Configuring clients for instant messaging

Recommended IM clients

Kerio instant messaging service is based on XMPPExtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol is a protocol used for real-time communication (chat)., an open technology for real-time communication.

Kerio Connect recommends the following instant messaging clients:

• Pidgin for Microsoft Windows
• Psi for Linux
• Messages (iChat) for Mac OS X

Supported features

Kerio instant messaging service supports the following features:

• sending rich text messages
• presence notifications
• sharing files
• auto-populated contact list of your colleagues
• synchronization of contact photos
• auto-configuration on Mac
• audio/video chat (availability depends on your IMInstant Messaging - A real-time online chat. client)
• talking with multiple users in a single chat room (For more information refer to Initiating group chat in instant messaging.)

Configuring Pidgin for Microsoft Windows

To configure the Pidgin client, follow these steps:

1. Download and install Pidgin.
2. Run the application and click Accounts > Manage Accounts > Add.
3. Fill in the information — protocol (XMPP), your username and password, your domain.
4. Save the account.

Configuring Messages on Mac OS X

To auto-configure Messages on Mac OS X, use Kerio Connect Account Assistant.

For manual configuration, follow these steps:

1. Go to Messages to Preferences > Accounts. and click the plus sign.
2. Fill in the information — protocol (Jabber), account name (you username including the domain) and password.
3. Save the account.

Use similar settings for iChat.

Configuring Psi on Linux

1. Download and install Psi.
2. Run the application and click General > Account Setup > Add.
3. Fill in the information — XMPP address (your username including the domain) and password.
4. Save the account.

Contact lists

When you login to your account in an IM client for the first time, a list of all your Colleagues will be created. You can move them into other folders or delete them (see section Troubleshooting on how to restore this contact list).

You can create additional contact lists and add other contacts depending on the client you use.

Troubleshooting

Contact list

If you have problems with your company contacts (Colleagues), ask your administrator to restore your contact list.

Cannot connect to your account

If you cannot connect to your account, check your DNS settings for client auto-configuration or configure the clients manually:

Pidgin

Go to Modify Account > tab Advanced and use one the following configurations:

• uncheck option Require encryption, add your server address and port 5222, or
• set Connection Security to Use old-style SSLSecure Sockets Layer - A protocol that ensures integral and secure communication between networks., add your server address and port 5223

Messages

Go to Account Settings > tab Server Settings and use one the following configurations:

• uncheck option Use SSL, add your server address and port 5222, or
• check option Use SSL, add your server address and port 5223

Psi

Go to Modify Account > tab Connection, check option Manually Specify Host/Port and use one the following configurations:

• set Encryption Connection to Always, add your server address (Host) and port 5222, or
• set Encryption Connection to Legacy SSL, add your server address (Host) and port 5223