Video conferencing server: Jitsi, BigBlueButton

Deploying your own video conference server on Jitsi Meet or BigBlueButton platforms requires a VPS or dedicated server with a minimum of 4-8 GB RAM and 2-4 vCPUs for comfortable operation with 10-20 participants, as well as a stable communication channel and optimally — NVMe storage.

In the era of remote work and online education, reliable and secure video conferencing solutions have become critically important. While commercial services like Zoom or Google Meet exist, many organizations prefer to deploy their own video call server. This provides full control over data, security, and functionality, and helps avoid high subscription fees. In this context, Jitsi Meet and BigBlueButton stand out as powerful open-source platforms. But which one to choose and what server requirements do they impose?

Which video call server to choose: Jitsi Meet or BigBlueButton?

The choice between Jitsi Meet and BigBlueButton as your video call server depends on your specific needs. Both platforms offer rich functionality but have fundamentally different architectures and are optimized for different use cases.

• Jitsi Meet: Ideal for daily meetings, team calls, quick calls. It uses a hybrid architecture: for small groups (up to 8-10 participants), a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection is preferred, which reduces the load on the Jitsi server. For larger conferences, Jitsi Videobridge (SFU - Selective Forwarding Unit) transmits video streams, optimizing resource consumption. It is easily scalable and relatively simple to deploy.
• BigBlueButton (BBB): Designed specifically for online learning and webinars. Its architecture is based on a Media Control Unit (MCU), where the server mixes all video and audio streams into one, and then sends it to each participant. This provides a consistent user experience but requires significantly more resources from BigBlueButton hosting, especially for a large number of active cameras. BBB offers advanced features for education: whiteboard, polls, document sharing, breakout rooms.

Jitsi Meet vs. BigBlueButton Comparison

Jitsi Server Requirements: CPU, RAM, and Bandwidth

For deploying a stable Jitsi server, selecting adequate resources is critically important. While Jitsi Meet can use P2P for small groups, for most scenarios, especially with more than 8-10 participants, Jitsi Videobridge (SFU) is actively used, which requires server resources.

• CPU (Processor):
  • Up to 10-15 participants (one active camera): 2 vCPUs with a clock speed of 2.5 GHz or higher.
  • 15-25 participants (several active cameras): 4 vCPUs with a clock speed of 2.8 GHz or higher.
  • 25-50 participants (many active cameras): 6-8 vCPUs with a clock speed of 3.0 GHz or higher.
  • More than 50 participants: Requires scaling with multiple Jitsi Videobridge instances or a dedicated server with a high-performance CPU (e.g., Intel Xeon E-23xx or AMD EPYC).
  Jitsi Videobridge actively uses the processor for routing and relaying video streams, so a high core clock speed is preferable to a large number of cores with a lower frequency.
• RAM (Random Access Memory):
  • Up to 10-15 participants: 4 GB RAM.
  • 15-25 participants: 8 GB RAM.
  • 25-50 participants: 16 GB RAM.
  • More than 50 participants: 32 GB RAM and above, depending on configuration.
  Memory is used for buffering video streams, running the Java Virtual Machine (Jitsi Videobridge), and other components.
• Disk (Storage):
  • Minimum: 40-60 GB NVMe/SSD.
  • Recommended: 80-120 GB NVMe/SSD, especially if conference recording is planned (although separate storage is better for recording). NVMe drives provide high I/O speeds, which is important for performance.
• Bandwidth:
  • Minimum: 100 Mbps symmetric channel.
  • Recommended: 1 Gbps symmetric channel.
  Each participant sends and receives video streams. For 25 participants with active cameras, the server can consume hundreds of megabits per second. For example, for 25 participants, each sending 1-2 Mbps and receiving the same, approximately 25-50 Mbps ingress and 25-50 Mbps egress will be required. Considering overheads, a 100 Mbps channel might be limiting, while 1 Gbps provides a safety margin.

BigBlueButton Hosting Features: What You Need to Know About Resources?

Deploying BigBlueButton hosting places higher demands on the server compared to Jitsi Meet due to its MCU architecture. The BigBlueButton server actively mixes all audio and video streams, and also manages other interactive elements (whiteboard, presentations), which significantly increases the load on CPU and RAM.

