Sometimes you need a LAN chat server. An interesting option is ejabberd with support for file transfers, multi-platform clients and servers, and of course free and as a bonus open-source.

ejabberd xmpp server

The program can be found in http://www.ejabberd.im/ .

Installing ejabberd

Linux

Download the latest binary at (http://www.process-one.net/en/ejabberd/downloads/) , simply unzip and run the binary, where you can simply enter the server name and what is the admin user and password.

Windows

Download the ejabberd in http://www.process-one.net/en/ejabberd/downloads/

Once unzipped, run the installer and follow the following steps:

choose the language;
choose “I accept the agreement”;
do not change the “Installation Directory”;
choose a name for your “SERVER DOMAIN”. Eg talk_server;
leave the “Administrator user name” as “admin”;
choose a password;
On the question “Will this node be part of a cluster?” let marked “No”;
go ahead and finish the installation.

Ejabberd installation creates a shortcut called “Start ejabberd. Run it to launch it.

obs.: After booting the ejabberd will open a web page that will contain a link “admin interface”. By clicking it you will be prompted to login. To login, enter the user as admin @ talk_server.

obs2: maybe it is going to be necessary, to run the posinstall bat , like this:

postinstall.bat adminusername hostname password

due to some problems on the creation of the database items.

Configuring Pidgin

Using Pidgin as an ejabberd client:

Create a new account in Pidgin:

In the tab “Basic”

Protocol: choose the XMPP;
Username: place the new user’s name;
Domain: enter the domain name that was chosen during the installation of ejabberd. In our case “talk_server” (without the quotes);
Password: Choose a password;

In tab “Advanced”