Original ipmsg protocol specification is written in Japanese.

This document was translated by Mr.Kanazawa.

This document is not verified yet.

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        IP Messenger communication protocol (Draft-9)    1996/02/21

                                                Modified 2003/01/14

                                                       H.Shirouzu

                                              

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About IP Messenger

 This is a Send/Receive message service using the TCP/UDP Port.

Characteristics

 IP Messenger can be installed in any OS if TCP/IP is used on your machine.

 Dynamic member recognition can be done within your network or specified network.

 You can exchange messages between all IPMsg members.

Function description

 Use TCP/UDP port(default:2425). See the following descriptions

 (Message Send/Receive: UDP, File Send/Receive: TCP)

  1. Command

     1) Command functions (Low 8 bits from command number 32 bits)

 IPMSG_NOOPERATION No Operation

 IPMSG_BR_ENTRY  Entry to service (Start-up with a Broadcast command)

 IPMSG_BR_EXIT  Exit from service (End with a Broadcast command)

 IPMSG_ANSENTRY  Notify a new entry

 IPMSG_BR_ABSENCE Change absence mode

 IPMSG_BR_ISGETLIST Search valid sending host members

 IPMSG_OKGETLIST  Host list sending notice

 IPMSG_GETLIST  Host list sending request

 IPMSG_ANSLIST  Host list sending

 IPMSG_SENDMSG  Message transmission

 IPMSG_RECVMSG  Message receiving check

 IPMSG_READMSG  Message open notice

 IPMSG_DELMSG  Message discarded notice

 IPMSG_ANSREADMSG Message open confirmation notice(added from version-8)

 IPMSG_GETFILEDATA File Transfer request by TCP

 IPMSG_RELEASEFILES Discard attachment file

 IPMSG_GETDIRFILES Attachment hierarchical file request

 IPMSG_GETINFO  Get IPMSG version info.

 IPMSG_SENDINFO  Send IPMSG version info.

 IPMSG_GETABSENCEINFO Get absence sentence

 IPMSG_SENDABSENCEINFO Send absence sentence

 IPMSG_GETPUBKEY  RSA Public Key Acquisition

 IPMSG_ANSPUBKEY  RSA Public Key Response

     2) Option flag (High 24 bits from command number 32 bits)

 IPMSG_ABSENCEOPT Absence mode(Member recognition command)

 IPMSG_SERVEROPT  Server(Reserved)

 IPMSG_DIALUPOPT  Send individual member recognition command

 IPMSG_SENDCHECKOPT Transmission check

 IPMSG_SECRETOPT  Sealed message

 IPMSG_READCHECKOPT Sealed message check(added from ver8)

 IPMSG_PASSWORDOPT Lock

 IPMSG_BROADCASTOPT Broadcast message

 IPMSG_MULTICASTOPT Multi-cast(Multiple casts selection)

 IPMSG_NEWMUTIOPT New version multi-cast(reserved)

 IPMSG_AUTORETOPT Automatic response(Ping-pong protection)

 IPMSG_NOLOGOPT  No log files

 IPMSG_NOADDLISTOPT Notice to the members outside of BR_ENTRY

 IPMSG_FILEATTACHOPT File attachment

 IPMSG_ENCRYPTOPT Code

 IPMSG_NOPOPUPOPT (No longer valid)

 IPMSG_RETRYOPT  Re-send flag(Use when acquiring HOSTLIST)

     3) Extended code flag (hex format combination)

 IPMSG_RSA_512

 IPMSG_RSA_1024

 IPMSG_RSA_2048

 IPMSG_RC2_40

 IPMSG_RC2_128

 IPMSG_RC2_256

 IPMSG_BLOWFISH_128

 IPMSG_BLOWFISH_256

 IPMSG_SIGN_MD5

     4) Extended files for attachment (fileattr low 8 bits)

 IPMSG_FILE_REGULAR

 IPMSG_FILE_DIR

 IPMSG_FILE_RETPARENT

 IPMSG_FILE_SYMLINK

 IPMSG_FILE_CDEV

 IPMSG_FILE_BDEV

 IPMSG_FILE_FIFO

 IPMSG_FILE_RESFORK

     5) Attachment file extended attribute(fileattr high 24 bits)

