iChat Server 10.5.8 - created chats by 10.6.4 client don't appear

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Level 1

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iChat Server 10.5.8 - created chats by 10.6.4 client don't appear

I have 10.6.4 clients on a 10.6.3 ichat server, and am trying to roll out a 10.5.8 ichat server to replace it. (I know that sounds backwards). Our 10.6.3 server runs a lot of services, and I want to put the ichat server on its own server, and I don't have enough licenses of 10.6 server to do so.

So, connecting to the ichat server running on OSX Server 10.5.8, servername.domain.com, with kerberos and with/without SSL I'm having an issue.

I can log in, chat and what not just fine. When it comes to creating a chat room, however, there are problems.
If I go File->Go To Chat Room (on 10.5.8 ichat server), and type in just a name, ie 'Test', it tells me 'the room name is incomplete.' On 10.6.3 server, I can do this, just type in "Test", click Go, and I create a chat room named Test.

Okay, so I figured I'd have to enter in some sort of FQDN to the chat room on 10.5.8 server, like test@servername.domain.com. This allows me to click Okay, and no error is thrown, but no chat window appears. I can't seem to join a chat room on my 10.5.8 ichat server. I can then disconnect, change my server to the 10.6.3 server, and join one fine.

Is this a limitation/bug with 10.5.8? Anyone run into this issue? I realize my situation's a bit unique in this scenario.

MBP 17, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Jul 8, 2010 11:16 AM

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Answer 1

Tim Harris

Level 4

1,481 points

Jul 8, 2010 11:24 PM in response to Oh4Sh0

Hi

If you could provided real server names it could help people identify problems and give better advice on what to try. I have never tried what you are wanting to do.

The first thing to check is your DNS settings and specifically have you set up a record for conference.server.domain and have you any SVR records set up; you probably don't, but you should with what you are proposing.

Tim

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Answer 2

Oh4Sh0 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 9, 2010 5:08 AM in response to Tim Harris

The server looks to AD for authentication, the new one I'm setting up (10.5.8 serv) is ichat.ourdomain.com. The old one is k4serv.ourdomain.com.

They both have DNS records (and a user connects to the server by entering the server address: ie ichat.ourdomain.com, so they are resolving fine)

There are no 'conference DNS records'. There aren't any for the 10.6.3 server, and the chat rooms have worked fine. Is this a req for a 10.5.x ichat servers?

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Answer 3

Tim Harris

Level 4

1,481 points

Jul 10, 2010 7:43 AM in response to Oh4Sh0

OK - I think you are saying you have two OSX servers - both using AD for authentication?

k4serv.ourdomain.com is the old server and all works fine, but for ichat.ourdomain.com everything works apart from the conference.

I'm not sure what format of usernames you are using, probably user@ichat.ourdomain.com? Can you let me know.

If you ichat.ourdomain.com server is set up correctly you will find the conference unit is called conference.ichat.ourdomain.com I suggest you set up a DNS record to point to the the server ichat.ourdomain.com for that conference address and retest.

I take your point about chat rooms working fine in 10.6.3. They work fine in 10.5.x as well. iChat server is very tolerant of loosely configured DNS services - but if you drift from the 'norm' you need to tighten up on DNS.

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Answer 4

Oh4Sh0 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 12, 2010 7:30 AM in response to Tim Harris

Yep.

Correct on usernames -> username@ichat.ourdomain.com // username@k4serv.ourdomain.com

I will add a DNS entry for conference as well. I was wondering why, from the user's standpoint, a chatroom seems to have to be fully qualified (if a user goes to File->Go To ChatRoom) for the 10.5.8 server, but not for the 10.6.3.

