Using with MSN Messenger - atauenis/webone GitHub Wiki
The MSN Messenger (also known as Windows Live Messenger and .NET Messenger Service) is an instant messaging service created by Microsoft in 1999. It was the most used IM service in some countries in 2000s, but in 2010s lost its popularity, and in 2017 all servers were shut down.
Nowadays there are a few alternate servers for Windows Live Messenger, allowing to chat using old MSN clients. WebOne Proxy Server can be used to redirect traffic from Messenger application to alternate servers.
Alternate servers
- The most well-done alternate server is Escargot. It is made by a group of developers, and supporting most of MSN Messenger features via almost all versions of client application. The daily contingent of users is near 1000 persons connected. WebOne 0.16.1 and up by default will connect Messenger client applications to Escargot servers.
- Another alternate server is OMessenger. It have less support for client application versions, and is less popular.
WebOne is not affiliated with owners of any of these services in any kind.
How to connect to Escargot
To use Windows Live Messenger application for chat with other people using Escargot server, all is included in WebOne. Just set your WebOne proxy server IP address in Windows Internet Properties control panel. Or set it in MSN Messenger settings window (pre-4.7 versions only).
At moment of write of this article, only a valid e-mail address is required to create a Escargot account. After register you'll get an equivalent of ".NET Passport" in [email protected] username format.
Escargot project supports both original Windows Live Messenger client application and own patched editions. Patched versions are working even without proxy server(s) or any reconfiguration out of box, and original versions are requiring some operations to connect. MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger up to version 4.6 are requiring a registry edit (or a proxy), and unpatched versions 4.7 and up will work only via proxy.
Supported clients
| Version | Status |
|---|---|
| MSN Messenger 1.0 | ✔️ Supported. For compatibility, @hotmail.com is equivalent to @escargot.chat. Also you may specify separate password, as MSN 1 protocol is less secure. |
| MSN Messenger 2.x | ✔️ Supported |
| MSN Messenger 3.x | ✔️ Supported |
| MSN Messenger 4.x | ✔️ Supported. Version 4.6 is recommended for Windows 98/ME/2000 clients. 👍 |
| MSN Messenger 4.7 | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| Windows Messenger 4.x | ✔️ Supported |
| Windows Messenger 4.7 | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| Windows Messenger 5.x | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| MSN Messenger 5.x | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| MSN Messenger 6.x | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| MSN Messenger 7.x | ✔️ Supported.¹ MSN 7 supports receiving offline messages (OIMs), but can't send them to others. |
| MSN Messenger 7.5 | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| Windows Live Messenger 8.1 | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| Windows Live Messenger 8.5/2008 | ✔️ Supported ¹ |
| Windows Live Messenger 2009 | ✔️ Supported. ¹ ³ Recommended version for Windows XP SP3/Vista clients. 👍 |
| Windows Live Messenger 2011 | ❌ Not yet |
| Windows Live Messenger 2012 | ❌ Not yet |
| Messaging (Win8) | ❌ Not yet |
| Microsoft Skype | ❌ Not yet |
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Messenger versions 4.7 and up are requiring Windows XP SP3 or up to successful connect due to limitations of SSL/TLS features of WebOne. This is related to both original and patched editions (patched editions also won't run on anything earlier than XP SP2).
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Messenger versions 4.7 and up are ignoring own HTTP proxy setting, and needs to set WebOne proxy in Internet Properties control panel (MSIE options). Just setting HTTP proxy in Messenger options is not enough due to some bug of the application. Or use Escargot patched versions where the bug is fixed.
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Apps from Windows Live Essentials 2009, such as Photo Gallery, will also successfully log on using Escargot credentials. But none of Internet features, except nice avatar icon at the toolbar, will work. At this moment Escargot does not providing support for photo or video sharing.
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There is no support for Pocket MSN at this moment due to lack of SHA256 certificates support in Windows Mobile / Pocket PC.
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MSN Messenger for Mac probably would work, but haven't fully tested at this moment.
Half-working applications:
| Version | Status |
|---|---|
| MSN Messenger 2.0 for Mac | ✅ It have no option to work via a HTTP proxy. But with a messenger.hotmail.com A 143.198.4.104 HOSTS file for TCP/IP Control Panel (advanced user mode), it's perfectly working with Escargot through a direct connection. Even on MacOS 9.0. 🔗 |
How to connect to OMessenger
This section to be written.
To allow connecting MSN Messenger clients to OMessenger server, remove or rename escargot.conf file in WebOne installation directory or /etc/webone.conf.d/. Then reconfigure using latest manuals for OMessenger.