Date Last Reviewed:
03/07/2007
GAIM is an instant messaging (IM) client for Linux, BSD, Mac OS X, and Windows. In addition to GroupWise messenger, GAIM supports AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, and many other IM protocols.
GAIM is not officially supported by ITS. This information is provided solely for the convenience of users already using this application.
The GAIM client, as well as installation instructions can be found at can be downloaded from gaim.sourceforge.net.
Important Note: Before installing any software on your workstation, you should first contact your Local Area Network Administrator for approval.
The following instructions assume that you have already installed the GAIM client on your workstation. They are intended to be used as a guide to configuring the client for use with NIU's GroupWise Messenger server after installation is complete.
After launching GAIM, you will be presented with three windows: Login, Add Account, and Accounts.
In addition to being displayed the first time GAIM is launched, the Add Account window can be displayed by clicking the Add button from the Accounts window.
From the Protocol: drop-down box, select GroupWise.
In the Screen Name: field, enter your full-context NDS AccountID.
Note: If you do not know your full-context NDS AccountID, you can find it by visiting the Fully Qualified Name Lookup Utility provided by Human Resources.
Enter your Novell AccountID, and click the Find button. The utility will return the Fully Qualified Name that corresponds to your full-context AccountID. Enter this into the User ID: field, and click OK.
Enter your NDS password into the Password: field.
Select the disclosure box displayed to the right of ht text Show more options. The text will change to Show fewer options, and three new input fields will be displayed.
Enter the following information into the appropriate fields
Server Address: messenger.niu.edu
Server Port: 8300
Click the Save button. The Add Account window will close, and the Accounts window will be updated to display the new account.
From the Accounts window, check the Online box to the right of your full-context AccountID.
If you would like GAIM to automatically sign into GroupWise messenger when it is launched, click the Auto-login check box.
From the Buddy List window, Select the Buddies menu and Add Buddy...
You will be presented with the Add Buddy window.
Enter the full-context LoginID for the user you would like to add into the Screen Name: field.
Enter an optional alias into the Alias field. The alias will be displayed in place of the AccountID in the Buddy List window.
Select GroupWise from the Account drop-down list.
Once a user has been added to your Buddy List, they will appear in the Buddy List window whenever they are signed into the GroupWise messenger server.
Double-click the name of a user in the Buddy List window to open a new message window.
Your message will appear in the bottom portion of the message window. Press Enter to send.
Your message will disappear from the bottom portion of the window, and will appear in the top portion. Replies will appear in the top portion of the window immediately below your message.