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What is a server
Server comes from “to serve”, which means to serve/deliver. This means that computers that perform work or services for others serve the computers of users connected to them. Such a server is independent of size and can be either a mainframe computer in a data center or a mini-computer such as the Raspberry Pi. Standard PCs or notebooks are often used as XMPP servers.
Why do you need a chat server?
If you want to send messages from one device to another, both devices must be connected and “online” at the same time. However, if the device is switched off or not connected to the Internet, communication would not be possible without further ado. Servers help here and act as intermediaries. Incoming messages are temporarily stored and then made available to the recipient when they have a connection.
Types of registration
To be able to use XMPP, a chat account must be set up with a server. Some servers only offer registration via the browser, others only offer registration directly in or via the chat program (so-called “in-band” registration) and some offer both.
If someone is simply looking for a German-language provider without much thought, they can find what they are looking for from the following list with a clear conscience. Simply choose a provider whose name you like best - after all, this name will be part of the chat address (all the following links in the overview go to EXTERNAL pages)
Anbieter | Rechtsform | Registrierung www / App |
Webchat (Chatten im Browser) |
Speicherdauer Nachrichten |
Speicherdauer Dateien |
Maximale Dateigröße | Kontolöschung bei Nichtnutzung | Vertrag zur Auftrags- verarbeitung möglich | Bemerkungen / Datenschutz |
5222.de | privat | <ja> / ja | nein | 30 Tage +7 Tage MAM |
30 Tage | 50 MB | 1 Jahr | ja | max. 100 Nachrichtenhistorie bei öffentlichen Räumen Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
anoxinon.de | Verein | <ja> / nein | <ja> | 14 Tage | 14 Tage | 25 MB | 1 Jahr | nein | Registrierung mit Captcha (Zahl) Speicherung von IP-Adressen nur bei fehlerhaften Loginversuchen für 72 Stunden. Erlaubt Verbindungen von anderen Servern nur, wenn diese ein gültiges Zertifikat (signierter öffentlicher Schlüssel) vorweisen. Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
conversations.im | gewerblich | <ja> / ja | nein | 90 Tage | 90 Tage | 100 MB | 1 Jahr | ja | Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
draugr.de | privat | nein / ja | ? MAM: 21 Tage |
30 Tage | 15 MB max. 50 MB insg. |
2 Jahre | nein | Mögliche Servernamen: - draugr.de - deshalbfrei.org - ubuntu-jabber.net - verdammung.org - xabber.de Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
|
hookipa.net | privat | <ja> / ja | nein | 365 Tage oder Kontolöschung |
30 Tage | 100 MB | 1 Jahr | nein | Mögliche Servernamen: - bangpath.net (Chat & E-Mail) - hookipa.net (Chat) - nerdculture.de (Chat & Mastodon) - nerdica.net (Chat & Friendica) - nerdwind.de (Chat & E-Mail) - windfluechter.org (Chat & E-Mail) - xmpp.social (Chat) Datenschutzerklärung D/E (extern) |
hot-chilli.net | gewerblich | <ja> / nein | <ja> | 93 Tage +31 Tage MAM |
31 Tage | 512 MB max. 1.000 MB (1GB) insg. |
1 Jahr | nein | Registrierung mit eigenem Captcha Mögliche Servernamen: - jabber.hot-chilli.net - jabber.hot-chilli.eu - hot-chilli.net - hot-chilli.eu - hot-chilli.im - im.hot-chilli.net - im.hot-chilli.eu - jabb3r.de - jabb3r.org - jabber-hosting.de - openim.de - openim.eu - xmpp-hosting.de Datenschutzerklärung (extern) Serverdaten (extern) MUC-Log (Chaträume): 31 Tage |
jabber.at | Körperschaft | <ja> / nein | <ja> | 31 Tage +21 Tage MAM |
31 Tage | 30 MB | 1 Jahr | nein | Registrierung mit eigenem Captcha Die Registrierung ist immer wieder mal deaktiviert. Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
jabber.cat | privat | <ja> / nein | nein | 14 Tage | 14 Tage | 10 MB | 3 Monate | nein | Stand 09/2023: Die Registrierung ist aktuell geschlossen! Registrierung mit Rechenaufgabe Max. 500 Chatkonten auf dem Server Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
jabbers.one | privat | <ja> / ja | <ja> | 31 Tage | 10 Tage | 50 MB (insg. max. 200 MB) |
6 Monate | nein | Registrierung mit h-Captcha Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
