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Jitsi
by 8x8 Cloud Communications
by 8x8 Cloud Communications
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
We help make selecting a software for your business effortless, economical and efficient.
by 8x8 Cloud Communications
by 8x8 Cloud Communications
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
Profile Information Last updated on: 1 July 2024
The typical implementation process for Jitsi software involves several steps, which can vary depending on the specific requirements and the level of customization needed. Here is a general outline of the process:
1. Setup and Installation:
- Server Setup: Prepare the server environment where Jitsi will be hosted. This includes ensuring that the server meets the necessary hardware and software requirements.
- Installation: Install Jitsi Meet and its dependencies. This can be done using package managers or Docker for easier deployment.
2. Configuration:
- Basic Configuration: Configure the basic settings such as domain names, SSL certificates, and network settings.
- Advanced Configuration: Customize features like branding, access controls, and integration with other services (e.g., authentication systems, backend services for notifications, transcriptions, and recordings).
3. Integration:
- API Integration: Integrate Jitsi with your website or app using the provided APIs. This includes embedding the Jitsi Meet interface and handling user authentication and session management.
- Backend Integration: Set up backend services to handle notifications, transcriptions, and recordings as required.
4. Testing:
- Functional Testing: Test the basic functionality to ensure that video conferencing, chat, and other features work as expected.
- Load Testing: Perform load testing to ensure the system can handle the expected number of users and sessions.
5. Deployment:
- Production Deployment: Deploy the configured and tested Jitsi instance to the production environment.
- Monitoring and Maintenance: Set up monitoring tools to keep track of the system's performance and ensure regular maintenance and updates.
Timeframe
The time required to implement Jitsi software can vary widely based on the complexity of the setup and the level of customization. A basic setup with minimal customization can be completed in a few hours to a couple of days. More complex implementations that involve significant customization, integration with other systems, and thorough testing can take several weeks.
For more detailed information, you can visit the Jitsi Meet website .
Yes, Jitsi software can be customized to fit specific business needs. Here are several data points that highlight the customization capabilities of Jitsi:
Customization Options
1. Branding and User Interface Adjustments:
- Jitsi allows extensive customization of the user interface, including changing the background, adding branding elements like logos and favicons, and modifying the layout and design elements to match the business's branding.
- Specific files such as `interface_config.js` and `main.json` can be edited to update the application name, default display names, and other interface elements.
2. Feature Integrations:
- Jitsi supports the integration of various features such as screen sharing, recording, and virtual backgrounds. These features can be tailored to enhance the user experience based on specific business requirements[19].
- The platform also supports integration with third-party tools for recording, transcription, and live streaming, which can be crucial for businesses needing these functionalities[17].
3. API and SDK Usage:
- Jitsi provides APIs and SDKs that allow developers to embed Jitsi Meet into their own applications and websites. This includes the Jitsi Meet API for general integration and the Jitsi Meet React SDK for applications using React[18].
- The API allows for extensive customization, including setting initial media devices, overriding configuration settings, and passing JWT tokens for authentication[16].
4. Security and Privacy:
- Jitsi offers robust security features such as end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and user authentication. These features can be customized to meet the specific security needs of a business[19].
5. Scalability:
- Jitsi is highly scalable and can be configured to handle large numbers of users, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes, from small startups to large enterprises[19].
6. Customization Services:
- There are professional services available that offer extensive customization of Jitsi, including branding, user interface adjustments, feature integrations, and overall platform enhancements. These services ensure that the platform meets the unique needs of the business[10].
7. Integration with Other Systems:
- Jitsi can be integrated with other systems such as CRM, social media, and mobile applications. This allows businesses to create a seamless communication experience across different platforms[17].
Examples of Customization
- UNRC Online Classes: Jitsi was scaled to handle over 10,000 concurrent students for online classes, demonstrating its ability to be customized for large-scale educational purposes.
- Virtual Event Platform: A client used Jitsi for various networking purposes within a virtual event platform, integrating it with other live streaming tools to create a comprehensive virtual event experience.
