I'm having a real hard time and no clue why the following happens.
The custom device stats can't be updated on remote boxes. I file this as a bug.

I have two asterisk pbx boxes. Box 1 has a ejabberd server installed. Jabber buddies and connections are fine.

xmpp.conf is basically out of the book and nothing fancy:

Server 1:{code}
[general]
debug=yes                               ; Enable debugging (disabled by default).
autoregister=yes                        ; Auto register users from buddy list.

[asterisk]
type=client                             ; Client or Component connection
serverhost=raspbx1                      ; Route to server for example, talk.google.com
pubsub_node=pubsub.raspbx1              ; Node to use for publishing events via PubSub
username=pbx1@raspbx1/astvoip1          ; Username with optional resource.
secret=pbx1                             ; Password
usesasl=yes                             ; Use sasl or not
buddy=pbx2@raspbx1/astvoip2             ; Manual addition of buddy to list.
                                        ; For distributed events, these buddies are
                                        ; automatically added in the whitelist as
                                        ; 'owners' of the node(s).
distribute_events=yes                   ; Whether or not to distribute events using
                                        ; this connection.  Default is 'no'.
status=available                        ; One of: chat, available, away, xaway, or dnd
{code}

and Server 2:{code}
[general]
debug=yes                               ; Enable debugging (disabled by default).
autoregister=yes                        ; Auto register users from buddy list.

[asterisk]
type=client                             ; Client or Component connection
serverhost=raspbx1                      ; Route to server for example, talk.google.com
pubsub_node=pubsub.raspbx1              ; Node to use for publishing events via PubSub
username=pbx2@raspbx1/astvoip2          ; Username with optional resource.
secret=pbx2                             ; Password
usesasl=yes                             ; Use sasl or not
buddy=pbx1@raspbx1/astvoip1             ; Manual addition of buddy to list.
                                        ; For distributed events, these buddies are
                                        ; automatically added in the whitelist as
                                        ; 'owners' of the node(s).
distribute_events=yes                   ; Whether or not to distribute events using
                                        ; this connection.  Default is 'no'.
status=available                        ; One of: chat, available, away, xaway, or dnd
{code}

on both boxes is the following hint:{code}
[from-internal-custom]

exten => 6123,hint,Custom:ext100
{code}


Okay, problem is to set the custom device state ext100 FROM box 2. Box 1 should reflect this state.


On box 2:{code}
raspbx2*CLI> devstate change Custom:ext100 RINGING
Changing ext100 to RINGING

<--- XMPP sent to 'asterisk' --->
<iq to='pubsub.raspbx1' from='pbx2@raspbx1/astvoip2' type='set' id='aaaau'><pubsub xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub'><publish node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'><state xmlns='http://asterisk.org' eid='b8:27:eb:45:01:68' cachable='1'>RINGING</state></item></publish></pubsub></iq>
<------------->

<--- XMPP received from 'asterisk' --->
<message from='pubsub.raspbx1' to='pbx2@raspbx1' type='headline'><event xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub#event'><items node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'><state xmlns='http://asterisk.org' eid='b8:27:eb:45:01:68' cachable='1'>RINGING</state></item></items></event><headers xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/shim'><header name='Collection'>device_state</header></headers></message>
<------------->

<--- XMPP received from 'asterisk' --->
<iq from='pubsub.raspbx1' to='pbx2@raspbx1/astvoip2' id='aaaau' type='result'><pubsub xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub'><publish node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'/></publish></pubsub></iq>
<------------->
raspbx2*CLI> core show hints

    -= Registered Asterisk Dial Plan Hints =-
                   6123@from-internal-custom: Custom:ext100         State:Ringing         Watchers  0
                    200@ext-local           : SIP/200               State:Unavailable     Watchers  0
{code}

and the coresponding log on box 1:{code}
<--- XMPP received from 'asterisk' --->
<message from='pubsub.raspbx1' to='pbx1@raspbx1' type='headline'><event xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub#event'><items node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'><state xmlns='http://asterisk.org' eid='b8:27:eb:45:01:68' cachable='1'>RINGING</state></item></items></event><headers xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/shim'><header name='Collection'>device_state</header></headers></message>
<------------->
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3023 xmpp_pak_message: XMPP client 'asterisk' received a message
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1359]: res_xmpp.c:1220 xmpp_pubsub_devstate_cb: Returning here
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:666 handle_devstate_change: Processing device state change for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Ringing' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:619 process_collection: Aggregate devstate result is 'Ringing' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:641 process_collection: Aggregate state for device 'Custom:ext100' has changed to 'Ringing'
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1414]: app_queue.c:1806 handle_statechange: Device 'Custom:ext100' changed to state '6' (Ringing) but we don't care because they're not a member of any queue.
[2013-02-12 15:58:40] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3537 xmpp_client_receive: XML parsing successful
raspbx1*CLI> core show hints

    -= Registered Asterisk Dial Plan Hints =-
                    100@ext-local           : SIP/100               State:Idle            Watchers  0
                    101@ext-local           : SIP/101               State:Unavailable     Watchers  0
                   6123@from-internal-custom: Custom:ext100         State:Idle            Watchers  1
{code}
State should be RINGING, but is still IDLE.
Watcher is the BLF-LED on my phone.