jabjab.de | privat | <ja> / nein | nein | 90 Tage +90 Tage MAM max. 1.024 Nachrichten |
30 Tage | 200 MB (insg. max. 256 MB) |
6 Monate | nein | Max. 100 Offlinenachrichten Registrierung mit eigenem Captcha Mögliche Servernamen: - planetjabber.de - jabjab.de - jabberwiki.de - jabberforum.de - ybgood.de - pad7.de … und andere Datenschutzerklärung (extern) Quelle (extern) |
laberzentrale.de | privat | <ja> / nein | nein | max 100 Nachrichten |
30 Tage | 50 MB (insg. max. 500 MB) |
2 Jahre | nein | Mögliche Servernamen: - laberzentrale.de - chatpointcharly.de - schwatzi.de Maximal in 50 Gruppen, maximal 250 Gruppenteilnehmer Datenschutzerklärung (extern) Quelle Serverinformation (extern) |
magicbroccoli.de | privat | <ja> / ja | nein | 365 Tage +90 Tage MAM |
31 Tage | 50 MB | 1 Jahr | ja | Registrierung mit eigenem Captcha Datenschutzerklärung (extern) Quelle Servernformationen (extern) |
mailbox.org | gewerblich | s. Bemerk. | nein | bis online +7 Tage MAM |
7 Tage | 10 MB max. 1 Stunde |
nein, nur bei Vertrags- kündigung |
ja | Chatadresse = E-Mail-Adresse Jährliche Kosten gem. Preisübersicht DSGVO-Selbstauskunft und Regelungen f. digitales Erbe in den Konto-Einstellungen Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
monocles.de | gewerblich | <ja> / nein | <ja> | 60 Tage | 60 Tage | 100 MB | nein, nur bei Vertrags- kündigung |
? | Chatadresse = E-Mail-Adresse = Cloud Login = Mastodon-Registrierungsberechtigung Halbjährliche Kosten (inkl. Cloud, E-Mail, A/V Konferenz, etc.): ab 12,00 €) Datenschutzerklärung (extern) |
pimux.de | privat | <ja> / nein | nein | bis online +30 Tage MAM o. Kontolöschung |
30 Tage | 1.000 MB (1 GB) |
1 Jahr | nein | Registrierung mit Rechenaufgabe Datenschutzerklärung (extern) Quelle Serverinformationen (extern) Serververfügbarkeit (extern) |
systemausfall.org | Verein | <ja> / nein | nein | 365 Tage | 60 Tage | 100 MB | 2 Jahre | nein | Für jedermann: jabber.systemausfall.org E-Mail-Nutzer: systemausfall.org Datenschutzerklärung (extern, Sense.Lab e.V.) |
trashserver.net | privat | <ja> / ja | <ja> | 4 Wochen | 4 Wochen | 100 MB | 2 Jahre | nein | Registrierung aktuell nur auf Anfrage per E-Mail (extern) – ansonsten über selbst gehostetes Captcha Datenschutzerklärung (extern) Quelle Serverinformationen (extern) |
Anbieter | Rechtsform | Registrierung www / App |
Speicherdauer Nachrichten |
Speicherdauer Dateien |
Maximale Dateigröße | Kontolöschung bei Nichtnutzung | Vertrag zur Auftrags- datenverarb. möglich | Bemerkungen / Datenschutz | |
Höchstwert Höchstwert 2 |
- | - | Kontolöschung / bis online |
90 Tage 60 Tage |
1.000 MB 512 MB |
keine 2 Jahre |
- | Für normales Chatten nicht erforderlich („Luxuseinstellungen“) | |
Minimalwert 2 Minimalwert |
- | - | 30 Tage 14 Tage |
14 Tage 7 Tage |
15 MB 10 MB |
6 Monate 3 Monate |
- | Reicht je nach persönlicher Anforderung für normales Chatten aus | |
gewerblich | nein / ja | 30 Tage | 30 Tage | 100 MB / Videos 16 MB |
??? | - | Zur Information und als Vergleich |
Tabelle: Stand Oktober 2024
The requirements for inclusion in the overview are: A German-language website and various functions (extensions) - see also Compliance list (external):
The server of the ChaosComputerClub (CCC) is currently not recommended due to poor availability for questions and connection problems.
All listed providers only allow connections with transport encryption (‘TLS’) of the data; unencrypted connections are not possible.\
Nevertheless, the following differences in technical settings should be taken into account when making a selection:
Maximum file size when uploading (for cached files)
With this limit, operators protect themselves against their computer being blocked, e.g. by huge movie or backup files. Some operators have set a very low limit (2 or 4 megabytes) - others a very high limit (up to 100 MB). As a rule 30-50 MB is sufficient for normal instant messages and the exchange of photos and small videos.
If both sender and recipient are online at the same time, larger files can also be exchanged.
Storage duration of the messages
You must specify how long messages are kept available on the server before they are deleted again. We recommend at least 3-4 weeks so that messages can still be downloaded after a long vacation without an Internet connection.
