# Chat

The chat feature in Endpoint Central MSP enables administrators to communicate with any logged in user within the network and remote locations. You can maintain the chat history of the chat sessions. Read the following sections to learn more about the chat feature:

1. [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
2. [Setting Up Chat](#setting-up-chat)
3. [Text chat](#initiate-text-chat)
4. [Voice/Video Chat](#voicevideo-chat)
5. [Troubleshooting tips](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/chat/chat_troubleshooting_tips.html)

## Prerequisites

Endpoint Central MSP chat uses port # 8047/8048 as a default port. Ensure that you follow the below mentioned prerequisites before trying to connect a chat session.

- Port # 8047/8048 should be open in the Endpoint Central MSP Server. If you want to change this port [refer this](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/chat/chat_troubleshooting_tips.html#Changing_the_port_numbers_in_the_Desktop_Central_server).
- Configure your browser to allow pop ups from Endpoint Central MSP. In case your web browser blocks the Pop Up, then you will not be able to see the chat window even if the chat session is initiated successfully.

## Setting Up Chat

You can configure the chat history settings even before you initiate the chat session. Follow the steps mentioned below to configure the chat history settings:

1. Click **Tools** -> **Chat**
2. Select **History** and click **Chat History Settings**
3. Enter the number of days for maintaining the chat history. If you choose last 30 days, chat history will be stored only for the last 30 days and the previous chat history files will be deleted (Only logs will be retained for voice/video calls).
4. Click **Save.**

## Initiate Text Chat

To initiate the chat session, follow the steps given below:

1. Click **Tools** -> **Chat**
2. Select the name of the user and **Click** ![](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/chat_home.png) against the specific **user name** under **Action.**
3. Request to connect chat session will be initiated successfully. For more information refer [troubleshooting tips](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/chat/chat_troubleshooting_tips.html).

|  |  |
|---|---|
| ![](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/images/note.jpg) | **'User name'** lists all the users who have currently logged in the computer. This list will be refreshed every 90 minutes. **In case of a user being logged on multiple computers, then both the computers will be listed against the user name from which you can choose to initiate the chat session.** |

## Voice/Video Chat

You can initiate a voice and video chat to provide live assistance to your end users. There are two approaches to establish communication between technicians and end users:

1. Direct communication
2. Communication via Endpoint Central MSP server

For example, consider a scenario where a voice/video call is established between a technician and a user within the same remote location and the Endpoint Central server is located in a different site. In this case, the initial connection will be established using the Endpoint Central server, however further communication will happen seamlessly without the server's intervention thus optimizing bandwidth consumption as well. In cases where direct connection between technician and user fails, all data transfer will be routed via the Endpoint Central server.

For communication via an intermediate component such as the Endpoint Central server, you need to ensure:

1. The dynamic port range (49152-65535) should not be blocked by firewall.
2. If you have rerouted Endpoint Central Server using NAT settings, then dynamic port range should also be configured according to the NAT settings.

## Initiate a Voice/Video Chat

To initiate the chat session, follow the steps given below:

1. Click **Tools** -> **Chat**
2. To initiate a **voice** call, select the name of the user and click ![](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/voice.png) against the specific user name under **Action.**
3. To initiate a **video** call, select the name of the user and click ![](https://www.manageengine.com/products/desktop-central/help/images/video1.png) against the specific user name under **Action**.
4. Request to connect chat session will be initiated successfully. For more information refer [troubleshooting tips](https://www.manageengine.com/desktop-management-msp/help/chat/chat_troubleshooting_tips.html).