MSN Messenger on my LAN

[StevieM]

May be an obvious question to some but I am looking for a bit of advise here.

If users on my internal LAN are using MSN messenger to talk to each other. As far as I am aware they are not going externally as the firewall blocks the port (113 is it?) but I would like to know what impact this will be having on the network.

Any ideas?


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There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary and those that don't!!
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[PapaSmurf]

I could be wrong but doesn't MSN Messenger need to contact a ms passport server to log on? Funny feeling it reverts to using port 80 too, so I don't think your firewall is blocking anything?

The traffic is low, but you need to think about people wasting tme chatting to mates over the net.

 

[PapaSmurf]

I could be wrong but doesn't MSN Messenger need to contact a ms passport server to log on? Funny feeling it reverts to using port 80 too, so I don't think your firewall is blocking anything?

The traffic is low, but you need to think about people wasting time chatting to mates over the net.

We use Exchange 2000 Instant messaging server, which will let your local clients run Windows Messenger to be able to communicate internally.

 

[wdoellefeld]

Absolutlely the traffic is going external. As far as the impact on the network it depends on how robust it is. It probably won't even make a dent on the local network but your Internet connection will be used.

FRCP

http://www.frcp.net

 

[StevieM]

Wdoellefeld, do you mean that even of they are chatting internally, all the traffic will be going out and back in again?



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There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary and those that don't!!
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[wdoellefeld]

That's correct. The traffic goes out and back in. You are not connected point to point internally.


FRCP

http://www.frcp.net

 

[SmokinRR]

Are you using Exchange? You can always setup instant messaging through exchange, then use messenger to connect internally to your exchange server. You then don't need to go outside of your lan. (I think you can actually disable the passport functionality so that it only works with exchange.)

FYI, I am using the instant messaging functionality with exchange, and have noticed not impact from this on my network.

J

 

[mpriess]

If you want to prevent it from running altogether you can disable it from the registry via scripting or group policy. Let me know if this is what you want to do and I can get you the details.

Also, you can use a sniffer or firewall prodcut to see what the network utilization is for IM traffic but it is not much unless users are actively sharing files which opens up the other big can of worms....SECURITY. Instant Messaging is a huge hole. It is going to be exploited sooner rather than later for some very bad things.

(NOT A PROMOTION) - I do not work for Microsoft...
If you are looking for more control - Microsoft Office Live 2003 will allow you to provide secure communication using Messenger internally and extternally through federation (not MSN Messenger though). I've been testing this product recently and it works but linking up to Yahoo, ICQ and AOL is still being developed. Supposed to be ready Q1 05.

Thanks,
Mark