 IPMSG_FILE_RONLYOPT

 IPMSG_FILE_HIDDENOPT

 IPMSG_FILE_EXHIDDENOPT

 IPMSG_FILE_ARCHIVEOPT

 IPMSG_FILE_SYSTEMOPT

     6) Extended file attribute for attachment file

 IPMSG_FILE_UID

 IPMSG_FILE_USERNAME

 IPMSG_FILE_GID

 IPMSG_FILE_GROUPNAME

 IPMSG_FILE_PERM

 IPMSG_FILE_MAJORNO

 IPMSG_FILE_MINORNO

 IPMSG_FILE_CTIME

 IPMSG_FILE_MTIME

 IPMSG_FILE_ATIME

 IPMSG_FILE_CREATETIME

 IPMSG_FILE_CREATOR

 IPMSG_FILE_FILETYPE

 IPMSG_FILE_FINDERINFO

 IPMSG_FILE_ACL

 IPMSG_FILE_ALIASFNAME

 IPMSG_FILE_UNICODEFNAME

  2.Command format(Use all character strings)

     1) Command(Format version-1)

 Ver(1) : PacketNo : SenderName : SenderHost : CommandNo : AdditionalSection

     2) An example for Message Send/Receive by using the current command format

 "1:100:shirouzu:jupiter:32:Hello"

  3.Command process overview

     1) Member recognition

 An IPMSG_BR_ENTRY command notifies a new entry to the current

 members at start-up.

 All members add the new member to their list after getting a notification message.

 An IPMSG_ANSENTRY command sends a message back to the new member.

 The new member gets the current member data by a

 IPMSG_ANSENTRY command. All members can communicate as long as an

 IP packet exists.

 An IPMSG_BR_ABSENCE command broadcasts absence mode cancel or

 nickname change to all members. However, an IPMSG_ANSENTRY command

 does not send a message back, which is different from an IPMSG_BR_ENTRY

 command.

 IPMSG_BR_ENTRY, IPMSG_ANSENTRY, and IPMSG_BR_ABSENCE commands

 use an IPMSG_ABSENCEOPT flag for absence mode. Input a nickname to

 additional command.

 Add an IPMSG_DIALUPOPT flag for dial-up users who can't be reached by

 a broadcast command.  A member recognition command needs to be

 sent individually to the members with this optional flag.

 (Extended group)IPMSG_BR_ENTRY and IPMSG_BR_ABSENCE commands

 sends a group name by adding the new group name after the current

 command format character strings (Input '\0' between the current

 command and extended name).

     2) Send/Receive Message

 Send Message uses an IPMSG_SENDMSG command that can input a message

 in the extended area.

 Receive Message sends back an IPMSG_RECVMSG command only

 if an IPMSG_SENDCHECKOPT flag is ON. Input the original packet number

 to the extended area.

 Broadcast Message Send uses an IPMSG_BOADCASTOPT command

 and an IPMSG_SENDMSG flag should be ON.

 Auto-Send packet(absence notice) needs to be added to IPMSG_AUTORETOPT

 for ping-pong protection. If either one or another packet is ON, then

 confirmation/auto-send packet is not sent back.

 Send Message Sealing needs to be an IPMSG_SECRETOPT packet ON.

 In this case, Receive Message sends an IPMSG_READMSG command.

 Input the original packet number to the extended area.

 (Additional IPMSG_NOADDLISTOPT)

 When receiving an IPMSG_SENDMSG packet from a host that is

 not on your Send/Receive list, IPMsg will either confirm a host by

 sending an IPMSG_BR_ENTRY command or add a host name to

 the Send/Receive list.

 However, single-shot Message Send/Receive action needs to be avoided.

 Add an IPMSG_NOADDLISTOPT flag to an IPMSG_SENDMSG command.

 (Additional IPMSG_READCHECKOPT from version-8)

 When an IPMSG_READMSG command contains an IPMSG_READCHECKOPT flag,

 IPMsg process is the same as IPMSG_SENDMSG with an

 IPMSG_SENDCHECKOPT flag.

 However, Send Message uses an IPMSG_ANSREADMSG command, 

 not IPMSG_RECVMSG.

     3) Message Send/Receive 亅encrypted extension (Added in the version-9)

 Use the combination of Public-key(RSA) and common key(RC2/Blowfish).

 (Encrypted extension area is used in hex format.)

 (Public key acquisition)Send an IPMSG_GETPUBKEY command to Receive

 Message. Receive Message gets an IPMSG_ANSPUBKEY that

 means receiving RSA public key from Send Message.

