# Roll Your Own LAN Instant Messaging Platform with OpenFire

## XMPP Server Download and Installation

1. Download OpenFire Download
2. Run the OpenFire installer
3. A browser window should open to http://localhost:9090/setup/index.jsp
4. Select a language > Click Continue
5. Set the XMPP domain name and input the server fully qualified domain name > Click Continue
6. Select Embedded Database > Click Continue
7. Select Default on the Profile Settings page > Click Continue
8. Input an admin email address and password > Click Continue
9. Click the Login to the admin console button
10. Login with username admin and the password created previously
11. Click the Users/Groups tab
12. Click Create New User in the left navigation menu
13. Create a username and password for the new user
14. Follow the steps to create as many users as needed, at least 2 are needed for testing
15. Click the Start Button > Type Control Panel and select it
16. Click Windows Defender Firewall
17. Click Advanced settings in the left navigation menu
18. Select Inbound Rules > New Rule...
19. Select Port > Click Next
20. Select TCP and specify port 5222-5223 > Click Next
21. Select Allow the Connection > Click Next
22. Click Next > Name the rule XMPP > Click Finish
23. Select Outbound Rules > New Rule...
24. Select Port > Click Next
25. Select TCP and specify port 5222-5223 > Click Next
26. Select Allow the Connection > Click Next
27. Click Next > Name the rule XMPP > Click Finish

## Setting Up A XMPP Client

1. Download Pidgin Portable Download
2. Run the Pidgin Portable installer
3. Launch Pidgin Portable
4. Click Add...
5. Select XMPP from the protocol dropdown
6. Input the first username created above along with the XMPP domain setup in OpenFire and the user's password
7. Click the Advanced tab > Select Use encryption if available from the Connection security dropdown
8. Enter the OpenFire fully qualified server name in the server field
9. Click the Add button
10. Click Accept on the self-signed certificate popup
11. Copy the extracted Pidgin Portable folder to another device
12. Launch Pidgin Portable on the second device
13. Select Modify Account
14. Update the username and password to be a different account from the previous device
15. From one of the devices, select Buddies > Add Buddy
16. Input the opposite devices username
17. On the second device accept the message request and the two devices should be able to send and receive instant messages using the OpenFire XMPP server