When implementing Jitsi software, there are several additional costs beyond the basic hosting fees. These costs can include setup fees, maintenance, and support charges. Here are the details based on the provided sources:
Setup Fees
- Infrastructure Setup: The initial setup of the Jitsi infrastructure can incur costs. For example, Meetrix.IO charges for the setup of infrastructure, which includes configuring servers like HA Proxy, Jitsi Meet, JVBs (Jitsi Video Bridges), and Jibri (for recording).
- Customization and Integration: If you require specific customizations or integrations with other systems (e.g., CRM, ERP), there may be additional setup fees. These customizations can include branding, feature integrations, and API setups.
Maintenance Fees
- Monthly Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance fees can be charged to ensure the system runs smoothly. Meetrix.IO, for instance, offers monthly maintenance services, which can include updates, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
- Server Management: Costs for managing and maintaining the servers, including auto-scaling configurations and handling server downtimes, can also be part of the maintenance fees.
Support Charges
- Technical Support: Access to technical support can be an additional cost. This can include help with troubleshooting, performance optimization, and general inquiries. Some providers offer different levels of support packages, which can vary in cost.
- Consultation Services: Professional consultation services for optimizing the Jitsi setup, scaling, and integrating with other tools can also incur additional charges. These services are often provided by specialized hosting or IT support companies.
Example Costs
- Always-On Servers: For a typical setup on AWS, the cost for always-on servers (e.g., HA Proxy, Jitsi Meet server, JVBs, and Jibri) can be around USD 72 per month for the basic servers, with additional costs for auto-scaling based on usage.
- Hosting Plans: WebHostingZone offers various hosting plans, such as a minimal Jitsi Meet server for $55.00/month and a standard production server for $86.00/month. These plans can include basic support and maintenance.
Summary
Implementing Jitsi software involves several additional costs beyond the basic hosting fees. These include setup fees for infrastructure and customization, monthly maintenance fees for server management and updates, and support charges for technical assistance and consultation services. The exact costs can vary based on the level of customization, the hosting provider, and the specific needs of the business.
Jitsi offers various forms of training and support to new users, ensuring they can effectively use and manage the platform. Here are the key points based on the provided sources:
Training and Support Options
1. Documentation and Guides:
- Official Documentation: Jitsi provides comprehensive documentation on its official website, covering installation, configuration, and usage of Jitsi Meet and other related components like Jitsi Videobridge, Jibri, and Jigasi[10][13].
- Developer Guides: Detailed guides are available for developers looking to set up Jitsi Meet on platforms like AWS, including step-by-step instructions and prerequisites.
- Community Contributions: Additional resources and guides are available from community contributors, such as the detailed installation guide on TrueConf[11].
2. Community Support:
- Community Forum: Jitsi has an active community forum where users can ask questions, share experiences, and get help from other users and developers. This forum is a valuable resource for troubleshooting and learning best practices[13].
- IRC Channel: Users can join the IRC channel jitsi on irc.freenode.net for real-time support and discussions with the community.
3. Professional Support Services:
- Meetrix.IO: Offers professional support services, including setup, maintenance, and technical support for Jitsi Meet. They provide assistance with infrastructure setup, server management, and troubleshooting.
- NWS: Provides managed Jitsi services with professional support, including updates, backups, and technical assistance. They offer flexible pricing plans and a 30-day free trial.
4. Training Resources:
- Tutorials and How-To Guides: Various tutorials and how-to guides are available online, such as the guide on InMotion Hosting that explains how to create and manage Jitsi meetings.
- Webinars and Online Classes: Some platforms offer webinars and online classes to help users get started with Jitsi, such as the guide on conducting online classes using Jitsi available on SlideShare[15].
5. Technical Support:
- Email Support: Professional services like Meetrix.IO offer email support for technical issues and inquiries.
- Zendesk Integration: Jitsi can be integrated with Zendesk for support, allowing users to start and join meetings directly from the Zendesk platform.