 IPMSG_GETPUBKEY/IPMSG_ANSPUBKEY both require the value which is

 encryption capability (Exp. IPMSG_RSA_1024) flag uses "OR" at first

 part of extension 

 In addition, In IPMSG_ANSPUBKEY, public key written as EE-NNNNNN

 E=Exponent丄N=method)devide by ':'. and Input the Fdelimiter '-'

 between E and N.

 This sequence can be skipped after the 2nd Send/Receive process by

 memorizing public key and encrypted data.

 

 (Encrypted message)After a sender creates a common key that is

 supported both sender and receiver, a common key can encrypt a message.

 In addition, a receiver's public key encrypts the common key.

 (Encrypted message transmission) IPMSG_ENCRYPTOPT is used in

 IPMSG_SENDMSG. At the first part of extension, input the value which

 is 'or' resoult from Convination of public key and common key type .

 Then use common key which encrypt with public key devide by ':'.

 Then input message which is eccrypted by public key devide by ':'.

 If both supports IPMSG_SIGN_XXX, then add ':' and signeture.

 Also, In the method of encode padding, PKCS#1ECB key is used for RSA,

 PKCS#5 CBC common key is used for RC2/blowfish.

 Also, The Packet related to Entry manifestation the capability of

 ecryption support using  IPMSG_ENCRYPTOPT

     4) Extension with file attachment(Available from version-9)

 An IPMSG_SENDMSG command with an IPMSG_FILEATTACHOPT flag for

 File transfer (download permission)notification sends a message

 with attachment.

 Input '\0' after the message and attachment file data.

 

 fileID:filename:size:mtime:fileattr[:extend-attr=val1

 [,val2...][:extend-attr2=...]]:\a:fileID...

 (size, mtime, and fileattr describe hex format.

  If a filename contains ':', please replace with "::".)

 When Receive Message downloads an attachment file, an IPMSG_GETFILEDATA

 command requests a data transmission packet to the TCP port that is the same number 

 as the UDP sending port number. Input packetID:fileID:offset to the extended area.

 (Use all hex format.)

 File Transfer side receives the request. After recognizing that it's a correct request,

 then send the specified data (no format)

 When the data receiving side downloads a hierarchical attachment file,

 use an IPMSG_GETDIRFILES command and input a packetID:fileID

 to the extended area and send a data transmission request packet.

 (all hex format)

 Data sending side sends the following hierarchical data format.

 header-size:filename:file-size:fileattr[:extend-attr=val1

 [,val2...][:extend-attr2=...]]:contents-data

 Next headersize: Next filename...

 (All hex format except for filename and contetns-data)

 header-size is from the beginning of header-size to the delimiter ':'

 that is before contents-data. extend-attr can be omitted and used multiple

 extended attributes. Use '=' for data input.

 When fileattr is IPMSG_FILE_DIR, IPMsg recognizes that it is automatically

 in the directory, the next file data is after the directory.

 When fileattr is IPMSG_FILE_RETPARENT, IMPsg recognizes that it returns

 to the parent directory. In this case, File name is always "." and the attribute

 value is the current directory data.

 Sending process starts from the attachment directly and returns the

 IPMSG_FILE_RETPARENT command to the attachment directory.

 Add an IPMSG_FILEATTACHOPT flag for an Entry packet to support the

 attachment file.

     5) Other commands

 When acquiring different versions, send an IPMSG_GETINFO command.

 Receiving side sends the version information character string to

 extended area.

 Send an IPMSG_GETABSENCEINFO command for acquiring an absence message.

 Receiving side sends an IPMSG_SENDABSENCEINFO back if the status is absence mode.

 If the status is not absence mode, a character string "Not absence mode" will be sent back.

     6) Confirmation/Retry

 If a confirmation packet for IPMSG_SENDMSG or IPMSG_RECVMSG is not delivered

 within a specified time, then it will be sent again.

 A number of retry actions or interval period is depended on the current condition.

  4. Other

     1) Linefeed

 Linefeed characters in Send Message is standardized with UNIX type ('0x0a').

 Please change if needed.

     2) Delimiter ':'

 ':' is used as a delimiter. You can't use this delimiter for user name

 and host name.

 If the use/host names contain a ':', please replace with another sign,

 for an example ';'.

 Although using this delimiter isn't problem as yet, I may create an

 escape sequence.

 

     3) Kanji codes

 SJIS

  5. Contact e-mail address

 E-Mail

Note

 See ipmsg.h for command codes.

 Please e-mail me your comments and suggestions.