What is Rocket.Chat? A Complete Overview
Communication is essential for any group or organization. Have you come across the concept of Rocket.Chat before, but wish to get some knowledge on its basics and learn how it could benefit your collaboration? This guide has got you covered.
- What is Rocket.Chat?
- How Can You Get Rocket.Chat?
- Setting Up Rocket.Chat on Your Self-Managed VPS
- How Can Rocket.Chat Help You? Practical Uses
- Why Choose Rocket.Chat on a Self-Managed VPS?
- Potential Challenges
- Security Best Practices
- System Requirements
- Comparing Rocket.Chat to Other Chat Platforms
- Summary
What is Rocket.Chat?
Rocket.Chat is an open-source team communication platform designed to facilitate real-time messaging, voice and video calls, file sharing, and integrations—all within a secure and customizable environment. It helps teams collaborate effectively regardless of location.
How Can You Get Rocket.Chat?
You can install Rocket.Chat by purchasing a Self-Managed VPS from Bluehost, which gives you complete control over your communication platform and data privacy.
Setting Up Rocket.Chat on Your Self-Managed VPS
Whether you are experienced with server management or just getting started, Bluehost provides detailed guides to help you install and configure Rocket.Chat quickly and securely. Please visit the Purchase Self-Managed VPS with Rocket.Chat Installation article.
How Can Rocket.Chat Help You? Practical Uses
Rocket.Chat offers features that enhance communication and collaboration:
- Instant Messaging: Create channels, direct messages, and group chats for seamless communication.
Example: A distributed team uses Rocket.Chat to stay connected and coordinate work in real time. - Voice and Video Calls: Conduct meetings and one-on-one calls without leaving the platform.
Example: Remote teams hold daily stand-ups and client calls directly in Rocket.Chat. - File Sharing and Collaboration: Exchange documents, photos, videos, and other forms of media.
Example: Teams exchange project files and feedback instantly in dedicated channels. - Integrations: Connect Rocket.Chat with tools like Jira, GitHub, and Google Drive.
Example: Development teams receive build notifications and manage support tickets from within Rocket.Chat. - Customizable and Extendable: Personalize the app by adding different integrations.
Example: Organizations adapt Rocket.Chat to fit their unique workflows and compliance requirements.
Why Choose Rocket.Chat on a Self-Managed VPS?
Hosting Rocket.Chat on your Bluehost VPS delivers:
- Full Control over Your Data and Enhanced Security through self-management of the communication system.
- Flexibility to customize features, security, and integrations.
- Scalability to support teams of all sizes, from startups to enterprises.
- Cost Efficiency by using open-source software without subscription fees.
Potential Challenges When Using Rocket.Chat on a Self-Managed VPS
Consider possible challenges when self-hosting:
- Technical Setup: Installation and maintenance require server administration knowledge.
- Resource Usage: Making voice and video calls can depend on the server having enough resources to support them.
- Security Management: You must implement proper access controls and keep software updated.
- User Management: Administering users and permissions can require ongoing effort as your team grows.
Security Best Practices for Running Rocket.Chat on Your VPS
To secure your Rocket.Chat server:
- Use HTTPS: Enable SSL/TLS encryption for all communications.
- Enforce Strong Authentication: Use strong passwords and consider two-factor authentication.
- Regular Updates: Keep Rocket.Chat and VPS software patched.
- Limit Access: Restrict administrative interface access to trusted IPs.
- Monitor Logs: Regularly review logs to detect unusual activity.
System Requirements for Running Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat requires specific software components and hardware resources to run optimally. The requirements vary by Rocket.Chat version and deployment size. The following details apply to Rocket.Chat version 8.4 and later.
Software Components
- MongoDB: Version 8.0 or later is required for Rocket.Chat 8.2 and newer. It must be installed and maintained separately if you are not using the official Docker or Helm deployments.
- Node.js: Version 22.16.0 is bundled with the official Docker image and Helm chart. For manual installations, you must match this version.
- Deno: Version 2.3.1 is required and used by the Apps-Engine runtime. Also bundled in official Docker and Helm deployments; otherwise, must match manually.
If upgrading from Rocket.Chat 7.x, ensure MongoDB is upgraded to at least version 8.0 before updating Rocket.Chat itself.
Hardware Specifications
Hardware requirements depend on your deployment scale, user concurrency, and feature usage. Below are two typical scenarios:
Starter Deployment (No high availability - ≤ 500 concurrent users)
| Component | vCPU / Cores | CPU Clock Speed (GHz) | Memory (GiB) | Storage (GiB) | MongoDB Replicas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket.Chat | 2 | 3.5 – 5.0 | 4 | 20 | N/A |
| MongoDB | 2 | 3.0 | 4 | 10 | 3 (replica set) |
Commercial / Enterprise / High Availability Deployment (≥ 500 concurrent users)
| Component | vCPU / Cores | CPU Clock Speed (GHz) | Memory (GiB) | Storage (GiB) | MongoDB Replicas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket.Chat | 4 | 4.0 – 5.0 | 8 – 12 | 20 | N/A |
| MongoDB | 2 | 3.0 | 8 – 16 | 20 – 80 | 3 (replica set) |
For very large deployments exceeding 5,000 concurrent users, consider:
- Rocket.Chat: 16 vCPUs, 12 GiB RAM, 40 GB storage
- MongoDB (per replica): 4 vCPUs, 16 GiB RAM, 80 GB storage
Database Recommendations
High availability is strongly recommended by deploying a MongoDB replica set with at least 3 members to ensure failover and uptime. You can self-manage or use managed services like MongoDB Atlas which also help scale storage and performance efficiently.
File Storage Recommendations
Rocket.Chat recommends using object storage solutions such as Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, or MinIO for file uploads. The native GridFS is not recommended due to performance considerations.
Storage Estimation Example:
For 100 concurrent users, each uploading about 5 MB of files monthly, estimate yearly storage as:
100 users × 5 MB × 12 months = 6,000 MB (approximately 6 GB per year)
Network Ports Requirements
| Port | Protocol | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 443 | TCP | Primary entry point for HTTPS traffic (web, desktop, mobile clients) |
| 80 | TCP | Initial HTTP connection, redirects to 443 for secure access |
Ensure these ports are open and properly routed in your VPS environment for Rocket.Chat to be accessible.
Comparing Rocket.Chat to Other Chat Platforms
The advantages of Rocket.Chat compared to Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Mattermost include:
- Open-Source Flexibility: Full self-hosting capability as opposed to proprietary cloud platforms.
- Cost Savings: Avoid subscription fees by running your own server.
- Privacy and Control: Keep all data within your infrastructure.
- Rich Feature Set: Supports messaging, audio/video calls, and extensive integrations.
Summary
Rocket.Chat is an extremely robust open-source communication solution that suits the needs of teams looking for a secure and highly flexible collaboration solution. Installing Rocket.Chat on a Bluehost Self-Managed VPS allows you to have full control over your data, as well as customization and scalability options.