MSNP协议的通信过程[En]

You have been using MSN for quite some time wondering how it works. Well You need not look any further. This article will not just tell you how MSN works but will also tell you how to make your own version of MSN messenger. You can download a sample application from here MSN Clone .Let's get ready to rumble!!!!

 

We can split up the working of MSN messenger into 2 phases

• Authentication Phase

• Instant Messaging Phase

 

The Authentication Phase involves logging into the MSN messenger server and also (friends) list retrieval in this case.

The Instant Messaging Phase involves sending/accepting requests for an Instant Messaging session and also sending/receiving messages.

 

The MSN messenger protocol is an ASCII based protocol. In other words the commands are in pure English !!!.The first phase involves connecting to an MSN messenger server .In this case we shall connect to the server 64.4.13.58 on port 1863(MSN messenger works through port 1863).

Once the connection is done we need to start the log in process. The first stage in this phase is the versioning stage. In this stage the client (in this case your app) lists/sends the versions that it can support to the server and waits for the server to respond.

VER 0 MSNP7 MSNP6 MSNP5 MSNP4 CVRO

In the MSN messenger protocol a "trial id" is sent along with every command. The trial id starts from 0 and is incremented every time the server responds successfully to the client's commands.

 

The server responds like this

VER 0 MSNP7 MSNP6 MSNP5 MSNP4

The Client and the server have agreed on a version in which they will communicate.

 

Next the client sends a request to the server asking it for the name of the security package it supports for authentication.

INF 1

Unlike Yahoo, Rediff and a few other Messengers MSN does not actually send the password as it is.It encrypts the password while sending it ensuring that your password will not be leaked out easily if somebody monitors your port.

 

The server responds with this

INF 1 MD5

Here MD5 is the name of the security package which the server currently supports.

Next the client sends the userid to the server

 

USR 2  MD5  I  venky_dude@hotmail.com

Here the server does a check whether it contains all the relevant details about the user for authentication .If it does not then it sends the following reply

 XFR 2  NS 64.4.13.55:1863  0