If you do not have Windows Resource Tools Kit then you would have to download it.  It is free and available from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en and AnyServiceInstaller by Marceln from

 Now log into your Administrator account of your WHS either via Remote Desktop Connection, Advantage Admin Console Add-in or directly (Mouse, Keyboard and Monitor).  And install the Windows Resource Tools Kit.

With the AnyServiceInstaller on one of the shared folders (if downloaded on another computer) run that and change the Mode to Advanced and then you have to select the location of the Resource kit then you have to select the application that you want as the service the address of this is C:\Program Files\Openfire\bin\openfire.exe.  Now you will need to give the service a name, it is best to name the service as Openfire so you can see easy that it is running.  Now you will need to enter the username and password, this is the administrator account of your WHS, if you dont trust the program you can just leave the username and password blank and then click on Create.

To manual enter the Username and password you have to go to Administrative Tools and then Services, now you have to find the recently created service and select the Properties and then the LogOn tab and this is where you enter then username and password by select “This account” and then as the username have it as .\Administrator and with the password and confirm password enter the Administrator account’s password.  And click on Apply and make sure that the startup type is Automatic and restart the server.

Or you can either on the WHS go to http://localhost:9090 or http://127.0.0.1:9090 but make sure that you have either disabled the advance security on Internet Explorer or have another browser installed such as Firefox.  If you are using any computer on the network go to http://whs:9090 or the IP assigned to the WHS in you network for example http://192.168.1.2:9090.

When you go to the above address the setup will start and you would have to select you language, then click the Continue button.

On this step of the configuration you can change the domain and ports however as it automatically gets the server name most people can leave that as it is, click on the Continue button.

Now you can configure the database settings, you can pick the easy way and choose the Embedded Database or if you have got a Wordpress instance of a forum running on your WHS then you would have a MySQL database and this is a Standard database connection in the Openfire Server world.  If you want to run a MySQL database keep checking this site as we will be uploading a guide.  But it is better running Openfire on a Standard database connection as there is more feature open to you.

You have to choose which external database (Standard database connection) once you select the database type then you will have to type in all the details such as the username and password.  Then click on the Continue button once you are finish completing the details, it may take up to 1 minute if you have everything correct.

On the Profile settings since the WHS can’t run Active Directory natively then select the Default option.

You will now need to setup an administrator account, try not to use the same password as your WHS administrator.  Enter an email address it could be admin@whs.local if you do not want or trust the software but I used my real email address and have not gain any unwanted emails.  Once you complete this you can click the Continue button.

If you prefer to use hard to remember passwords then write them down and put that book or whatever in a safe.

Once you finished with the Admin account the setup/configure is complete and you can login to the administrator console.

The Chat server that I choose to install and run on my Windows Home Server has plug-ins that allow your clients/users to sign in using their mainstream accounts such as Yahoo, AOL and Windows Live (MSN).

The Chat/Instant Messaging Server/software that I choose is the Openfire from ignite realtime – Jive Software.  They also have a desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux) and a Web-based client to allow users to login and chat.

You will need to download the Openfire software from http://www.igniterealtime.org/downloads/index.jsp select Windows platform and then the “openfire 3 6 3.exe Includes Java JRE (recommended)” put it on the \\Server\Sofware folder.

Start the install off, it will prepare the files.

Select your language and then click OK.

Now the main install will take place, as usual it will recommen that you close all other applications before you continue with the install, and if you require you can cancel the install by clicking on the Cancel button.

Its now time to read the License Agreement (EULA) and accept it to continue with the install, you need to select the “I accept the agreement” and then the Next button will become un greyed.

Now you select the destination directory, this is important bit of information, if you are going to use the embedded database then select the destination (install) directory in the D drive but not in the shares.  If you have MySQL up and running then the default C:\Program Files\Openfire will do.

It will ask you where the program’s shortcuts should be.  I just leaved this as the defaulted as it will not cause any problems.  Click on the Next button.

The setup/install program will now extract and install all the files to the destination directory.

It will then complete/finish the install of Openfire and will ask you if you wish to start/run Openfire when you exit the setup program.

If you selected the “Run Openfire” on the last stage then it will start. 

At the same time as the Openfire program starting up the Windows Firewall will pop up.

With this Security Alert you wish to “Unblock” the Openfire Server so you can have access to the Chat server anywhere on your network and then the Internet when you sort out Port Forward on your router.

Copyright Note:  The screenshots were created by myself, however the program(s) that were screenshoted are copyrighted to Microsoft (WHS Operating System – Security Alert) and ignite realtime – Jive Software (Openfire Server).

To open the ports on your router/gateway you will need to go to the router/gateway admin site, in the table below is the addresses for the popular brands.

Enter the router/gateway admin address and log in using your username and password then go to “Port Forwarding” or “IP Forwarding” or “Service and Firewall Rules”, on this page you enter the IP address of you WHS that is running the Ventrilo Server as it is bad security for your computers and your network to open ports.

Say that your WHS has an IP address of 192.168.1.100 so enter that and then enter the port 3784 and have the type as TCP and UDP.

On some routers/gateways  you will need to add the 3784 as a Service with the Name and type.  Then add it in the Firewall Rules.  And to make sure that both inbound and outboard traffic is not restricted, select both TCP and UDP.

Go to http://ventrilo.com/download.php and download the Server program for Windows, this is named “Windows i386 – 32bit (Version 3.0.3)”, this will be the Server, when you are here (if you have not already) download the client program that suits your computers on your network.

Login to your server via Remote Desktop Connection or directly.

Step by Step install guide

Double click on the .exe file of the Ventrilo server.

Click the “Next” button, on the installer.

Read and then Accept the licence agreement, then click the “Next” button.

In the above image the installer has asked for the Full name and the Organization of the owner of the system and if the application is for anyone on the system or just one.  You can change the Name and the Organization to what you wish, or just leave it as the default.

In the above image the installer has asked where you want the destination folder to be, I just leaved it as the default, but you change it to what ever you want it to be located.

You click on the “Next” button that is shown on the above image and it will start the install.

It finished the install of the Ventrilo Server, now you have to edit the INI file.

Go to “Start” > “All Programs” > “VentSrv” > “Edit INI File”, as shown in the below image.

This will open the Notepad that has the INI details that you can edit.

As you can see from the above image there is alot of settings that you can change.

If you wish to leave it as the default settings then you can but I advise that you do change it.

What settings to change

Name=WHS
Phonetic=WHS
Auth=1
Duplicates=1
AdminPassword=adminpassword
Password=password

The text that is red above you change to what you want it to be, for example instead of WHS for the Name you can have HMS Belfast.  And with the Admin password and the standard (Room) password don’t have them the same.

Make it a Service

To make the Ventrilo Server a service on WHS, click on “Start” > “All Programs” > “VentSrv” > “Service” then “Install”, as shown below.

Then the Service will be installed, as shown below.

Then all you do is to log in using the Ventrilo client.

For Ventrilo server firewall settings click on Ventrilo server on WHS – Firewall settings or goto http://geekpill.co.uk/2009/02/11/ventrilo-server-on-whs-firewall-settings/

Copyright Note:  The screenshots were created by myself, however the program(s) that were screenshoted are copyrighted to Microsoft (WHS Operating System) and Flagship Industries, Inc (Ventrilo Server).