How To Install Jitsi Meet on AlmaLinux 9

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Jitsi Meet on AlmaLinux 9. Jitsi Meet is a versatile, free, and open-source video conferencing platform that prioritizes security and ease of use. By hosting Jitsi Meet on your own AlmaLinux 9 server, you gain full control over your data and communication infrastructure. This tutorial will guide you through each step of the installation process, from preparing your system to configuring advanced features.

Self-hosted video conferencing solutions like Jitsi Meet offer numerous advantages, including enhanced privacy, customization options, and cost-effectiveness. Whether you’re setting up a solution for your business, educational institution, or personal use, this guide will help you establish a robust Jitsi Meet instance on AlmaLinux 9.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the installation process, ensure that you have the following prerequisites in place:

• An AlmaLinux 9 VPS with at least 4GB RAM and 2 CPU cores
• A registered domain name pointing to your server’s IP address
• Root or sudo access to your AlmaLinux 9 server
• Basic familiarity with Linux command-line operations
• Ports 80, 443, 10000/udp, and 22 open on your firewall
• A stable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth

Meeting these requirements will ensure a smooth installation process and optimal performance of your Jitsi Meet instance.

System Preparation

Proper system preparation is crucial for a successful Jitsi Meet installation. Follow these steps to update your system and install essential packages:

1. Update and Upgrade Your System

Begin by updating your AlmaLinux 9 system to ensure you have the latest packages and security updates:

sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf upgrade -y

2. Install Essential Packages

Install the necessary packages for the Jitsi Meet installation:

sudo dnf install -y epel-release
sudo dnf install -y wget curl nano git

3. Configure Firewall

Ensure that your firewall allows traffic on the required ports:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=10000/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

4. SELinux Configuration

For optimal performance, set SELinux to permissive mode:

sudo setenforce 0
sudo sed -i 's/^SELINUX=.*/SELINUX=permissive/' /etc/selinux/config

With these system preparations complete, your AlmaLinux 9 server is now ready for the Docker installation, which is the next step in setting up Jitsi Meet.

Docker Installation

Jitsi Meet can be efficiently deployed using Docker containers. This section will guide you through the process of installing Docker and Docker Compose on your AlmaLinux 9 system.

1. Set Up Docker Repository

First, add the official Docker repository to your system:

sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo

2. Install Docker Engine

Install the latest version of Docker Engine and its dependencies:

sudo dnf install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

3. Start and Enable Docker Service

Start the Docker service and enable it to run at system startup:

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

4. Install Docker Compose

Docker Compose is essential for managing multi-container Docker applications. Install it using the following commands:

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

5. Verify Docker Installation

Ensure that Docker and Docker Compose are correctly installed:

docker --version
docker-compose --version

With Docker and Docker Compose successfully installed, you’re now ready to proceed with the Jitsi Meet installation process.

Jitsi Meet Installation

Now that your system is prepared and Docker is installed, let’s proceed with the Jitsi Meet installation using Docker containers.

1. Create Jitsi Meet Directory

Create a directory to store Jitsi Meet configuration files:

mkdir -p ~/.jitsi-meet-cfg/{web,transcripts,prosody/config,prosody/prosody-plugins-custom,jicofo,jvb,jigasi,jibri}

2. Download Jitsi Meet Docker Files

Clone the official Jitsi Meet Docker repository:

git clone https://github.com/jitsi/docker-jitsi-meet
cd docker-jitsi-meet

3. Set Up Environment Variables

Copy the sample environment file and generate strong passwords:

cp env.example .env
./gen-passwords.sh

4. Configure Domain and Email

Edit the .env file to set your domain name and email address:

nano .env

Modify the following lines:

DOCKER_HOST_ADDRESS=your_server_ip
PUBLIC_URL=https://your_domain.com
LETSENCRYPT_EMAIL=your_email@example.com

5. Deploy Jitsi Meet Containers

Start the Jitsi Meet containers using Docker Compose:

docker-compose up -d

This command will download the necessary Docker images and start the Jitsi Meet services.

Configuration Steps

After the initial installation, you may want to fine-tune your Jitsi Meet instance. Here are some important configuration steps:

1. SSL/TLS Configuration

Jitsi Meet uses Let’s Encrypt for SSL/TLS certificates by default. Ensure that your domain’s DNS is properly configured and that ports 80 and 443 are open.

2. Authentication Setup

To enable authentication for your Jitsi Meet instance, modify the .env file:

nano .env

Set the following variables:

ENABLE_AUTH=1
ENABLE_GUESTS=1
AUTH_TYPE=internal

3. Customize Branding

To customize the appearance of your Jitsi Meet instance, you can modify the interface config file:

nano ~/.jitsi-meet-cfg/web/interface_config.js

Here, you can change various UI elements, including the logo, welcome page text, and color scheme.

Advanced Configuration

For users looking to further optimize their Jitsi Meet installation, consider the following advanced configurations:

1. Performance Tuning

Adjust the number of workers and memory limits in the docker-compose.yml file to match your server’s capabilities:

nano docker-compose.yml

Modify the JVB service section:

jvb:
  environment:
    - JVB_WORKERS=4
  deploy:
    resources:
      limits:
        memory: 2G

2. Scaling Considerations

For larger deployments, consider setting up multiple JVB (Jitsi Videobridge) instances to handle increased load. This can be done by adjusting the docker-compose.yml file and using Docker Swarm or Kubernetes for orchestration.

Testing and Verification

After completing the installation and configuration, it’s crucial to verify that your Jitsi Meet instance is functioning correctly:

1. Check Container Status

Ensure all containers are running:

docker-compose ps

2. Test Web Interface

Open your domain in a web browser (https://your_domain.com) and verify that the Jitsi Meet interface loads correctly.

3. Create a Test Meeting

Start a test meeting and check audio, video, and screen sharing functionality.

Security Considerations

Maintaining a secure Jitsi Meet instance is crucial. Consider implementing the following security measures:

1. Regular Updates

Keep your Jitsi Meet installation up to date by regularly pulling the latest Docker images:

docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d

2. Firewall Rules

Regularly review and update your firewall rules to ensure only necessary ports are open.

3. Monitoring

Set up monitoring for your Jitsi Meet instance to detect and respond to any unusual activity or performance issues.

Troubleshooting Guide

If you encounter issues during or after the installation, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Logs

View logs for all containers or a specific service:

docker-compose logs
# or for a specific service
docker-compose logs jvb

2. Restart Services

If a particular service is not functioning correctly, try restarting it:

docker-compose restart jvb

3. Verify Network Settings

Ensure that your firewall and network settings are correctly configured to allow Jitsi Meet traffic.

Maintenance and Updates

To keep your Jitsi Meet instance running smoothly, follow these maintenance practices:

1. Regular Backups

Regularly backup your Jitsi Meet configuration files:

tar -czvf jitsi-meet-backup.tar.gz ~/.jitsi-meet-cfg

2. Update Process

To update your Jitsi Meet installation:

docker-compose down
docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d

3. Monitor Resource Usage

Regularly check the resource usage of your Jitsi Meet containers:

docker stats

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Jitsi Meet. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the latest version of Jitsi Meet on AlamLinux 9. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Jitsi Meet website.