But if I set on box 1:{code}
raspbx1*CLI> devstate change Custom:ext100 NOT_INUSE
Changing ext100 to NOT_INUSE
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1418]: devicestate.c:442 devstate_event: device 'Custom:ext100' state '1'
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:666 handle_devstate_change: Processing device state change for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Ringing' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:619 process_collection: Aggregate devstate result is 'Ringing' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:641 process_collection: Aggregate state for device 'Custom:ext100' has changed to 'Ringing'

<--- XMPP sent to 'asterisk' --->
<iq to='pubsub.raspbx1' from='pbx1@raspbx1/astvoip1' type='set' id='aaaap'><pubsub xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub'><publish node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'><state xmlns='http://asterisk.org' eid='b8:27:eb:15:1e:1f' cachable='1'>NOT_INUSE</state></item></publish></pubsub></iq>
<------------->
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1367]: app_queue.c:1908 extension_state_cb: Extension '6123@from-internal-custom' changed to state '6' (Ringing) but we don't care because they're not a member of any queue.
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1367]: chan_sip.c:3864 __sip_xmit: Trying to put 'NOTIFY sip:' onto UDP socket destined for 192.168.2.25:47210

<--- XMPP received from 'asterisk' --->
<message from='pubsub.raspbx1' to='pbx1@raspbx1' type='headline'><event xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub#event'><items node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'><state xmlns='http://asterisk.org' eid='b8:27:eb:15:1e:1f' cachable='1'>NOT_INUSE</state></item></items></event><headers xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/shim'><header name='Collection'>device_state</header></headers></message>
<------------->
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3023 xmpp_pak_message: XMPP client 'asterisk' received a message
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:1325 xmpp_pubsub_handle_event: Returning here, eid of incoming event matches ours!
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3537 xmpp_client_receive: XML parsing successful

<--- XMPP received from 'asterisk' --->
<iq from='pubsub.raspbx1' to='pbx1@raspbx1/astvoip1' id='aaaap' type='result'><pubsub xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub'><publish node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'/></publish></pubsub></iq>
<------------->
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1414]: app_queue.c:1806 handle_statechange: Device 'Custom:ext100' changed to state '6' (Ringing) but we don't care because they're not a member of any queue.
  == Extension Changed 6123[from-internal-custom] new state Ringing for Notify User 100
[2013-02-12 16:01:26] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3537 xmpp_client_receive: XML parsing successful

<--- XMPP received from 'asterisk' --->
<message from='pubsub.raspbx1' to='pbx1@raspbx1' type='headline'><event xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/pubsub#event'><items node='device_state'><item id='Custom:ext100'><state xmlns='http://asterisk.org' eid='b8:27:eb:45:01:68' cachable='1'>NOT_INUSE</state></item></items></event><headers xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/shim'><header name='Collection'>device_state</header></headers></message>
<------------->
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3023 xmpp_pak_message: XMPP client 'asterisk' received a message
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1359]: res_xmpp.c:1220 xmpp_pubsub_devstate_cb: Returning here
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:666 handle_devstate_change: Processing device state change for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:619 process_collection: Aggregate devstate result is 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:641 process_collection: Aggregate state for device 'Custom:ext100' has changed to 'Not in use'
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1367]: chan_sip.c:3864 __sip_xmit: Trying to put 'NOTIFY sip:' onto UDP socket destined for 192.168.2.25:47210
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1414]: app_queue.c:1806 handle_statechange: Device 'Custom:ext100' changed to state '1' (Not in use) but we don't care because they're not a member of any queue.
  == Extension Changed 6123[from-internal-custom] new state Ringing for Notify User 100
[2013-02-12 16:02:49] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3537 xmpp_client_receive: XML parsing successful
raspbx1*CLI> core show hints

    -= Registered Asterisk Dial Plan Hints =-
                    100@ext-local           : SIP/100               State:Idle            Watchers  0
                    101@ext-local           : SIP/101               State:Unavailable     Watchers  0
                   6123@from-internal-custom: Custom:ext100         State:Ringing         Watchers  1
{code}
And just NOW, the state is RINGING.

Seems that there is a update problem.
Why don't I get a RINGING state right after the xmpp message from box 2?

And reseting the state is quite the same.
A NOT_INUSE message from box 2 DOES NOT set the state to IDLE:{code}
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3023 xmpp_pak_message: XMPP client 'asterisk' received a message
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1359]: res_xmpp.c:1220 xmpp_pubsub_devstate_cb: Returning here
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:666 handle_devstate_change: Processing device state change for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:612 process_collection: Adding per-server state of 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:619 process_collection: Aggregate devstate result is 'Not in use' for 'Custom:ext100'
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1374]: devicestate.c:641 process_collection: Aggregate state for device 'Custom:ext100' has changed to 'Not in use'
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1367]: chan_sip.c:3864 __sip_xmit: Trying to put 'NOTIFY sip:' onto UDP socket destined for 192.168.2.25:47210
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1414]: app_queue.c:1806 handle_statechange: Device 'Custom:ext100' changed to state '1' (Not in use) but we don't care because they're not a member of any queue.
  == Extension Changed 6123[from-internal-custom] new state Ringing for Notify User 100
[2013-02-12 16:13:34] DEBUG[1373]: res_xmpp.c:3537 xmpp_client_receive: XML parsing successful

<--- XMPP keep alive from 'asterisk' --->
raspbx1*CLI> core show hints

    -= Registered Asterisk Dial Plan Hints =-
                    100@ext-local           : SIP/100               State:Idle            Watchers  0
                    101@ext-local           : SIP/101               State:Unavailable     Watchers  0
                   6123@from-internal-custom: Custom:ext100         State:Ringing         Watchers  1
raspbx1*CLI> devstate list

---------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Custom Device States --------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---
--- Name: 'Custom:ext100'  State: 'NOT_INUSE'
---
--- Name: 'Custom:ext101'  State: 'NOT_INUSE'
---
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
{code}

Is this a bug or do miss something?