What is "Jabber" and how to use it?

"Jabber" (Jabber) in English means "chatter" or "chatter". This is the original name for the free instant messaging protocol of the CMRD, as well as the collective name of the client programs running with its use. In less than twenty years, technology has experienced a stage of rapid development and gained worldwide fame. What is "Jabber" in the present and how to use it? About this and many other things you will learn from the article.

History of appearance

It is customary to consider the official date of the birth of the KMRD technology on January 4, 1999. On this day the message on the beginning of work on the project was posted on the web. Initially, the development received quite a lot of support from information corporations. In parallel, the process of creating a server part and client programs for various operating systems was conducted. Special network gateways were developed, which allowed exchanging messages with already existing large IM clients, such as ICQ, MSN Messenger and AIM.

By the middle of 2000, the development of the first stable version of the server part was completed. A year later the Jabber Software Foundation was created, an organization whose task was to further develop the protocol and modernize its technical specifications. Later, in 2007, it was renamed into the Standarts Foudation CMRD, thus separating the development of the exchange protocol itself from the development of software with a similar name.

"Golden age"

In 2005, Google, which was already a world-class search giant, announced the launch of the Google Talk project. The service provided the transmission of text and voice messages using the protocol MMRR. Six months later, the network gateway was opened, and Google Talk users got the opportunity to inter-server communication. In fact, they could correspond with any user in the world using a client program running on an MMRP protocol.

Of course, such a step Google could not be ignored. The possibility of working on the protocol of the KMRD for a short time was realized by all competitors in the search sphere and the largest social networks. Access was provided both with the help of network gateways, and by creating their own messengers. There came the "golden age" for users of "Jabber". XMPP-protocol allows you to connect several accounts to one program and freely exchange messages, using them simultaneously.

Looking ahead, I must say that such mutual penetration of technologies did not last long. One by one, the giants of the IT industry began to disable the network gateways to regain the target audience. Google launched a new project based on the proprietary protocol, and from 2013 onwards gradually reduced the support for server-to-server transport. In 2015 Google Talk was officially closed. Without unnecessary noise, a similar project was completed by Yandex.

Features of the protocol MMRP

Unlike all other messaging services, Jabber is not tied to a single center. Anyone can install the "Jabber" server on the computer. In this protocol, the CMRD is similar to e-mail. A new server can be connected to others around the world or work in an isolated closed network. This feature makes it convenient for use as a corporate customer.

The specifications of the CMRP allow you to organize communications using various message encryption mechanisms. Implementation of this method of protecting correspondence is possible both on the server and client applications supporting the use of SSL and PGP technologies.

Interaction with other messengers is organized through a network gateway or, as it is called, transport. There are various options for transports, with which you can access e-mail, weather services, rss-feeds. The open protocol code makes it possible to implement the various options claimed by gateway users.

How to register?

What is "Jabber", you already know. If this technology interested you, and you decided to try it out in action, then we'll tell you how to do it. You can register in "Jabber" on any existing server. For example, we'll look at the entire procedure for the oldest service in Russia Jabber.ru. It features stable operation, a large customer base and provides detailed instructions for new users.

The registration form offers you to choose a login that will be used in the messaging system, and enter a valid e-mail address. As you can see, the procedure is simple and absolutely standard for many Internet projects. The received letter will contain your Jabber ID, better known as JID, and a link to enter the password for access to it.

After these simple manipulations, you get full access to the network "Jabber". JP or XMPP-protocol makes it possible to communicate with any Jabber user, regardless of the server on which it was registered. To send a message, you only need to know the JID of the desired subscriber.

Clients for the computer

There are many programs for different operating systems. You can select a suitable application for the functionality and start using the "Jabber" service. Registration by you is already passed, so at the initial setting you specify the name received. Fill in the field with the name of the server and agree with the automatic definition of the port for its operation. To simplify the selection, we list some of the most popular customers:

• PSI;

• Gajim;

• MDC.

