Create Your Private IM System

Previously known as WildFire, Openfire is an easy to install cross platform
instant messaging server based on XMPP protocol. The messaging server can be a
great alternative to public chat services available to your employees where you
can control number of users.

To create your own messaging system for your company, start with downloading
'Openfire fire_3_6_4' server and 'spark_2_5_8_1' client from
www.igniterealtime.org/downloads/index.jsp. Install Openfire server package on
the machine you want to use as server. In this implementation, we have used
Windows XP. Installation is quick and easy. Once installed, you can launch
administration console from Openfire window for configuring this messaging
server. Configuration comprises four easy steps. First step include configuring
servers domain name and port. Second step is for database setting.

You can choose from two options, either go for embedded database (HSQLDB)
which is automatically configured or choose external database. External
databases supported by Openfire are MySQL, Postgres, Microsoft SQL Server, and
HSQLDB.

Once the database is properly configured, choose profile setting as default
and set administrator account password. Once server configuration is done, you
would be redirected to login page. One strange issue you might face is the
inability to login, which can be overcome by re-starting the machine. Once
logged in, you can create new user. This interface can also be used for
monitoring users and adding plug-ins. On the user machine, install Spark client.
Once installed, enter user credentials and server address as created above and
you are done. You can also share files and indulge in voice chats.

Also, you can install plenty of freely available plug ins for further
enhancing usability of Openfire messaging server. Visit http://tinyurl.com/59x7fa
to download available plug ins.

Once Openfire is installed on a Windows machine, you can start or stop Openfire server using this window. Click on 'Launch Admin' to configure the server.

After selecting language of your choice, you need to enter domain, admin console port and secure admin console port.

You can choose from two options under database setting; either go for automatically configured internal database or separately configure external database.

In the final step, enter administrative account credentials. These values are used to log into administrative account (user id: admin)

To create users, go to 'UserGroups' tab on the top and click on 'Create New User'. You can also search users from this window.

Install Spark chat client on user machines and allocate them their passwords created in the previous step. You're ready to start chatting.

Besides text chat, you can also do voice chat . Also, you can share files with other users through the chat window.

Administrator can broadcast important message to all the users by logging in to Openfire administrative account and then going to 'Sessions>Tools'.