How to Install BigBlueButton on Ubuntu VPS

This article provides a comprehensive guide for how to install BigBlueButton on Ubuntu VPS server.

What is BigBlueButton?

BigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing system designed primarily for online learning and virtual classrooms. It provides a platform for hosting live classes, meetings, and webinars, offering various features tailored to education and collaboration. Some of its key features include:

1. Audio and Video Conferencing: Supports real-time audio and video communication.
2. Presentation Sharing: Allows instructors or presenters to upload and share presentations (like PDFs or PowerPoint) in real-time.
3. Whiteboard: A collaborative whiteboard feature where instructors and students can draw and annotate.
4. Screen Sharing: Users can share their screens with others, which is useful for demonstrating software or presentations.
5. Public and Private Chat: Includes both public chat rooms and private messaging features for participants.
6. Polling: Facilitates interactive polls during sessions, allowing instructors to gauge understanding or gather feedback.
7. Breakout Rooms: Enables the creation of smaller groups within a larger meeting for more focused discussions or activities.
8. Recording: Sessions can be recorded for later playback, allowing students to review classes or for meetings to be archived.

BigBlueButton is often integrated into Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Moodle, Canvas, and Sakai, making it a popular choice for schools, universities, and other educational institutions. It is widely appreciated for its focus on accessibility and user-friendly design, which caters to both educators and students.

How to Install BigBlueButton on Ubuntu VPS

This guide will walk you through the steps to install BigBlueButton on an Ubuntu VPS.

Prerequisites

System Requirements

Before you begin, ensure that your Ubuntu VPS meets the following requirements:

• Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 (64-bit)
• Memory: Minimum 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
• Storage: At least 50 GB of free disk space
• CPU: Quad-core processor or better
• Network: 1 Gbps network connection

Preparing the VPS

1. Update the System:
   Start by updating the package list and upgrading existing packages:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade -y
   

2. Set the Hostname:
   Ensure that your server’s hostname is set correctly. Replace your-hostname with your desired hostname:

   sudo hostnamectl set-hostname your-hostname
   

3. Configure Firewall:
   Open the necessary ports for BigBlueButton to function:

   sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
   sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
   sudo ufw allow 16384:32768/udp
   sudo ufw enable
   

Configuring the Server

1. Install Basic Utilities:
   Install essential utilities that may not be pre-installed:

   sudo apt install -y wget curl gnupg
   

2. Add Swap Space (Optional):
   If your VPS has less than 16 GB of RAM, you might want to add swap space:

   sudo fallocate -l 4G /swapfile
   sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
   sudo mkswap /swapfile
   sudo swapon /swapfile
   echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
   

Installing BigBlueButton

Setting Up Dependencies

1. Install Node.js:
   BigBlueButton requires Node.js. Add the Node.js repository and install it:

   curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_12.x | sudo -E bash -
   sudo apt install -y nodejs
   

2. Install MongoDB:
   BigBlueButton uses MongoDB for database management:

   wget -qO - https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-4.2.asc | sudo apt-key add -
   echo "deb [ arch=amd64,arm64 ] https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu focal/mongodb-org/4.2 multiverse" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb-org-4.2.list
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install -y mongodb-org
   

   Enable and start MongoDB:

   sudo systemctl enable mongod
   sudo systemctl start mongod
   

3. Install LibreOffice:
   Required for document sharing:

   sudo apt install -y libreoffice
   

Installing BigBlueButton

1. Add the BigBlueButton Repository:

   wget -qO- https://ubuntu.bigbluebutton.org/bbb-install.sh | bash
   

2. Install BigBlueButton:Execute the following script, replacing your-domain with your domain name:

   sudo bbb-install.sh -v bionic-230 -s your-domain -e you@example.com
   

   This script will install all necessary components, including the Greenlight front-end.

Configuring BigBlueButton

1. Configure the API Secret:
   BigBlueButton uses an API secret for secure communication. You can find or reset it in /usr/share/bbb-web/WEB-INF/classes/bigbluebutton.properties.

   sudo nano /usr/share/bbb-web/WEB-INF/classes/bigbluebutton.properties
   

   Make sure the bigbluebutton.web.serverURL is set to your domain:

   bigbluebutton.web.serverURL=https://your-domain
   

2. Restart BigBlueButton:After making changes, restart BigBlueButton:

   sudo bbb-conf --restart
   

Post-Installation Configuration

Securing the Installation

1. Install Let’s Encrypt SSL Certificate:BigBlueButton requires an SSL certificate for secure connections. You can obtain a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt:

   sudo apt install -y certbot
   sudo certbot --nginx -d your-domain -m you@example.com --agree-tos --no-eff-email
   

   Ensure the SSL certificate renews automatically:

   sudo crontab -e
   

   Add the following line to renew the certificate every 12 hours:

   0 */12 * * * certbot renew --quiet
   

Customizing BigBlueButton

1. Modify Branding:
   To change the appearance, modify the default.yml file:

   sudo nano /var/www/bigbluebutton/client/conf/config.xml
   

   Customize as needed, then restart BigBlueButton:

   sudo bbb-conf --restart
   

2. Configure Greenlight:
   Greenlight is a simple front-end for BigBlueButton. You can configure it by editing the greenlight.env file:

   sudo nano /root/greenlight/.env
   

   Apply your changes and restart Greenlight:

   docker-compose down
   docker-compose up -d
   

Testing and Troubleshooting

Testing the Installation

1. Check the BigBlueButton Server:Use the bbb-conf tool to check the status of your BigBlueButton installation:

   sudo bbb-conf --check
   

   This command will provide information about your server’s configuration and any potential issues.

2. Access the BigBlueButton Interface:Open a web browser and navigate to https://your-domain. You should see the Greenlight interface where you can create meetings and manage your server.

Common Issues and Fixes

1. Ports Not Accessible:
   If you can’t access the BigBlueButton server, ensure the necessary ports are open in your firewall.
2. SSL Certificate Issues:
   If the SSL certificate doesn’t renew automatically, check the cron job and ensure that the certificate paths are correct.
3. Audio/Video Problems:
   If users report issues with audio or video, make sure your server has sufficient resources and that the network connection is stable.

Maintaining BigBlueButton

Updating BigBlueButton

1. Regularly Update:
   It’s important to keep BigBlueButton up to date for security and performance improvements:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade -y
   sudo bbb-conf --check
   

2. Updating Greenlight:

   cd /root/greenlight
   docker-compose pull
   docker-compose up -d
   

Monitoring and Performance Tuning

1. Monitor Resource Usage:
   Use tools like htop and iostat to monitor the server’s CPU, memory, and disk usage.
2. Tuning:
   If your server is under heavy load, consider upgrading the VPS plan or optimizing the BigBlueButton configuration.

Conclusion

Installing BigBlueButton on an Ubuntu VPS can seem complex, but by following this comprehensive guide, you can set up a fully functional web conferencing system for your organization. Regular maintenance and monitoring will ensure that your BigBlueButton server remains secure and performant, offering a reliable platform for online learning and meetings.

Extra Credit

Next Steps: ➡️ Integrate Rocket.Chat with BigBlueButton Server

Next Steps: ➡️ Connect BigBlueButton Server to Moodle LMS for Integrated eLearning

Related:

• Order Ubuntu VPS
• BigBlueButton community
• Official Documentation