AIM/iChat DNS entries for documentation

[CursedSilicon]

Hi team,

We've been working on deploying Retro AIM Server semi-privately as part of a "retro computing ISP" project set to become public later this year.

As part of this we've got a custom DNS server with overrides for older software where possible. The rationale being that it's easier for us to patch things at a network level than have users modify their clients.

AIM (up to version 6.1 tested) currently uses the following hostnames that would need to be modified by the user to run their own server in the same way.

This list isn't exhaustive and the IP address is just for demonstration purposes (these settings overrides are copied from a DNSMASq entry on our private DNS server)

Some of these are just for serving ads in the client and other miscellaneous functionality. But we've redirected everything just to ensure broad compatibility. It's also possible to replace the banner ad image printed at the top of the client (see screenshot) but that is outside the scope of this ticket.

These DNS overrides should also work for other 3rd party clients (GAIM, Pidgin, Trillian, Digsby, etc) but are currently untested. Apple iChat IS confirmed to work and is demonstrated in conversation with an AIM client below in the screenshots.

172.23.0.20     www.aim.com
172.23.0.20     www.aol.com
172.23.0.20     aim-charts.pf.aol.com
172.23.0.20     aimtoday.aol.com
172.23.0.20     s.aolcdn.com
172.23.0.20     cghmn.cursedsilicon.net
172.23.0.20     login.oscar.aol.com
172.23.0.20     configuration.apple.com
172.23.0.20     login.messaging.aol.com
172.23.0.20     kdc.uas.aol.com
172.23.0.20     browser.cdn.aol.com

I've also attached screenshots demoing both the server output and an XP SP3 client connected

[mk6i]

Thanks for the info. I plan on creating a detailed client compatibility list and will take this info into account. Excited to hear about your project. Please continue to file bug reports :)