docs: def connect(self):
          """Connect to the chatroom's server, sets up handlers, invites members as needed."""
          for m in self.params['MEMBERS']:
              m['ONLINE'] = 0
              m.setdefault('STATUS', 'INVITED')
  
          self.client = xmpp.Client(self.jid.getDomain(), debug=[])
          conn = self.client.connect(server=self.params['SERVER'])
          if not conn:
              raise Exception("could not connect to server")
  
          auth = self.client.auth(self.jid.getNode(), self.params['PASSWORD'])
          if not auth:
              raise Exception("could not authenticate as chat server")
  
          #self.client.RegisterDisconnectHandler(self.on_disconnect)
          self.client.RegisterHandler('message', self.on_message)
          self.client.RegisterHandler('presence',self.on_presence)
          self.client.sendInitPresence(requestRoster=0)
  
          roster =  self.client.getRoster()
          for m in self.params['MEMBERS']:
              self.invite_user(m, roster=roster)