How to Integrate Etherpad with Jitsi Meet

Ever thought about pepping up your Jitsi Meet video conferencing with a nifty feature like live note-taking? Integrating Etherpad is the way to go. Let’s break it down step-by-step, so you can effortlessly set up shared notes using Etherpad right inside Jitsi. Whether you’re just starting out with Jitsi or keen to explore its capabilities, this guide’s got you covered.

What is Etherpad?

Etherpad’s like your no-frills, open-source buddy for collaborative text editing—it lets a bunch of folks work on the same document at once. You type something, and it appears right there for everyone, making it a top choice for team notes, brainstorming, or drafting together. Imagine a Google Docs-ish tool that’s lightweight and gives you total control over your data by hosting it yourself.

This tool stands out for its real-time editing, color-coded cursors, and version history. Perfect for teams, classrooms, or anyone needing to co-edit plain-text content on the fly.

Real-World Use Case: Remote Team Meetings

Picture this: your remote team has a brainstorming session. Everyone hops into the Jitsi meeting and works on the meeting notes in Etherpad. Ideas flow, tasks get assigned, and everything stays in sync. When the call wraps up, you’ve got a full, shared record—no more scrambling to jot down minutes.

Why Integrate Etherpad with Jitsi?

Jitsi Meet is a fantastic, open-source platform for video conferencing, loved for its simplicity and focus on privacy. The real power is in its extensibility, like adding Etherpad into the mix.

Linking Etherpad with Jitsi brings a bunch of perks:

• Real-Time Shared Notes: Open an Etherpad instance during calls so everyone can chip into a live doc.
• Boosted Collaboration: Keep everything tidy by sticking to Jitsi’s interface without flipping between apps.
• Upgraded Meeting Productivity: Capture actions, decisions, ideas right as they happen, making follow-ups a breeze.
• Open-Source and Self-Hosted: Focused on privacy? Host both tools yourself, ensuring your data stays protected.

Industry Perspective and Statistics

According to the 2024 survey by Collaboration Today, teams using integrated online tools boost meeting efficiency by 30%. Combining video calls with shared notes cuts down on follow-up emails and confusion.

I’ve helped clients deploy these solutions and trust me, aligning Etherpad with Jitsi transforms it from just a meeting tool into a hub for real-time collaboration.

Prerequisites for Integration

Before diving into the integration, here’s what you need on hand:

1. A self-hosted Jitsi Meet server
   You need control over your Jitsi instance to activate plugins like Etherpad. The public server meet.jit.si doesn’t support this feature.

2. Etherpad Installed on the Same Server or Accessible Host
   Pop Etherpad onto the same server as Jitsi Meet or a reachable setup within your network. A bit of Node.js and a database (MySQL or PostgreSQL) does the trick.

3. Basic System Administration Skills
   Be ready to edit config files, restart services—maybe tweak some firewall settings too.

4. Domain Names and SSL Certificates
   Secure your connections with valid domain names and HTTPS certificates for Jitsi and Etherpad. Self-signed certs aren’t the best choice for production, but they do the job.

5. Ports and Network Settings
   Ensure your firewall allows traffic for Jitsi Meet (usually 443, 4443, 10000 UDP) and Etherpad (usually 9001 or customized).

Technical Environment Example

Recently set up for a nonprofit, we used Ubuntu 22.04 servers with Jitsi Meet behind Cloudflare for SSL, and Etherpad running locally. Key was telling Jitsi’s prosody module to tap into Etherpad’s internal API for seamless sharing.

Step-by-Step Integration Guide

Here’s the nitty-gritty on syncing up Jitsi with Etherpad:

Step 1: Install Etherpad

1. Get Node.js and dependencies:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs git

2. Grab Etherpad from GitHub:

git clone https://github.com/ether/etherpad-lite.git
cd etherpad-lite

3. Install required npm packages:

npm install

4. Set Up Etherpad:

Copy the sample settings file, make it yours:

cp settings.json.template settings.json
nano settings.json

Modify:

• ip: “0.0.0.0” or your IP
• port: 9001 (default)
• dbType: “dirty” (default for small setups; get MySQL/PostgreSQL for production)
• Set security options like password or integrations as needed.

5. Kickstart Etherpad:

node src/node/server.js

Or better, set it up as a systemd service for production use.

Step 2: Configure Jitsi Meet for Etherpad Integration

1. Install the Etherpad plugin for Jitsi (mod_etherpadlite)

Acts as the bridge between Jitsi and Etherpad in prosody (Jitsi’s XMPP server).

2. Enable Plugin in Jitsi’s Prosody

Edit /etc/prosody/conf.avail/your-domain.cfg.lua and add:

Component "etherpad.your-domain.com" "etherpad-lite"
    -- Etherpad server's IP
    hostname = "127.0.0.1"
    port = 9001

3. Add Etherpad domain to Host file/DNS

Make sure etherpad.your-domain.com points to your Etherpad server IP. This might be a subdomain on the same server.

4. Enable in Jitsi Meet Config

Edit /etc/jitsi/meet/your-domain-config.js to ensure:

etherpad_base: 'https://etherpad.your-domain.com/p/',

Indicates where Jitsi should find Etherpad.

5. Restart Related Services

sudo systemctl restart prosody
sudo systemctl restart jicofo
sudo systemctl restart jitsi-videobridge2

6. Fire Up a New Meeting to Test

Step 3: Fine-Tune and Secure Your Setup

• Lock down Etherpad with secure authentication if sensitive notes are involved.
• Use reverse proxy (like Nginx) with SSL to secure Etherpad traffic.
• Control access via firewall.

I’d recommend checking out the official Jitsi docs for specific version details on Etherpad integration.

Testing and Using Etherpad in Jitsi

Once things are set up, access Etherpad in Jitsi meetings:

1. During your Jitsi call, hit the “Shared Notes” or “Etherpad” button in the toolbar.
2. A new tab or panel slides open with a shared Etherpad doc linked to your meeting.
3. Everyone can tweak the notes live.
4. Changes pop up instantly and reside on your Etherpad server.

Tips for Effective Use

• Designate one person to manage notes if lots of people are involved, to keep things tidy.
• Save your Etherpad notes in HTML, text, or PDF after meetings.
• Use color-coding and author highlights in Etherpad to keep tabs on contributors.
• Give your team a quick Etherpad rundown for a smooth sailing experience.

Real-World Feedback

My clients say shared notes make meetings more focused and accountable. It lessens the need for do-overs by keeping discussions documented properly.

Conclusion

Bringing Etherpad into Jitsi Meet doesn’t just give you a meeting tool—it offers a potent real-time collaboration suite. This walkthrough showed you how to get your setup ready, install and configure the necessary tools, and make the most of shared notes in your meetings.

Integrating these systems boosts teamwork, improves communication, and respects your privacy by self-hosting. Might seem a bit techy at first glance, but the reward is more engaging and productive meetings.

Begin by ensuring your server’s ready, follow the steps carefully, and double-check your integration thoroughly. Once sorted, your team gains a handy new feature that livens up every Jitsi Meet video call.

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Want to make your meetings sharper? Start blending Jitsi and Etherpad today for seamless collaboration on shared notes with every call.

Questions or looking for tailored setup help? Reach out—I’m Avkash Kakdiya, here to assist in building effective, privacy-minded collaboration environments.