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<< UNIX System Mail Mini-FAQ | FAQ Index | Intercom Pager Mini-FAQ >>

1.  What is XMPP?

XMPP (commonly "Jabber") is a standardized, XML based Instant Messaging and Presence Notification system. The idea is similar to AOL's AIM and ICQ products.

XMPP is, however vastly different in how it works in the background, while AIM and ICQ use a central server system to route messages, XMPP is decentralized, like E-Mail.

2.  What is XMPP Federation

XMPP Federation refers to the ability of users of totally different XMPP servers to talk to each other. Just as an E-Mail from one user on one server can be sent to a user on a different server entirely, XMPP Federation ensures that cross-system XMPP IM messages are possible.

This may not sound radical, but you must remember that AIM and ICQ are totally closed systems, in the quite unlikely event that someone were able to reverse the AIM protocol (known as OSCAR) to the point of being able to develop a rival AIM server, users of the mainline AIM server and the rival AIM server would be unable to message each other, only other users on their respective server.

Federation is what makes XMPP invulnerable to vendor-lock in.

3.  Inbound

If you are using a non-Vistua XMPP server, and provided that your server properly implements industry-standard federation protocols (see technical) you will have no problem IM-ing our users, their XMPP handles are the same as their Groupware Email addresses. For instance, if a Vistua user's email is example@vistua.com, then their handle is example@vistua.com.

Note: The Vistua Network uses more than one email system. The Groupware Email used by our users supports XMPP. However some Vistua email mailboxes are not part of the Groupware system and do not support XMPP. Additionally, all addresses in the domain vistua.net do not support XMPP.

We apologize for any confusion this may cause.

If you are the operator of a domain and you cannot contact us by XMPP, please check your DNS records.

4.  Outbound

Provided that the non-Vistua XMPP server federates properly you will have no problems messaging from the Vistua service.

5.  Engineering and Technical Info

XMPP federation is implemented by the creation of DNS records known as "SRV" records. If you are an operator of an XMPP server and you have an error in your SRV records you will not be able to federate with anyone, severely reducing the usefulness of the platform.

The Groupware Portal is highly redundant and its XMPP and other functions are distributed among various data-centers in several countries. It is virtually certain that any problems with federation are problems with the foreign server.

Categories: Faq, Internet