The first part (include the IP address as a XML tag within the XML conversation) is clear.
The second however I cannot seem to follow, that is the direct server return you mention... Let's say that we have the setup you indicate, that is:
Client -> LB -> Openfire Server
The Openfire Server recognizes only the internal private IP of the LB as the IP of the client. As such, how can the OF server reply direct to the client if the client's public IP is unknown? What feature/setting should I look for in Rackspace LB?