Thanks

Message was edited by: Oh4Sh0

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Answer 5

Oh4Sh0 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 13, 2010 7:31 AM in response to Tim Harris

Created the dns entry for conference.ichat.ourdomain.com that points at ichat.ourdomain.com

From a client:
ichat.ourdomain.com : 192.168.1.16
conference.ichat.ourdomain.com: 192.168.1.16

No change. When I go to file->go to chat room, I am attempting to created a chat room named test@ichat.ourdomain.com. I click Go, the window disappears, and nothing loads.
If I create a chat room at another server, ie test@randomotherserver.ourdomain.com it throws an error: iChat can't connect to the chat room.

So it (still) seems as though the connection is valid, it just never 'loads' a chat window.

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Answer 6

Tim Harris

Level 4

1,481 points

Jul 14, 2010 2:50 PM in response to Oh4Sh0

Seems odd. It should work 'out of the box'.

When the iChat server starts you should see an entry in the log for conference.ichat.ourdomain.com connecting to the router component 'jabberd/router' of the jabber server. Do you see that connection on you server - or any errors?

The /var/spool/ directory should contain a directory called conference.ichat.ourdomain.com and in that directory there should be an entry called rooms.xml and some files with long random names.xml - do you have such entries?

The config details for the conference can be found in a file called muc-jcr.xml under /etc/jabberd/ the file is simple - does it look correct e.g. <name> and <host> tags match conference.conference.ichat.ourdomain.com?

any history with this server - e.g. clean install?

anything looking like an error in the log file /var/jabberd/log/jcr.log

tim

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Answer 7

Oh4Sh0 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 21, 2010 10:00 AM in response to Tim Harris

Yep, I see the log listed.

Jul 21 07:49:01 IChat jabberd/router[118]: [127.0.0.1, port=49164] authenticated as conference.IChat.ourdomain.com
Jul 21 07:49:01 IChat jabberd/router[118]: [conference.IChat.ourdomain.com] online (bound to 127.0.0.1, port 49164)
Jul 21 07:49:01 IChat jabberd/resolver[121]: [conference.ichat.ourdomain.com] resolved to [192.168.1.16:5269] (3600 seconds to live)

The /var/spool/ directory does have the conference directory, but just rooms.xml is the only file -- which just contains <xdb/>. The entries in muc-jcr.xml look correct.. name/host tags are the same and reflect the server's FQDN, as previously referenced.

Server's a clean install of 10.5.8, just setup for this purpose. Only thing I did to it prior to selecting/starting ichat server is binding it to the domain.

Nothing noteworthy in the log.

Thanks for your help, Tim.

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Answer 8

Jul 28, 2010 2:13 PM in response to Oh4Sh0

Hi,

I have a thought.

Can you go to the iChat's Window Menu and see if the window is listed ?
It should be at the bottom below any Buddy List name(s).

It is possible that the Window is Off Screen (where a second Screen may have been ?).

I have done this when using two screens, with Mirroring Off, and not turning the second screen On and the window is still drawn by the OS software as being on the second screen.

I have posted this as I am not entirely sure that you have tested from several computers and not just the Admin machine.
Tim is the Server expert but this struck me as a possible.

10:13 PM Wednesday; July 28, 2010

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 9

Oh4Sh0 Author

Level 1

5 points

Jul 29, 2010 4:49 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Thanks Ralph, I had already thought of that though, and it isn't listed.

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Answer 10

Jul 29, 2010 12:30 PM in response to Oh4Sh0

Ok,

I will leave you with Tim then.

8:30 PM Thursday; July 29, 2010

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Answer 11

Tim Harris

Level 4

1,481 points

Jul 29, 2010 2:24 PM in response to Oh4Sh0

It's strange.

options are I can give (allow) you access to a 10.5 server for you to see if you can access from your clients or if it can be done (you are happy) i'll log into the machine and see if there is anything else. As there in only a rooms.xml file it means the conference was not set up. Is this a intel or PPC machine?

tim

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Answer 12

Oh4Sh0 Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 6, 2010 9:31 AM in response to Tim Harris

It's an Intel xserve (VM running on Parallels server). I'll look at providing you access.

Thanks Tim.

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