qualified domain name > Click Continue
  6. Select Embedded Database > Click Continue
  7. Select Default on the Profile Settings page > Click Continue
  8. Input an admin email address and password > Click Continue
  9. Click the Login to the admin console button
  10. Login with username admin and the password created previously
  11. Click the Users/Groups tab
  12. Click Create New User in the left navigation menu
  13. Create a username and password for the new user
  14. Follow the steps to create as many users as needed, at least 2 are needed for testing
  15. Click the Start Button > Type Control Panel and select it
  16. Click Windows Defender Firewall
  17. Click Advanced settings in the left navigation menu
  18. Select Inbound Rules > New Rule...
  19. Select Port > Click Next
  20. Select TCP and specify port 5222-5223 > Click Next
  21. Select Allow the Connection > Click Next
  22. Click Next > Name the rule XMPP > Click Finish
  23. Select Outbound Rules > New Rule...
  24. Select Port > Click Next
  25. Select TCP and specify port 5222-5223 > Click Next
  26. Select Allow the Connection > Click Next
  27. Click Next > Name the rule XMPP > Click Finish

Setting Up A XMPP Client

  1. Download Pidgin Portable Download
  2. Run the Pidgin Portable installer
  3. Launch Pidgin Portable
  4. Click Add...
  5. Select XMPP from the protocol dropdown
  6. Input the first username created above along with the XMPP domain setup in OpenFire and the user's password
  7. Click the Advanced tab > Select Use encryption if available from the Connection security dropdown
  8. Enter the OpenFire fully qualified server name in the server field
  9. Click the Add button
  10. Click Accept on the self-signed certificate popup
  11. Copy the extracted Pidgin Portable folder to another device
  12. Launch Pidgin Portable on the second device
  13. Select Modify Account
  14. Update the username and password to be a different account from the previous device
  15. From one of the devices, select Buddies > Add Buddy
  16. Input the opposite devices username
  17. 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