Savage XMPP Chat Support

This guide describes how to connect to the NPS Savage chat server.

Overview | Client Software | Connecting with Spark | Connecting with Adium | References | Savage Developers Guide | Contact

Overview

NPS runs an XMPP chat server conference.savage.nps.edu. The chat server is hosted on system savage.nps.edu using port 5222 with TLS security settings.

There is open registration for the server. If you have an XMPP chat client installed, you can connect to the server and create your own account.

We have a group conference set up with multiple rooms available. New participants need to provide a password when first connecting.

• auvw        AUV Workbench project discussions at xmpp:auvw@conference.savage.nps.edu
• jenkins     Jenkins continuous integration server publishes build reports at xmpp:jenkins@conference.savage.nps.edu
• mmowgli  Massive Multiplayer Online Wargame Leveraging the Internet team design discussions at xmpp:mmowgli@conference.savage.nps.edu
• x3d           Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics discussions at xmpp:x3d@conference.savage.nps.edu

In accordance with Navy policy, this server is available through the NPS firewall to external participants.

Install some client software and then connect, as described below. Detailed (geekish!) technical information is available on the Savage Developers Guide: Chat page.

Client Software

• Our recommended chat client is Spark (Windows, Mac, and Linux) from Ignite Realtime
• Adium is a free instant messaging application for Mac OS X
• (TODO test) Defense Connect Online (DCO) with (quick reference guide) which is preinstalled on Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) machines
• Mac OSX includes iChat, but iChat does not allow you to join a password-protected chat room

Connecting

Spark connection directions

• After installing, launch Spark and login on chat server conference.savage.nps.edu
• If connecting for the first time, select Accounts (in lower left corner) to create a new login account
• The server provides a new account acknowledgement
• Once connected, the Contacts tab appears
• Now select the Conferences tab near the bottom of the panel
• Select conference.savage.nps.edu then right-click to Browse Service and see the available chat rooms
• Select and then bookmark chat rooms of interest
• Select room names to join rooms of interest
• If needed, you can also select Spark > Preferences to change your password
• Also ensure that Spark > Preferences includes an already-existing file transfer directory

Adium connection directions

Two guides of interest: Kirk Stork's Adium guide and Fermilab Adium guide.

TODO: the following instruction section needs cleanup.

• If you don't have an account on the server, click on the "Accounts" button at the bottom left. If you've logged into the server before and already have a username and password, you can enter that directly.
• The Accounts button will bring up this window
• The fields have been filled out with a username and password. The name of the XMPP server is savage.nps.edu. Once this form has been filled out, click "Create Account".
• After the account has been created, you'll be taken back to the login screen, this time with the fields filled out. Click on the "Login" button.
• If all goes well, you'll be logged onto the XMPP server. You should see a screen like this:
• Note the "conferences" tab at the bottom. Select that. You'll be taken to the conference tab:
• If you want to see the available group conferences, or start a new once, double click on the "conference.savage.nps.edu" item. You'll be presented with a list of the existing conferences:
• You can select the conference to join from here.

References

• DeVos, Daniel A., XML Tactical Chat (XTC): The Way Ahead for Navy Chat, Masters Thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey California, September 2007. Second reader Don McGregor. This is an important thesis laid out the basis for our work with XMPP chat, and also helped to inform the decision to unify DoD chat systems.
• Elluminate is a desktop-sharing system that provides helpful support during meetings with remote participation. It is a web-based collaboration system that supports Video and Voice over IP, text chat, an interactive white board, application sharing, document sharing, and video sharing.

Contact

Questions, suggestions and comments about these resources are welcome. Please send them to Don Brutzman (brutzman at nps.edu)

Available online at https://savage.nps.edu/chat.html

Revised: 10 September 2011

Official disclaimer: "Material contained herein is made available for the purpose of peer review and discussion and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense."