IM Via Windows Terminal Server 2003

[mashby]

I have a terminal server that I am now responsible for. One of the things that I would like to do, is to offer support to TS users via IM. I've searched the web and have been unable to find an answer, so I thought I'd post it here and see if the collective brain trust here has any answers.

Is it possible to setup a standalone IM server so that when a user is logged into TS they can IM the administrator?

Exchange is not installed on this server and I'd rather not have to go that route. Initally, I was thinking that Jabber might do the trick, but I don't want to go to the trouble of installing the server if it's not going to work.

To paint a picture in order to give you a clearer view of the scenario...

I will be logged in via TS to the server as the administrator. Other users will log in via TS throughout the day and I would like to be able to have two way conversations with them. I don't want the users to see each other, only me. So I would imagine that I would have to setup each IM client for each user, but that's not a problem.

Thoughts, insight, solutions?

Thanks in advance!

[Jeff]

You should take a look at the Trillian Pro 3.0 (as of this time, still in beta, but functional). It includes Apple's Rendevous IM protocol, which creates an ad-hoc IM network across your LAN.

It won't communicate across firewalls or outside the LAN, but if you're using TS, that might be a workaround.

Jabber is another viable possibility. You can download a development version of the Jabber server for free, and give it a try.

[mashby]

Jeff,

Thanks for the reply!

I just started playing with the Alpha build of Trillian Pro 3.0 and you're right, that might be a possible solution. I haven't tested it yet to see how it works with multiple users logging on to the same server, but it might be just the ticket.

As for Jabber, I use the protocol, but I've never setup a server and the documentation seemed a little sparse. Have you set one up, or know of a good link for a walkthrough?

Thanks again for the feedback.