Gregory's Server
 48 comments
@aslmx @snikket_im Never heard of snikket, but it's been mentioned repeatedly on here, so I'll check it out, thanks for the reply! @82mhz But if you want to get running quickly, I do definitely recommend to try out @snikket_im  @82mhz not personal experience, but i have the same curiosity and https://github.com/spantaleev/matrix-docker-ansible-deploy has been highly recommended to me @82mhz ran a matrix server for a tiny company (2 full time employees with a frequently changing handful of freelancers and consultants). Matrix was easy to setup, integrate with SSO, and the Element client is very nice. Only hrdle was getting people to understand the need to keep a key backup / code for enrolling new clients. But that isn't a daily occurrence so... Think at this point it may be more "normal user " friendly than XMPP... Especially on the client side (IMO). @82mhz Used to run Openfire by Ignite Realtime XMPP server (Java based) for personal purposes when Gmail was still publicly federating. Openfire is really convenient and easy to setup 👍 Only issue I can remember was some strong encryption library needed to be set up manually due to US encryption export law. @82mhz Please post here your feedback - really curious how much Openfire has improved over time 🤓 @82mhz I have been running a family (two people) Synapse server for a couple of years. No complaints, and recently I added Discord and Signal bridges.  @82mhz Been running @yunohost since the very beginning (or so) I believe and it's a breeze to install and maintain. Also, shall the user want to harden a few config files (nginx security for instance) it's doable without breaking everything. So you're not locked into the ecosystem. They now have tons of applications and a great support forum. It's brilliant.  @82mhz Reliable clients has been the biggest issue. I'm recommending Conversations on Android (available as an APK on the F-Droid website or through the app), Monal on iOS, and Gajim on Linux. An issue: iOS doesn't support background connections and XMPP is designed to use a long term open connection for each client. You'll have to enable push notifications, which means ... everything goes through Monal and Apple. Enable OMEMO. Block IPs by regions your users aren't in and block log failures. @82mhz Also, there are a number of MUCs (group chats, multi user chats in XMPP speak) dedicated to the operators of servers and the various clients. You should at least join the operator's MUC to be responsive to abuse reports or to report to other admins. Final thought: once it's set up, and certificate updates are automated, it's very little work. I keep an eye out for software updates, check the admin mail account, but otherwise have little to do. @82mhz My org runs its own XMPP server for our internal group chat. It works relatively well, and Prosody is a pretty lightweight XMPP server which is relatively easy to set up and configure. XMPP clients aren't the greatest though, and using them is often pretty confusing. I still don't completely understand how all of the XMPP concepts work. @82mhz The hard part is getting them to use one more thing. It was insurmountable in my case. @82mhz I run a @prosodyim server at home for my family. If you're hosting on an home internet connection I would recommend enabling the s2s_keepalive module, if you have problems that your TCP connections get dropped by your ISP. @82mhz I've just set one up in Docker. With the exact same purpose as you describe. I especially like the idea that it's also possible to connect to other 3rd party messaging services too via bridges. So far I've no exerience with it yet on how it performs and what the UX will be. @82mhz I will :) I can interact with other users from the same instance, but somehow I cannot do that with users on other instances (e.g. matrix.org). Something to figure out in the upcoming days.  @82mhz Yes! I run one. Nobody uses it. 😆 I tell people about it, get them on the apps, and then slowly one by one they go back to using WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Instagram... anything else to message. 🤦♂️ I hope you have better luck than I do at convincing people to stick around. The problem is that they only message me on there. None of their other contacts use Matrix.  |
@82mhz I am running several PRosody installs for me and family. Works well and though it sometimes needs a bit of maintenance (certificates mostly), it runs rather smooth for me and i don't think i will stop doing it. For #xmpp there is @snikket_im which is a battery included docker stack for hosting your own xmpp. I tested it and it is quite nice.