Deploying Jitsi Meet with Docker

If you're looking to host a video conferencing solution for better security, customization, or cost savings, Jitsi Meet is an excellent open-source option with professional-grade performance. In this guide, I’ll walk you through deploying Jitsi Meet using Docker, following the official documentation.

Why Jitsi Meet?

Jitsi Meet is a secure, scalable, and customizable video conferencing platform. It's open-source, which means you can:

• Host meetings with no participant limits.
• Fully control your data.
• Integrate it into your existing infrastructure.

Docker simplifies the deployment process, ensuring that you can get started with minimal effort.

Step 1: Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have:

1. A server with Docker and Docker Compose installed (Ubuntu is commonly used).
2. A fully qualified domain name (FQDN) pointing to your server.
3. Basic knowledge of Docker commands.

Step 2: Clone the Jitsi Meet Docker Repository

Start by pulling the Docker configuration files:

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

This repository contains all the necessary files to spin up your Jitsi Meet instance.

Step 3: Configure Environment Variables

Create a .env file by copying the template provided:

env.example .env

Open the .env file in your favorite editor and configure it according to your setup. Key variables include:

• DOMAIN: The FQDN for your Jitsi instance (e.g., meet.yourdomain.com).
• HTTP_PORT & HTTPS_PORT: Ports for the web interface.
• TZ: Your server’s timezone.
• DOCKER_HOST_ADDRESS: The public IP address of your Docker host.

Step 4: Set Up Configuration Files

To enable customization, generate the configuration files:

./gen-passwords.sh # Generate secure passwords
./gen-config.sh # Generate configuration templates

These scripts create the necessary files and folders under the ~/.jitsi-meet-cfg/ directory.

Step 5: Start the Jitsi Meet Stack

Run the following command to start Jitsi Meet:

docker-compose up -d

The stack includes the following containers:

• web: The Jitsi Meet web interface.
• prosody: The XMPP server for signaling.
• jicofo: The conference focus component.
• jvb: The Jitsi Video Bridge for media routing.

Step 6: Configure SSL Certificates

To secure your instance with HTTPS:

1. If you're using Let's Encrypt:
   Set ENABLE_LETSENCRYPT=1 in your .env file and define the email address for certificate renewal.
2. Restart the stack to apply the changes:

docker-compose down && docker-compose up -d

Step 7: Access Your Jitsi Meet Instance

Open a browser and navigate to your domain:
https://meet.yourdomain.com

You’ll see the Jitsi Meet interface, ready for use!

Step 8: Fine-Tuning and Advanced Configuration (Optional)

Add Authentication to restrict access to your Jitsi instance:

• Enable authentication by setting ENABLE_AUTH=1 in your .env file.
• Choose the authentication type (e.g., internal, LDAP).

Scale Video Bridges For high-performance needs, add more video bridges to handle larger conferences.

Step 9: Monitor and Maintain

Regularly check the status of your Jitsi containers:

docker ps

To update your stack:

docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d

Conclusion

Deploying Jitsi Meet with Docker is a straightforward process that gives you control over your video conferencing infrastructure.

Take the leap—spin up your Jitsi Meet instance today and redefine how you connect! 🚀