• CPU (Processor):
  • Up to 10-15 participants (with 5-7 active cameras): 4-6 vCPUs with a clock speed of 3.0 GHz or higher.
  • 15-25 participants (with 10-15 active cameras): 8 vCPUs with a clock speed of 3.2 GHz or higher, or a physical processor with 4-6 cores.
  • 25-50 participants (with 20+ active cameras): 12-16 vCPUs or a physical processor with 8+ cores, frequency of 3.5 GHz or higher.
  • More than 50 participants: Requires a dedicated server with a powerful multi-core CPU (e.g., Intel Xeon E-23xx, AMD EPYC) and possibly multiple BBB instances.
  High clock speed and a large number of cores are critical for BBB, as stream mixing is a very resource-intensive task.
• RAM (Random Access Memory):
  • Up to 10-15 participants: 8 GB RAM.
  • 15-25 participants: 16 GB RAM.
  • 25-50 participants: 32 GB RAM.
  • More than 50 participants: 64 GB RAM and above.
  BBB actively uses memory for processing and storing temporary data of all media streams, as well as for the operation of numerous components (FreeSWITCH, Kurento, Node.js, Red5).
• Disk (Storage):
  • Minimum: 80 GB NVMe/SSD.
  • Recommended: 120-200 GB NVMe/SSD.
  Fast drives (NVMe) are necessary for quick loading and processing of presentation files, as well as for the conference recording system.
• Bandwidth:
  • Minimum: 250 Mbps symmetric channel.
  • Recommended: 1 Gbps symmetric channel.
  Since the server mixes all streams, the volume of outgoing traffic can be very large. For 25 participants with active cameras, the server will send each participant one mixed stream (e.g., 5-10 Mbps). This means that for 25 participants, 125-250 Mbps egress will be required. Ingress traffic is also significant.

How Many Participants Can Your Video Call Server Handle? Approximate Calculations

Determining the exact number of participants your video conference server can handle is a complex task, as it depends on many factors:

• Platform: Jitsi Meet (SFU) is more resource-efficient than BigBlueButton (MCU) for video.
• Number of active cameras: The more participants turn on their cameras, the higher the load.
• Video resolution: HD (720p) requires more resources than SD (360p).
• Screen sharing: Active use of screen sharing increases the load.
• Additional features: Recording, document sharing, polls – all consume resources.
• Participant network quality: An unstable connection for one participant can cause increased server load to adapt the stream.

Approximate estimates (for a VPS/dedicated server with NVMe and a 1 Gbps channel):

• Jitsi Meet:
  • 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM: Up to 15-20 participants (5-7 active cameras).
  • 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM: Up to 30-40 participants (10-15 active cameras).
  • 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM: Up to 60-80 participants (20-30 active cameras).
• BigBlueButton:
  • 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM: Up to 10-15 participants (3-5 active cameras).
  • 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM: Up to 20-25 participants (5-10 active cameras).
  • 16 vCPU, 32 GB RAM (or dedicated server): Up to 40-50 participants (15-20 active cameras).

For larger loads, both platforms support horizontal scaling, although for BBB, this is a more complex process. Jitsi Meet allows adding multiple Jitsi Videobridge instances, distributing the load.

The Role of TURN/STUN Servers in Video Conference Server Operation

For any video conference server, be it Jitsi Meet or BigBlueButton, the reliable operation of TURN/STUN servers is critically important. These components enable direct media connections between participants, even if they are behind complex firewalls or NAT (Network Address Translation).

• STUN (Session Traversal Utilities for NAT):
  • Allows a client to discover its public IP address and the type of NAT it is behind.
  • This helps establish a direct P2P connection between participants if the NAT type allows it.
  • STUN servers do not transmit media streams; they only assist in their establishment.
  • Jitsi Meet and BigBlueButton use STUN to optimize connections.
• TURN (Traversal Using Relays around NAT):
  • Used when a direct P2P connection is not possible (e.g., due to symmetric NAT or strict firewalls).
  • In this case, the TURN server acts as a relay: media streams pass through it.
  • This increases the load on the TURN server (CPU, RAM, bandwidth) as it transmits all data.
  • For Jitsi Meet and BigBlueButton, it is recommended to deploy your own TURN server (e.g., Coturn) to ensure maximum compatibility and reliability.

