Overview: Video and online conference platforms
Solutions for online communication in research, teaching and administration have been available at the university for some time now. The current situation of the Corona pandemic has created a new and unprecedented demand for these systems in all three areas. In response, we already have significantly increased the computer center’s server capacities and resources. In particular, a new scaling cluster with the open source software "BigBlueButton" was built and docked to the learning platform ILIAS. For the external solution ZOOM licenses for teachers were procured to cover the demand for solutions for large groups (lectures and seminars with more than 30 participants).
The following table gives an overview of the recommended live conferencing systems, depending on your requirements; the systems are either ready to use or currently being tested:
Platform | Interaction possible? | Recipients/Max. participants | Hosting / Provider | Access / Documentation / Remarks | |
Video conferences and work groups | BigBlueButton | Yes | 30 (and more*) | University of Freiburg / computer center | Teachers can plan BBB Meetings on ILIAS, participants can access the Meeting via ILIAS course room. Videoconferencing with BBB in research and administration is available without ILIAS: https://bbb.uni-freiburg.de Invitations of external persons without a university account is possible. Instructions: https://ilias.uni-freiburg.de/goto.php?target=wiki_1229029_BigBlueButton |
Video conference solution for larger groups | Zoom | Yes | up to 300 or up to 10001 | Zoom V. C. Inc. / computer center | Account registration by the faculties. Registration of additional accounts is possible if the institution agrees to pay the account costs. If you have questions, please send a mail to vk@rz.uni-freiburg.de. Please read the Zoom policy of the university: https://rz.uni-freiburg.de/services/beschaffung/software/zoom/zoom *only available in German |
Work groups and web conferences for larger groups Video Chat with screen sharing and streaming option | PexIP | Yes | 23 or live streaming unlimited | DFN-Verein | Activation of a personal account by vk@rz.uni-freiburg.de and registration at https://www.conf.dfn.de/ |
1 Upon request to the computer center.
* Under conditions.