Jitsi implements several security measures to protect data during video conferencing sessions. Here are the key security features based on the provided sources:
Encryption
1. Transport Layer Encryption:
- Jitsi uses DTLS-SRTP to encrypt all audio and video traffic on the network. This ensures that data is encrypted during transmission, protecting it from interception and eavesdropping.
- While the data is decrypted and re-encrypted at the Jitsi Videobridge (JVB) for routing purposes, it is never stored on persistent storage and only resides in memory temporarily.
2. End-to-End Encryption (E2EE):
- Jitsi supports end-to-end encryption for audio, video, and screen-sharing. This feature can be enabled in browsers that support insertable streams, such as Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera) and the Jitsi Electron client.
- E2EE ensures that even if someone gains access to the JVB, they cannot decrypt the media streams without the encryption keys, which are only available to the meeting participants.
Data Handling and Privacy
3. Ephemeral Data Storage:
- Jitsi does not retain any personal information such as names, email addresses, or profile pictures after the meeting ends. This information is only shared with other meeting participants during the session.
- Chat messages, speaker stats, and other meeting data are stored only for the duration of the meeting and are destroyed once the meeting concludes.
4. Account Requirements and Data Persistence:
- Since August 24, 2023, creating a room on meet.jit.si requires an account, which is used solely for investigating reports of inappropriate behavior. Subsequent participants do not need to create accounts, and any optional information they provide is not retained after the meeting.
Security Features
5. Meeting Room Security:
- Jitsi provides several options to secure meeting rooms, including password protection and lobby mode. Lobby mode allows moderators to control who can join the meeting by approving participants before they enter.
- Meeting rooms can also be locked once all participants have joined, preventing additional attendees from entering.
6. GDPR Compliance:
- Jitsi is designed to be GDPR-compliant, with features such as data minimization, secure data handling protocols, and end-to-end encryption. These measures ensure that user data is protected in accordance with stringent data protection regulations.
Analytics and Tracking
7. Limited Analytics:
- Jitsi Meet does not come with preconfigured analytics engines, but meet.jit.si uses analytics tools like Amplitude, Datadog, and Crashlytics to improve the user experience. These tools track anonymous identifiers, bitrate, available bandwidth, and product utilization events, but do not retain personal information after the meeting.
Regular Updates and Community Support
8. Software Updates:
- Regular updates and security patches are essential to maintaining the security of Jitsi. Users are encouraged to keep their Jitsi installations up to date to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Jitsi releases updates regularly, and the management of these updates involves several processes and tools. Here are the details based on the provided sources:
Frequency of Updates
1. Stable Releases:
- Jitsi creates stable releases periodically. These releases are made when a stable version of the software is ready, ensuring that new features and bug fixes are thoroughly tested before being deployed.
- For example, the Jitsi 2.2.4603 release included stability improvements and feature enhancements, and subsequent releases have continued to address various issues and add new functionalities.
2. Continuous Integration (CI):
- Jitsi employs a Continuous Integration (CI) system to manage the development and release of updates. This system helps in automating the building, testing, and deployment of new code changes, ensuring that updates are released efficiently and reliably.
- The CI system is responsible for creating new builds and updating Docker images, although there can be delays between the creation of new releases and the updating of public images on DockerHub.
Management of Updates
3. Docker Images:
- Jitsi provides Docker images for easy deployment and management of the software. These images are updated regularly, although there can be a lag between the release of new versions and the availability of updated Docker images.
- Users can build their own Docker images if they need the latest features or configurations that are not yet available in the public images.
4. Release Notifications:
- Users can subscribe to mailing lists or join community groups to receive notifications about new updates and releases. For instance, the Jitsi Admin tool has a mailing list that sends out information about new releases, updates, and features.
- Community talks and open conferences are also held regularly to discuss updates and gather feedback from users.
5. Version Control and Changelogs:
- Jitsi maintains a detailed changelog for each release, documenting the changes, improvements, and bug fixes included in each version. This helps users stay informed about what has been updated and any potential impacts on their deployments.
- The version control system (e.g., GitHub) is used to manage the source code and track changes, ensuring that all updates are properly documented and can be rolled back if necessary.
