Protocols/MSNP/MSNP8/Glossary
General · Connecting · Messaging
Overview . Glossary . Connections . Payload Commands . Names . Bitwise AND .
Connections
DS
Dispatch Server. The server that will eventually redirect you to a real NS. Its purpose is load balancing.
NS
Notification Server. Used for authentication, notification, presence, requesting new SB sessions, etc.
SB
Switchboard. The servers used for conversations. They work independently from the NS.
Ping
A client-initiated ping command (PNG) to keep the connection alive on connections that are automatically closed after a period of being idle.
Contact List
FL
Forward List. This is your main contact list. Principals in the FL can be in one or more groups.
AL
Allow List. Contacts on your AL are able to see your status and invite you to conversations (switchboard sessions).
BL
Block List. This list contains contacts that are blocked. They cannot see your status or invite you to conversations (switchboard sessions).
RL
Reverse List. This list contains all contacts that have you on their FL.
PL (MSNP11+)
Pending List. When someone first adds you, they will be added to this list.
Group ID
Number identifying a particular contact list group.
Version Number
Number identifying the current version of personal details, like contact list, BLP and GTC settings and phone numbers.
Commands
Parameter
Additional information included in a command, separated by spaces.
Newline
Used to end commands and fields (\r\n).
Payload Command
A multi-line command. The final parameter of these commands indicates the length of the payload (in bytes). The actual payload follows the command (and its following newline).
Server-initiated Command
Commands that are 'pushed' by the server, and are not a reply to command sent by the client. These commands include presence commands and challenges.
TrID
Transaction ID, a unique ID (32-bit unsigned integer) coupled to a command sent to the server. The TrID is always the first parameter of a command. Its purpose is so that the client knows which command the server is replying to. Not all commands will have a TrID (such as PNG). Server-initiated commands will either have no TrID or a TrID of 0.
Miscellaneous
Challenge
A server-initiated ping to verify whether the user is using an official client, and to check if the client is still alive. Not responding to a CHL or responding with the wrong answer will result in disconnection.
ISF
Microsoft's Ink format. Its format is currently unknown. However, the official client also supports sending and receiving of the GIF format.
MD5
A hashing algorithm that produces a 128-bit hash (known as an MD5 hash) from a given set of data. Used with challenges. See Wikipedia for more info.
SHA1
A hashing algorithm that produces a 160-bit hash (known as an SHA1 hash) from a given set of data. Used with challenges. See Wikipedia for more info.
Official Client
Microsoft's own client: MSN Messenger or Windows Live Messenger.