Gateway between XMPP and IRC Deployments
The M-Link IRC Gateway facilitates connections between IRC and XMPP servers. The Gateway functions by linking IRC Channels with XMPP Multi-User Chat (MUC) rooms on the Gateway. The MUC rooms can be tested by XMPP users on connected XMPP servers and by IRC users on connected IRC servers.
The Gateway holds an IRC connection for each MUC room member and messages the IRC channel on the correct link. Incoming Messages that are coming from IRC will arrive on each link, and the Gateway will make sure that only one message is sent to the MUC room.
The M-Link IRC Gateway utilises the IRC Client/Server protocol to connect to IRC to enhance interconnectivity with different IRC servers and the standard XMPP Server/Server protocol to connect to XMPP servers. Management tools (such as Isode MLC) which use the Client/Server protocol can link to the M-Link IRC Gateway for system configuration and monitoring.
Key Advantages
M-Link IRC Gateway offers advantages for XMPP systems users and administrators, including:
- Involving the IRC is totally visible to the XMPP user. The user will see a regular MUC room, which is connected to an IRC channel.
- Full MUC functionality is available locally
- There is no security downgrade for XMPP users with XMPP traffic.
- Available M-Link security label support, which includes translating to IRC users as FLOT labels in the IRC messages.
- The XMPP administrator controls MUC room naming. Matching IRC channel naming is not necessary.
Management
Managing the MUC rooms connected to IRC and managing the connection is effected using M-Link’s management GUI, M-Link Console (MLC).
MUC rooms for connection to IRC channels can be set up through configuration with all of the security and access features for standard XMPP MUC rooms in M-Link.
IRC to XMPP Migration
IRC is widely utilised for military networks. Many military networks are to upgrade from IRC to XMPP, and the M-Link IRC gateway approach supports this.
With the help of the M-Link model, an XMPP MUC room matches each IRC channel. As users can be added to the XMPP MUC room as they move from IRC to XMPP. The IRC channel can be switched off when there are no IRC users, an easy-to-follow process for XMPP users.