Example of Update Management
- Jitsi Meet: The Jitsi Meet project includes configuration files that allow users to adjust many features and control the options exposed. Updates to Jitsi Meet are managed through the CI system, and users can check the releases list in the Jitsi Meet repository to stay informed about the latest versions and their features[14].
Jitsi's policy on data ownership and portability is outlined in its terms of service and privacy policies. Here are the key points based on the provided sources:
Data Ownership
1. User Data:
- Jitsi allows users to provide their name, email address, and a link to a picture, which will be displayed to participants in the meeting. However, it is unclear whether users retain ownership of their data.
- The terms state that Jitsi does not sell personal information to third parties. However, Jitsi may use cookies for targeted advertising on its website and share information with third-party advertising networks and providers of external services like web traffic analysis services for tracking purposes.
2. Feedback and Suggestions:
- If users submit feedback or suggestions about the service, Jitsi may use this feedback or suggestions without any obligation to the user.
3. Intellectual Property:
- Users do not gain ownership of any intellectual property rights in the service or any 8×8 or third-party content they access through the service.
Data Portability
1. Right to Data Portability:
- Users have the right to demand that Jitsi hand over any data that is automatically processed based on their consent or to fulfill a contract. This right is in accordance with GDPR regulations[10].
- Users can access, modify, and delete their personal information, and EU users have specific rights under GDPR, including the right to data portability.
2. Data Retention and Deletion:
- Jitsi does not retain personal information such as names, email addresses, or profile pictures after the meeting ends. This information is only shared with other meeting participants during the session[14].
- Chat messages, speaker stats, and other meeting data are stored only for the duration of the meeting and are destroyed once the meeting concludes[14].
- Recordings are temporarily stored until they are uploaded to the user's file hosting service (e.g., Dropbox). If the upload is not completed within 24 hours, the recordings are deleted[14].
Jitsi offers flexible terms for scaling up or down to meet organizational needs, particularly in cloud-based environments. Here are the key points based on the provided sources:
Scaling Up
1. Horizontal Scaling:
- Jitsi allows for horizontal scaling by adding more video bridges (JVBs) as needed. This is particularly useful in cloud environments where additional resources can be provisioned dynamically.
- The process involves configuring new instances of JVBs and integrating them into the existing infrastructure. This can be done using tools like Docker or Kubernetes for easier management and deployment.
2. Autoscaling:
- In AWS environments, Jitsi can be set up to automatically scale based on traffic and resource usage. This involves configuring scaling policies that respond to CPU or memory metrics, ensuring that the infrastructure can handle traffic surges without manual intervention.
- For example, using AWS Fargate, you can associate your Jitsi service with a scaling configuration and set up policies to adjust the number of instances based on predefined metrics.
3. Resource Allocation:
- When scaling up, it is important to adjust memory and CPU allocations for different Jitsi components (e.g., JVB, Prosody, Jicofo) to ensure optimal performance. This can be done through configuration files and task definitions in environments like Amazon ECS.
Scaling Down
1. Reducing Instances:
- Similar to scaling up, scaling down involves reducing the number of active JVBs or other components when the demand decreases. This helps in optimizing costs by only using the necessary resources.
- Autoscaling policies can also be configured to scale down the infrastructure automatically based on reduced traffic or lower resource usage.
2. Configuration Management:
- When scaling down, it is crucial to update the configuration settings to reflect the reduced number of instances. This ensures that the remaining infrastructure continues to function correctly without overloading any single component.
Practical Implementation
- AWS Example:
- In an AWS setup, you can use the `ecs-cli scale` command to adjust the number of instances in your cluster. This command allows you to scale up or down based on your current needs.
- Terraform can be used to manage the scaling policies and configurations, providing a more automated and repeatable approach to scaling Jitsi services.