Without properly configured TURN/STUN servers, users may encounter connection issues (lack of video/audio), especially if they are on corporate networks or using mobile data. Coturn setup typically involves installation and basic configuration, opening necessary ports (e.g., 3478 UDP/TCP, 443 TCP, 49152-65535 UDP).

# Example Coturn installation on Ubuntu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install coturn

# Example configuration in /etc/turnserver.conf
# Open ports for TURN/STUN
listening-port=3478
tls-listening-port=5349
min-port=49152
max-port=65535

# Server domain name
external-ip=YOUR_PUBLIC_IP
realm=yourdomain.com

# Authentication credentials (static or dynamic)
user=username:password

# Start Coturn
sudo systemctl enable coturn
sudo systemctl start coturn

Practical Recommendations for Choosing and Deploying Hosting

Choosing the right hosting for your video call server is a crucial step affecting stability and performance. Follow these recommendations:

1. Determine your load: Estimate the maximum number of simultaneous participants, the average number of active cameras, and the frequency of screen sharing. This will help you accurately select resources.
2. Choose a platform: If you need a simple and scalable service for daily meetings, consider a Jitsi server. For online learning and webinars with rich functionality, choose BigBlueButton hosting.
3. Select server resources:
   • CPU: Prioritize servers with high core clock speeds. For BigBlueButton, a large number of cores is also critical.
   • RAM: Don't skimp on RAM. Jitsi and especially BBB actively use it.
   • Disk: Choose NVMe drives. Their high read/write speeds significantly improve overall system performance, especially when working with media files and recordings.
4. Consider channel bandwidth: Video conferencing requires a stable and wide channel. A 1 Gbps symmetric channel is ideal. Ensure your provider does not have strict traffic limits or offers favorable unlimited traffic conditions.
5. Server geographical location: Place the server as close as possible to your primary user audience to minimize latency.
6. Configure TURN/STUN: Be sure to deploy your own TURN/STUN server (e.g., Coturn) and properly integrate it with Jitsi Meet or BigBlueButton. This will resolve most connection issues.
7. Use SSL/TLS: All connections must be encrypted. To do this, configure Let's Encrypt or another SSL certificate for your domain.
8. Regularly update software: Keep the operating system and Jitsi/BBB components up to date for security and performance.

Why Valebyte.com is the Optimal Choice for Your Video Conference Server?

Valebyte.com offers a reliable and high-performance infrastructure, ideally suited for deploying your own video conference server, whether it's Jitsi Meet or BigBlueButton. We understand the criticality of stability and speed for video conferencing systems and offer solutions that meet the highest requirements:

• High-performance CPUs: Our VPS and dedicated servers are equipped with modern Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC processors with high clock speeds, which is critical for efficient processing of Jitsi Videobridge media streams and BigBlueButton mixing.
• Fast NVMe drives: All our servers use NVMe storage, ensuring minimal latency and maximum I/O speed. This guarantees smooth application operation and fast loading of all Jitsi server or BigBlueButton hosting components.
• High-bandwidth channels: We provide symmetric 1 Gbps channels with ample traffic allowance, ensuring stable video and audio transmission for a large number of participants without delays.
• Flexible plans: From powerful VPS for medium teams to dedicated servers for large organizations and educational institutions – you will find an optimal plan that can be scaled as your needs grow.
• Global locations: Choose a server in a data center located closer to your audience to minimize ping and improve connection quality.
• Full control: Get full root access to your server, allowing you to configure any setup, install necessary components (TURN/STUN, SSL), and ensure maximum security.

With Valebyte.com, you get not just a server, but a reliable foundation for creating your own secure and effective communication tool.

Conclusion

The selection and proper configuration of a video conference server for Jitsi Meet or BigBlueButton are fundamental to the success of your online communications. Considering the differences in architecture and resource requirements, carefully choose the platform and hardware. Valebyte.com offers optimal solutions with high-performance CPUs, fast NVMe drives, and high-bandwidth channels, providing a reliable foundation for your video conferencing server.