Introduction – about CESNET Meetings

CESNET Meetings is a web video-conferencing service operated by CESNET at https://meet.cesnet.cz. It supports online meetings with video, audio, screen sharing, text chat, breakout rooms and telephone dial-in.

The service is built on the open-source Jitsi Meet platform and runs entirely within CESNET's infrastructure.

What you need

  • Join a meeting someone is already running – just the link or the room name and a web browser. No sign-in, no installation.
  • Create / start your own meeting – you need to sign in with eduID.cz, an account at your home organization within the eduID federation.
  • Join by telephone – a phone and the number assigned to that room (see Joining by telephone).

Sign-in at a glance. For every room, the first user must pass through a “you must log in” window. For public rooms (set up and managed by CESNET) this is just one extra click and nothing is verified; for other rooms a real eduID.cz sign-in takes place. The first user is also the moderator. Everyone else then joins without signing in – they only enter their name.

Who can sign in with eduID. Staff and students of institutions that participate in the Czech academic identity federation eduID. Guests without an account can join any meeting that is already running, but cannot create a protected room.

Key features

  • No installation. On a computer or a phone, a browser is enough. Chromium-based browsers (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge) are recommended; Firefox and Safari also work. On a phone the Jitsi Meet app is optional, not required.
  • Video conferencing. Video and audio for many participants, tile and speaker views, talk-time statistics.
  • Content sharing. Share your whole screen, an application window or a browser tab.
  • Collaboration. Text chat (group and private), raise hand, reactions, polls, breakout rooms.
  • Security. Lock a room with a password, waiting room (lobby), audio/video moderation, optional end-to-end encryption.
  • Telephone gateway. Participants can join a meeting with an ordinary phone call (audio only).

Where to next

  1. How to connect – your first time joining a meeting, step by step.
  2. Meeting rooms and sign-in – public vs. protected rooms, the first user's sign-in, who is the moderator, room PIN.
  3. During a meeting – the controls – what each button does.
  4. For moderators – managing participants and security.
  5. Joining by telephone.
  6. Troubleshooting.
  7. Terms of service and privacy.