How to Set Up a Jitsi Cluster Easily for High-Availability Video Calls

Introduction

If your meetings are growing, a single Jitsi server will eventually struggle. Users start facing frozen video, delayed audio, or random disconnects. The proper solution is not upgrading hardware again and again — it is a jitsi cluster setup that spreads load across multiple servers and keeps meetings running even if one machine fails.

In this guide, you will learn how clustering works, why it is required, and how to design a stable architecture. The goal here is clarity, not confusion. You will understand the concept first, then the setup process, and finally how to keep it reliable in real usage.

This is written from practical deployment experience, not copied commands, so you know exactly what each step actually does.

Why a Single Jitsi Server Fails Under Load

Before building a cluster, it helps to understand the limitation.

A Jitsi meeting uses:

• signaling (light traffic)
• media streaming (heavy traffic)

Almost all pressure goes to the videobridge (JVB), not the web server.

Example:

So even powerful hardware eventually reaches a limit.

jitsi cluster setup – Core Idea

The purpose of a jitsi cluster setup is simple:

Instead of one machine handling all video streams, multiple videobridges share the work.

Participants join the same meeting, but the system quietly distributes them across servers.

Result:

• Stable meetings
• Better video quality
• No overload crashes
• Easy expansion

Understanding the Cluster Components

1. Main Controller Node

This server runs:

• Web interface
• Prosody (authentication)
• Jicofo (meeting controller)

It coordinates meetings but does not carry heavy video traffic.

2. Videobridge Nodes (JVB)

These servers handle actual audio/video streams.

You can add many of them.

More bridges = more capacity

3. Optional Recording Server

Runs Jibri separately to avoid performance impact.

How Traffic Flows in a Cluster

1. User opens meeting URL
2. Controller selects best videobridge
3. User connects directly to that bridge
4. Other users connect to other bridges
5. Jicofo keeps everyone synchronized

Users never notice different servers — they see one meeting.

Cluster vs Load Balancer (Common Confusion)

Many admins try using a normal load balancer.

That breaks video communication.

Why?

Video calls require consistent peer routing. Jitsi uses conference-aware distribution, not random routing.

So clustering is not traditional load balancing.

Step-by-Step Cluster Deployment Plan

We will build:

1 controller server 2 videobridge servers

This is the recommended starting architecture.

Step 1 — Prepare the Controller Server

Install Jitsi normally on the main node.

Make sure:

• Domain works
• Meeting joins correctly
• Firewall open (TCP 80/443, UDP 10000)

Test before continuing.

Step 2 — Enable Authentication Between Servers

Edit Prosody configuration:

Create internal communication users for bridges.

This allows bridges to register themselves securely.

Restart services after configuration.

Purpose: Controller must trust bridges before sending users.

Step 3 — Install Videobridge on Secondary Servers

On new server install only JVB, not full Jitsi.

Key idea: These servers should NOT host website interface.

They only process media.

After install, point them to controller domain.

Now bridges connect automatically.

Step 4 — Configure Colibri WebSocket

Colibri is the communication channel between controller and bridges.

Without it: Bridges appear online but never receive users.

After enabling, you will see participants distributed automatically.

Step 5 — Open Network Ports Properly

Each bridge must allow:

UDP 10000 (media traffic) TCP 443 outbound Internal communication with controller

Incorrect firewall rules are the #1 clustering failure.

Step 6 — Verify Bridge Registration

Check logs:

Bridge connected → success Bridge unavailable → config mismatch

Once registered, join meeting with many users.

You should see load split across servers.

High Availability Behavior

Now comes the real advantage.

If one videobridge crashes:

• New users connect to other bridges
• Existing calls continue
• Meeting does not end

This is why clustering is called high availability.

Scaling the Cluster

You can add bridges anytime.

No downtime needed.

Add server → connect → ready

Capacity increases instantly.

Performance Expectations

Depends on video quality and bandwidth.

Optional Multi-Region Expansion

After clustering, you can expand globally.

Users connect to nearest bridge.

Benefits:

• Lower latency
• Better quality
• Less packet loss

Monitoring Your Cluster

Watch these metrics:

• CPU usage
• packet loss
• bridge selection logs
• network bandwidth

This prevents overload before users notice.

Common Mistakes

• Installing full Jitsi on every node: Only controller should run full stack.

• Missing authentication users: Bridges never join cluster.

• Wrong public IP: Participants cannot connect to bridge.

• Firewall blocking UDP: Video connects but no media.

Stability Best Practices

• Separate recording server
• SSD storage
• Good network provider
• Avoid shared hosting
• Monitor logs regularly

Good networking matters more than powerful CPU.

Real Usage Example

Online training platform:

Before cluster: 60 students → lag & disconnects

After cluster: 150 students → smooth video

After scaling: Multiple classrooms same time

Cost Planning Tip

Instead of buying one expensive machine:

Use multiple mid-range servers.

Advantages:

• cheaper scaling
• easier replacement
• no single point of failure

Conclusion

A proper jitsi cluster setup transforms Jitsi from a small meeting tool into a reliable communication platform. By separating the controller from videobridges and distributing participants intelligently, you get stable meetings, easy scaling, and real high availability.

Start with two bridges, monitor usage, and expand gradually. Planning early saves emergency fixes later when traffic grows.