Adium and Zimbra

Note: This article is only useful for users of Mac OS X. Windows users should try this article using Pidgin (Formally GAIM).

Introduction

Zimbra 5.0 or higher supports the XMPP (Jabber) protocol for instant messaging. From Wikipedia: eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) (formerly known as Jabber) is an open sourced, XML-inspired protocol for near real time, extensible instant messaging (IM) and presence information (a.k.a. buddy lists).

XMPP compatible clients, such as Adium, can be used to connect to the Zimbra server. Users can then add buddies from their Zimbra Server into Adium without having a need to connect to a Third Party service such as AIM or MSN. This allows users to keep their home or personal instant messaging account separate from their work or professional account. Additionally, users can use the company/corporate/family Zimbra Server without signing up for another IM account from a Third Party Vendor. If you have an account on the Zimbra Server, you already have a XMPP/Chat account.

From Wikipedia: Adium is a popular free software instant messaging client for Mac OS X that supports multiple protocols through the libezv (for Bonjour) and the libpurple (all other protocols) libraries. It is written using the Mac OS X Cocoa API, and it is released under the GNU General Public License, and many other licenses for components that are distributed with Adium.

Configuring Adium

  1. Once Adium has been downloaded and installed, run the application
  2. Click File - Add Account - Jabber
  3. Account Tab: Jabber ID=(Your Zimbra Server e-mail address). For Example, if my e-mail address were ddemouser@testzimbra.com, that would also be my Jabber ID.
  4. Account Tab: Password=(Your Zimbra Server password).
  5. Personal Tab: Use Global Icon/Use This Icon= You have a choice of which avatar you wish others to see.
  6. Personal tab: Alias=This is the nick-name that others will see.
  7. Options Tab: Connect Server=The FQDN or Reachable IP of the Zimbra server. If you don't know this, you should ask your system administrator. If running your Zimbra server behind a NAT, you can use the NATted IP Address only if it's usable within a network for which the Zimbra server can be seen. NOTE: Using an IP may result in future issues if your Zimbra server IP Address changes. Using the FQDN is the preferred best practice.
  8. Options Tab: Resource=Home (Enter whatever you wish, this identifies your unique endpoint.)
  9. Options Tab: Available Priority=Not needed.
  10. Options Tab: Away Priority=Not needed.
  11. Options Tab: Allow Plain text authentication=Not recommended, but if your server uses http instead of https, then check this box.
  12. Options Tab: Force old-style SSL=Unchecked.
  13. Options Tab: Require SSL/TLS=Recommended, if you use https instead of http, check this box.
  14. Options Tab: Do Strict certificate checks: You should only check this box if your server has a root certificate from a repudible vendor. Chain certificates may cause problems, but may work.
  15. Options Tab: Presence Subscriptions=Your Preference.
  16. Privacy Tab: All options on this tab are not required for connectivity and are user preference.
  17. Proxy Tab: If you connect to your Zimbra server through a proxy, you should choose this. This DOES NOT apply to the Zimbra proxy, if installed.
  18. Click OK.

Resources

http://www.adiumx.com/ - Website for Adium

http://www.zimbra.com/ - Website for Zimbra Collaboration Suite

http://www.zimbra.com/forums - Zimbra forums for Community Support

http://www.xmpp.org/ - XMPP Standards Foundation

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