If you use MacOS, you will be able to do without downloading third-party applications. The standard "Messages" program, which is part of this operating system, allows you to connect "Jabber" in it. Log in to the network will be done automatically every time you start.

Mobile clients

Modern services can not be imagined without mobile clients, and finding a person who does not use instant messaging services is quite difficult. Despite the competition from popular instant messengers with multi-million audience, the "Jabber" client for mobile devices exists, and even in several variants. Some projects are in stagnation, and some are actively developing. For example, the program Talkonaut, which has versions for Android and iOS with regularly updated updates.

Talkonaut allows you to not only exchange messages, but also make calls using the VoIP protocol. So, in general, it differs little in functionality from many more well-known competitors, while using the protocol developed by the free community.

Cisco Jabber

It can not be said that the idea of using the KhMPR protocol died in the prime of life, unable to withstand competition. Yes, many projects are held solely on the work of enthusiasts, so the free "Jabber" is not actively developing. At the same time, there are examples of the successful application of this technology in the corporate environment.

In 2008, Cisco Systems (one of the world leaders in the IT industry) acquired the Jabber XCP platform. Over the past time, the company has been able, using the free protocol of the MMRP, to turn this project into a successful corporate product. Users can access instant messaging, voice and video calls. Cisco Jabber versions are developed for Windows and MacOS, and for mobile platforms - for iOS and Android. The product is being promoted in the corporate market as a modern integrated solution for organizing a multifunctional communication.

Jabber and Linux

What is "Jabber" is well known to users of Linux. Any distribution of this free operating system (regardless of what graphical environment it uses) contains a built-in program for instant messaging. Virtually any of them can connect and work on the protocol of the CMRD.

One of the interesting features supported by this program are conferences. These are specially created themed rooms, some sort of virtual clubs of interest. To participate in such a conference it is enough to have a working "Jabber". Registration in each of them is not required separately. On the Jabber.ru server, you can find a list of current conferences with a link to real time.

Every day, on a regular basis, hundreds of such small forums work. More than half are devoted to different versions of Linux. In them you can ask a question and quickly get a response from other Linux users.

Advantages and disadvantages

We will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of this technology to understand why, after a stormy start and the "golden age" of its use, it has been pushed aside by more successful rivals with closed protocols.

Benefits:

• Flexible network architecture using a decentralized access mechanism.
• Openness of the XMPR standard for software developers.
• Security and encryption at the server and client level.
• Extensibility of the platform by using network transports.

Disadvantages:

• Unreasonable traffic consumption. More than half of the information transmitted over the network using the CMDDR protocol is user presence data.
• An inconvenient file transfer mechanism, which exerts a strain on Jabber's management servers.

So, we see that the main disadvantage inherent in this protocol is the irrational use of network resources. I must say that work in this direction is underway, and HMRD Standarts Foudation regularly updates the protocol specifications. The mechanisms of compression and direct data exchange between clients have been developed, which allow to reduce the misuse of traffic, thus reducing the overall load on the network.

Prospects

In the previous section, we described the advantages and disadvantages of the Jabber protocol. Eliminating them is not an irresolvable task, and you can expect that the subsequent revision of the specifications will find an acceptable solution. As far as it will help the development of the standard - time will tell. One should assume that the second use boom will not be so large. Social networks quickly concluded that the target audience of users, using the possibilities of server-to-server communication, goes to their pages less.

The response to these actions can be observed using the example of mobile messaging services. The popular WhatsApp was bought by Facebook, but at the same time it has its own development. Messenger allows you to exchange messages with users within the network.

Google, running the Hangouts service, switched to using the proprietary format, eliminating the free Google Talk and thereby tying users to their services even more closely.

The CMDF gives its users freedom of choice and some independence from the social mechanisms of network communication. We will see how much this is necessary. At least for the "Linux" community it will definitely be still long-standing.

Finally

From our materials you learned what "Jabber" is. Acquainted with its history and found a list of programs that allow you to use this instant messaging service. Perhaps, after trying this service in action, you will join a small, but friendly army of his fans.