[Serusers] Jabber module...

[sip]

I was attempting to muck with the Jabber module from ser-0.9.4 stable
release... but, while the module compiles without a hitch, installing it kills
the server. 

I get pages and pages of: 

Dec 16 15:12:02 death /usr/local/sbin/ser[3993]: get_connection(): Inherited
open database connections, this is not a good idea 

Messages in the log with the occasional 

Dec 16 15:12:02 death /usr/local/sbin/ser[4000]: db_init(): Could not create a
connection 


I didn't make any config changes.  The database exists and is accessible.  All
I did was load the module and set the modparams. 

Is the Jabber module no longer really usable? If not, are there alternatives?
I know the new presence stuff uses an Xcap server, but I was kind of hoping to
hold off on all that until it became a little less constantly tinkered with. :)

N.