The storage for “offline messages” and the storage for “distribution to multiple devices” (“MAM”) are technically 2 separate storage areas. Some server operators first store incoming messages in the “pot” for offline messages and then the message is written to the extended “MAM” memory when it is first retrieved - other server operators write messages immediately to the pot for distribution to multiple devices (“MAM”). This may sound confusing at first - but can be helpful when searching for supposed errors.
Example: “Storage duration until online +30 days MAM or account deletion”
Means: Remains in the offline memory until the next login (=online); from then on, the message is also kept in the MAM memory for 30 days for other devices of the same user (or until the account is deleted, if that would be before)
Chatting in restricted networks
Some public networks restrict data traffic to web applications (usually browsers) through certain “ports”. This can be thought of as a door/passageway that a computer can open/close for outsiders and use to offer certain services.
For the connection to a chat server, it is specified (standardized) that the connections with the numbers 5222 and 5223 are to be used - nevertheless, the chat service (here Jabber/XMPP) can also be made available via other connection numbers.
This is important if chatting is to be possible via a firewall or via a public network (WLAN) that only allows browser communication (connection no. 443 or 80), for example.
Not every server supports all common functions and you don’t want to end up with a server that then causes problems. Fortunately, there are various overviews with good and recommendable servers. Here are various pages that list different providers and provide additional information:
Help with choosing a provider/chat server: https://providers.xmpp.net (external; English / still being translated)
Server availability: https://status.conversations.im/historical (external)
Online status of servers
Country of origin, start year and contact https://list.jabber.at (external)
Installed/supported extensions (XEP) / compliance test: https://compliance.conversations.im (external) - Previous version: https://compliance.conversations.im/old/ (external)
Security test / IM-Obervatory: https://check.messaging.one/index.php (external) or https://xmpp.net/index.php (external)
This service allows XMPP users and server administrators to check the security of their servers. It can test the TLS configuration and DNSSEC deployment of XMPP servers, issue warnings about problems with certificate chains, display the list of ciphersuites used by a server and their strength, check DANE records and much more. Each server receives a rating from A to F. More information on the page.
Cipher check of XMPP servers: https://tls.imirhil.fr (external) or https://cryptcheck.fr (external)
International server lists:
Background information
In the Privacy Manual under the heading “Jabber Server”: https://www.privacy-handbuch.de/handbuch_62.htm (external)
If you want to use several chat accounts, it is a good idea not to create them all on one server - this is good for federalization.
For those interested in technology, it is relatively easy to operate a server yourself - with Snikket (see below) even a “simple variant”.
The minimum requirements for a server are relatively low. It is possible to use a minicomputer (e.g. Raspberry Pi) for this purpose. Otherwise, a standard computer (desktop/laptop) is perfectly adequate.
Basic instructions for setting up the Prosody and Ejabberd server: XMPP-Setup (external; PDF file)
When operating a server, server monitoring is important or can be supplemented by remote monitoring:
If an XMPP service goes down in a way that the existing monitoring (if any) cannot detect, it is helpful to have a “second pair of eyes” monitoring it. Via https://observe.jabber.network (external) it is possible to monitor self-hosted XMPP services remotely. Operators can thus be notified of any problems in real time by e-mail if a chat service is no longer available.
https://www.kuketz-blog.de/ejabberd-installation-und-betrieb-eines-xmpp-servers (external)
https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/ejabberd (external)
https://www.df.eu/de/support/df-faq/cloudserver/anleitungen/ejabberd-installieren-debian-ubuntu (external)
Auf einem Raspberry Pi: https://intux.de/2016/01/der-raspberry-pi-als-jabber-server (external)
Öffentliche Ejabberd-Chaträume
https://thomas-leister.de/prosody-xmpp-server-ubuntu (external)
https://azapps.de/blog/2012/08/05/eigener-jabber-server (external)
https://homebrewserver.club/configuring-a-modern-xmpp-server.html (external)
Public prosody chat room:
xmpp:prosody@conference.prosody.im?join
A very good self-hosting solution for family and friends is Snikket (external; English), which is based on the Prosody server software. Strangers cannot open chat accounts with Snikket - but users can of course communicate across servers (interoperably).
Differences:
Snikket | Prosody |
---|---|
Users are created themselves, no external registration | External registration possible |
Almost no configuration options | Hundreds of setting options |
Provided as a ‘container’ | Installation usually as a ‘package’ |
Quick start: https://snikket.org/service/quickstart/ (external)
Instructions: https://notes.nicfab.it/en/posts/snikket/ (external)
In addition to Ejabberd and Prosody (and the special version Snikket), there is other server software such as Openfire (external) or Metronome IM (external), which can be operated by yourself:
https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted#communication---xmpp (external)
There is a good overview here: https://xmpp.org/software/servers.html (external)