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Pidgin: GAIM and firewalls

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RossGoodman
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Pidgin: GAIM and firewalls

Does anyone have any recommendations for getting GAIM to connect to the outside world when running from inside a company network where the firewall blocks "non standard" ports.

I'm not holding my breath but thought I'd ask anyway !

Ross

John T. Haller
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Each service is unique

You can change each service to use alternate ports. For AIM, for example.

1. Launch Portable Gaim
2. Click Tools - Accounts
3. Select an AIM account and click modify
4. Expand the Show More Options plus sign
5. Change the port from 5190 to 80 (the AIM server listens on all ports)
6. Click Save

For the others, similar changes are possible. Of course, if a given firewall is configured to block the AIM servers directly and not just the ports, there's not much you can do. Unless you get into tunneling to another network.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

EB (not verified)
I am using Gaim at work,

I am using Gaim at work, unfortunately I have not been able to connect to either AIM or MSN. I am pretty sure that the firewall does not block the AIM or MSN servers, as I can use web-based programmes to access both of them. However, it would be much easier if I could use portable Gaim.

I have tried using the above advice, with no success. Could it be my connection settings? On Portable Firefox, I enter an "Automatic Proxy configuration URL" to connect with no problems. I do not need to enter a username or password.

On gaim, I'm not entirely sure if I have it set up properly. under "Preferences" > "Network", I have put the URL under "Public IP" and set the proxy to "Environmental Settings". If I put the URL under a proxy, Gaim does not even attempt to handshake.

Can anybody suggest a work-around? Thanks.

John T. Haller
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Web-based = VERY different

A web-based IM operates ENTIRELY on port 80 and looks just like a web page to a firewall. A standard IM program is an entirely different animal and works on another port. Did you try configuring AOL to use port 80 as I suggested?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

EB (not verified)
Re: Web-based = VERY different

Ah, I see. Disn't know that about a web-based IM.

Yes, I tried port 80 on both AIM and MSN. It seems the firewall is too solid.

Thanks for your help.

saulchristie
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Prob need to tunnel out...

Use SSH tunnel as proxy.

gnode
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Firewall HowTo

I am having problems getting connected to MSN messenger. I haven't tried any of the other services yet because I'm primarily interested in a free, portable IM client with encryption capabilities, and most of the folks I IM with are on MSN.

Can someone help me configure MSN in GAIM to traverse a firewall? MSN Messenger works behind the firewall, so I know the servers aren't blocked.

Does anyone have a link that explains the various ways to connect to MSN (i.e. network protocols, ports, HTTP method, etc.) and the conditions under which they will work and won't work.

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