How to Use Vultr's Jitsi Marketplace Application
Jitsi is an open-source video conferencing platform that enables secure, high-quality video meetings directly in the browser without requiring client software installation. It supports features like screen sharing, chat, recording, and end-to-end encryption for privacy-focused communication. The Vultr Marketplace provides a pre-configured Jitsi instance, enabling quick deployment and setup on a Vultr server.
This guide explains deploying and using Vultr's Jitsi Marketplace Application. You will deploy an instance, configure DNS and SSL, set up user authentication, manage meetings, and implement best practices for production deployments.
Deploy Vultr's Jitsi Marketplace Application
Log in to your Vultr Console and click the Deploy Server button.
Select your preferred server type.
Choose a server location close to your users for lower latency.
Select a server plan based on expected usage:
- 2GB RAM, 2 CPU: Small meetings (up to 10 participants)
- 4GB RAM, 2 CPU: Medium meetings (10-25 participants)
- 8GB RAM, 4 CPU: Large meetings (25+ participants)
Click the Configure button to proceed.
Under Marketplace Apps, search for
Jitsiand select it as the Marketplace Application.Select the Limited Login option from the Additional Features section to create a limited user with sudo access.
Review your configurations and click the Deploy Now button to start deployment.
Note
It may take up to 10 minutes for your server to finish installing Jitsi.
After the instance shows the status of Running, navigate to the Server Overview page and copy the SSH connection details.
Initial Setup and Configuration
After deployment, configure DNS, verify the installation, and secure your Jitsi instance with SSL/TLS before hosting meetings.
Create a DNS A record pointing to your server's IP address, such as
jitsi.example.com.Connect to your Vultr server instance over SSH using the connection details from the Server Overview page.
Verify Jitsi Installation
Check the Jitsi Videobridge service status.
CONSOLEThe service should show as
active (running).Check the Prosody XMPP server status.
CONSOLECheck the Jicofo service status.
CONSOLEAccess Jitsi by visiting
https://YOUR_SERVER_IPin a web browser.You'll see a browser warning because of the self-signed certificate. Bypass it to continue.
Configure Firewall Security
Secure your server by configuring the firewall to allow only necessary traffic.
Allow SSH connections.
CONSOLEAllow HTTP and HTTPS traffic for the web interface.
CONSOLEAllow UDP traffic for video/audio media.
CONSOLEEnable the firewall.
CONSOLEVerify firewall status.
CONSOLE
Secure Jitsi with SSL/TLS
Use Vultr's configuration script to set up your domain and install a Let's Encrypt certificate.
Run the Jitsi configuration script.
CONSOLEWhen prompted, enter your configuration:
The script will output your access credentials:
Save these credentials securely.
Access Jitsi at
https://jitsi.example.comand verify the SSL certificate is valid.
Create and Manage Meetings
Host video conferences using the Jitsi web interface.
Start a Meeting
Open your Jitsi domain in a browser.
Enter a meeting name in the text field.
Click Start meeting to create the room.
If password authentication is enabled, sign in with the admin credentials.
Share the meeting URL with participants to join.
Meeting Controls
During a meeting, you can:
- Mute/unmute audio and video
- Share screen for presentations
- Open chat for text communication
- Raise hand to get attention
- Record meetings (requires additional configuration)
- Set meeting password for additional security
- Manage participants as a moderator
Manage Users
Control access to your Jitsi server with user management.
Add a User
CONSOLE
Enter a password when prompted.
Delete a User
CONSOLE
Change User Password
CONSOLE
Replace admin with the username and newpassword with the new password.
List Users
CONSOLE
User account files are stored at paths like /var/lib/prosody/jitsi%2eexample%2ecom/accounts/admin.dat.
Note
If you see "Account creation/modification not supported", run sudo /opt/vultr/configure_jitsi.sh again and enable password authorization.
Best Practices and Configuration
Implement these recommendations to ensure your Jitsi server runs securely and efficiently.
Security Hardening
Enable password authentication to prevent unauthorized meeting creation.
Use strong, unique passwords for all user accounts.
Keep Jitsi components updated.
CONSOLEConsider enabling lobby mode for meetings requiring approval to join.
Enable end-to-end encryption for sensitive meetings.
Performance Optimization
For high-frequency plans, consider Vultr High Frequency servers for lower latency.
Monitor server resources during meetings.
CONSOLEAdjust Jitsi Videobridge settings for your server capacity.
CONSOLEFor large deployments, consider scaling with multiple Jitsi Videobridge instances.
Backup Configuration
Back up Jitsi configuration files.
CONSOLEBack up user accounts.
CONSOLE
Troubleshooting
This section covers common issues and diagnostic commands.
Check Service Status and Logs
Verify all Jitsi services are running.
CONSOLEView Jitsi Videobridge logs.
CONSOLEView Prosody logs.
CONSOLE
Common Issues
Cannot Connect to Meeting
Verify all services are running.
CONSOLECheck firewall allows required ports.
CONSOLEVerify DNS is properly configured.
CONSOLE
Audio/Video Not Working
Ensure UDP port 10000 is open.
CONSOLECheck Jitsi Videobridge logs for errors.
CONSOLEVerify participants are using supported browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
SSL Certificate Issues
Re-run the configuration script.
CONSOLECheck Certbot certificate status.
CONSOLE
High CPU/Memory Usage
Reduce maximum participants per meeting.
Upgrade to a larger server plan.
Consider load balancing with multiple Jitsi Videobridges.
Use Cases
Jitsi excels in various video conferencing scenarios:
- Remote Team Meetings: Host private standups, one-on-ones, and project syncs without third-party services or data leaving your infrastructure.
- Education and Virtual Classrooms: Run interactive classes, lectures, and training sessions with screen sharing, chat, and moderation.
- Webinars and Workshops: Present to larger groups with Q&A, participant controls, and optional recording.
- Privacy-Focused Conferencing: Keep all communication data within your control on a self-hosted, encrypted platform.
- Healthcare Consultations: Conduct HIPAA-aware telemedicine sessions with secure, private video calls.
- Customer Support: Provide face-to-face support sessions with screen sharing for troubleshooting.
Conclusion
In this guide, you deployed Vultr's Jitsi Marketplace Application and configured it for production use. You secured the server with firewall rules and SSL/TLS certificates, enabled user authentication, learned to manage meetings and users, and implemented best practices for security and performance. With Jitsi's open-source video conferencing capabilities and Vultr's infrastructure, you can host secure, private meetings for teams, education, and business communication.
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