The terms and conditions for contract renewal and cancellation for Jitsi, as outlined in the provided sources, include several key points. Here are the details:
Contract Renewal
1. Automatic Renewal:
- The contract for using Jitsi services typically includes an automatic renewal clause. For example, the initial term of the agreement begins on the date the customer enters into the agreement and continues for the duration specified in the service order. At the end of the initial term, the agreement is automatically renewed for an additional one-year period unless the customer provides notice of cancellation at least 30 days prior to the end of the initial term or applicable renewal term[13].
- Customers also have the option to renew the agreement on a month-to-month basis at the then-current rates offered for the services, provided they notify 8x8 at least 30 days prior to the end of the initial term or applicable renewal term[13].
2. Notification of Renewal:
- Whereby, another service similar to Jitsi, sends a reminder for the renewal of the license term to the account’s email address at least 15 days before the billing date of the first month in the renewed term. This ensures that users are aware of the upcoming renewal and can take action if needed[11].
Contract Cancellation
1. Notice Period:
- To cancel the service, customers must provide a written notice of termination at least 30 days prior to the end of the initial term or any renewal term. This notice must be delivered to the specified contact address or email[13].
- For Whereby, users must communicate their intent to terminate the service in writing within one month prior to the expiry of the initial term or any renewal term. Failure to provide this notice means the service will automatically renew for another term[11].
2. Refunds and Access:
- If a customer decides to terminate the service during the term, they will not be entitled to any refunds but will have access to the service for the remaining license term[11].
- In the case of Rocket.Chat, another similar service, termination or expiration does not relieve the customer of the obligation to pay any fees or other amounts accrued or payable to the service provider, including fees for the remainder of the then-current term.
3. Conditions for Termination:
- Contracts can be terminated immediately upon providing written notice if there is a material breach that is not rectified within the cure period, or in cases of insolvency, receivership, or cessation of business operations without a successor.
- Whereby reserves the right to terminate the service if users engage in prohibited activities or fail to comply with the terms and conditions[11].
4. Force Majeure:
- Both Jitsi and Whereby include force majeure clauses in their terms, which relieve the parties from liability for failing to perform contractual obligations due to circumstances beyond their control, such as natural disasters, strikes, or other significant disruptions[11].
Jitsi software meets several compliance standards, particularly focusing on data protection and security. Here are the key compliance standards based on the provided sources:
GDPR Compliance
1. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):
- Jitsi is designed to comply with GDPR, ensuring that personal data is handled securely and in accordance with European data protection laws. This includes features like data minimization, secure data handling protocols, and end-to-end encryption.
- Meetrix.io leverages Jitsi's framework to offer GDPR-compliant solutions, implementing strict data management policies and conducting regular audits to ensure ongoing compliance.
ISO 27000 Series
2. ISO 27000 Standards:
- Meetrix's Jitsi-based WebRTC solutions are architected to align with ISO 27000 standards, which provide a systematic framework for managing sensitive company and customer information securely. This alignment ensures that organizations can leverage secure, compliant, and effective video conferencing capabilities.
- ISO 27000 standards are critical for establishing, maintaining, and improving information security management systems (ISMS), protecting against data breaches and other cyber risks.
Data Protection and Security Features
3. Data Encryption:
- Jitsi uses DTLS-SRTP to encrypt all audio and video traffic on the network, ensuring data is encrypted during transmission. End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is also supported for audio, video, and screen-sharing in browsers that support insertable streams.
- Secure data handling protocols are implemented to comply with GDPR's stringent data protection requirements, ensuring data is handled and stored securely.
Privacy and Data Handling
4. Privacy Policies:
- Jitsi's privacy policies ensure that personal information such as names, email addresses, and profile pictures are not retained after meetings. Chat messages, speaker stats, and other meeting data are stored only for the duration of the meeting and are destroyed once the meeting concludes.
- Cloud recordings are temporarily stored until they are uploaded to the user's file hosting service (e.g., Dropbox). If the upload is not completed within 24 hours, the recordings are deleted.
Additional Compliance Measures
5. Regular Audits and Updates:
- Meetrix.io engages in regular audits and updates its practices in response to new regulatory guidance or technological advancements, ensuring continuous compliance with GDPR and other relevant standards.
By 8x8 Cloud Communications