About GAIM

GAIM is an open-source Instant Messaging software program recommended for Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Unix-based computers. It can be used with the Jabber service at Rutgers as well as other networks such as AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger all and the Jabber network at the same time.

GAIM supports many features of the various networks, such as file transfer with other GAIM users, away messages, typing notification, and MSN window closing notification. It also provides many unique features such as Buddy Pounces, which enable certain actions like sending a message, playing a sound, or running a program when a specific buddy goes away, comes online, or returns from being idle. GAIM also offers plugins, consisting of text replacement, a buddy ticker, extended message notification, iconify on away, spell checking, tabbed conversations, and more.

The Rutgers Office of Information Technology supports GAIM only for University users.

Installing and Configuring GAIM for Jabber at Rutgers

Note: Using Jabber with GAIM on the Rutgers Network requires an existing NetID account on the Rutgers Central Server Systems. Rutgers University students, faculty and staff can create a NetID and an associated e-mail account by clicking here.

Make sure you download the current version of GAIM from the table on this page to the computer desktop, and double-click the icon to begin installation. When the Setup Wizard finishes, click the Finish button to run the program and start configuring GAIM for the Rutgers Network. The Add Accounts and Login dialog boxes will all automatically open:

1. Click on the Add Account dialog box and from the pull-down menu to choose a Protocol, select Jabber:

2.The Add Account dialog box should open:

• Screen name: Enter the Rutgers NetID in all lower-case letters
• Server: Enter rutgers.edu in all lower-case letters
• Resource: Leave the automatic entry of Gaim.
• Password: The Office of Information Technology strongly recommends that for security reasons passwords not get entered or saved and the Remember password box remains unchecked, so that someone unauthorized to use your computer cannot access your personal account.
• Alias: Optional; enter a name that would appear with your NetID in Jabber messages.
• Auto-Login: Checking this option enables GAIM to automatically log you into the Jabber network each time you start your computer. The Office of Information Technology recommends this option also not be used for security reasons.

Note: Users of older versions of GAIM would benefit from upgrading to the latest version from the table on this page .

4. Click Save to close the box. The new account will be listed in the Accounts box.

5. Close the Accounts box. GAIM is ready to use with Jabber on the Rutgers Network.

 

Using GAIM and Jabber on the Rutgers Network

Using the GAIM Toolbar

1. Start GAIM by double-clicking the icon on the desktop, and log into the Jabber chat service:

2. The Buddy List should then display, which includes a toolbar from which features such as Buddies and Tools options can be chosen and set, such as the examples below:

 

Adding Buddies

Adding buddies with Jabber requires using the Rutgers NetID with the format netid@rutgers.edu although aliases or nicknames can be set later. However, aliases do not change the NetID just how they appear in the buddy window. To add buddies:

1. On the menu bar of the Buddy List select Buddies then Add Buddy:

2. The Add Buddy dialog will display. In that enter the following:

• The Screen Name for the buddy as netid@rutgers.edu
• An Alias such as a first name or nickname if desired
• Choose a Group in which the buddy is to be placed. Buddies can be sorted by custom-named groups if you wish
• Choose the Account in which the buddy is located. For example, a Jabber user would be selected by that account. The same would go for AOL, Yahoo! etc.
• Click Add to complete the addition of your buddy

It's important to know that unlike other IM services, adding buddies in Jabber requires obtaining authorization from someone to be added to a buddy list. For example, you may want to add a friend and so invite her by entering the NetID as netid@rutgers.edu, or a friend will enter your NetID to send you an invitation. In either case, the prospective buddy will need to approve or deny the authorization. The OIT recommends allowing authorizations only for people you know well. Here is an example of a request a prospective buddy would receive:

 

1. Click Authorize to allow the addition to the other person's buddy list. Doing so will also offer the option of adding that person to your buddy list:

 

2. Click Add to list the other person (clicking Cancel will allow your NetID to appear on the other person's list but she or he will not be added to your buddies roster, or vice versa).

 

3. Removing a buddy is a matter of selecting the NetID and making the appropriate selections from the Buddy List menus or using the shortcut menu by right-clicking the mouse once:

Note: Buddies can be moved between groups in the Buddy Roster by clicking the NetID with the mouse and using drop-and-drag, but both buddies must be active to do so.

Creating a Chat Room

Group chats allow any number of people can participate a single conversation. To create a chat room:

1. Select the Buddies menu, then Add a Chat:

2. Select the Account as Jabber from the menu choices. The Server, Handle and Group will automatically be filled in by GAIM with chat.rutgers.edu, your NetID, and Jabber respectively. Enter a Room name and an Alias by which you wish to be known while in the chat room (a password is not required):

 

4. Click Add and a new entry should appear in the Buddy List window:

 

 

5. Double-clicking on the room will open a dialog box offering two options: accept the defaults for the room or you may custom set the room to specific perferences. Choosing Accept Defaults will directly open the room and you may proceed to invite buddies and start chatting, while selecting Configure Room allows specific setting for the room.

Click here for information about configuring room options.

 

 

6. People can be invited into a room by clicking the Invite button at the bottom of the chat window. A quick and easy way to gather people into a chat room is to click on a name in the buddy list, which will invite that person to the room. A popup invitation will then appear on the invitees' screens. Accepting an invitation will bring you immediately into the room, unless a password is required; in that case a dialog box asking for the password should appear.

Note: An existing chat room can be joined by clicking the Chat button at the bottom of the Buddy List window:

6. To exit a chat room choose Close from the Conversation menu:

7. To remove a standard chat room, select the room name from the Buddy List and make the appropriate selection from the menus or using the shortcut menu by right-clicking the mouse once:

 

Groups are a convenient and efficient way to organize buddies, such as by 'work,' 'personal' or another category:

1. From the Buddies menu, choose Add Group and that dialog box will open with a prompt for a new Group name. Enter the name of the group:

2. Click Add and the new group will appear in the Buddy List window:

 

3. To remove a group, select the group name and choose the appropriate selection from the Buddy List menu or use the shortcut menu by right-clicking the mouse once:

 

 

Need Help?

Contact a Computing Help Desk on your campus:

Camden: 856-225-6274

New Brunswick/Piscataway: 732-445-HELP (4357) or send e-mail to helpdesk@nbcs.rutgers.edu

Newark: 973-353-5083

For more information contact Joseph E. Donato, Manager, IT User Services at jodonato@rutgers.edu
Last updated: October 11, 2005