Zulip

Core Features

• Topic-based threading: Organize conversations within streams using topics, making it easy to follow and manage discussions.
• Cross-platform clients: Access Zulip via web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), mobile (iOS, Android), or terminal applications.
• Self-hosting capabilities: Deploy Zulip on your own servers to ensure data privacy and compliance with organizational policies.
• Extensive integrations: Connect with tools like GitHub, Jira, and more to streamline your workflow.
• Advanced search and filters: Quickly find messages and topics with powerful search capabilities.
• Customizable notifications: Tailor notification settings to stay informed without distractions.
• Open-source and transparent: Benefit from a transparent development process and community-driven improvements.

Deployment Features

Time	OS	RAM	Disk
20–30 min		2Gb	20Gb

• Installed software:
  • Zulip
  • PostgreSQL
  • RabbitMQ
  • Redis
  • memcached
  • Nginx (Used as a reverse proxy for handling HTTPS traffic.)
  • Certbot (Used to automatically obtain and renew TLS certificates from Let's Encrypt.)
• Open ports:
  • 80, 443 – Web access (HTTP/HTTPS)
• Files path: /home/zulip

Getting Started After Zulip Deployment

After completing your payment, you will receive an email at the address provided during registration notifying you that your server is ready. This email will include the IP address of your VPS and login credentials to access the Zulip web interface:

• Link: https://example.com

When you first log in to Zulip, you will be greeted by a simple setup wizard. On this screen, you’ll need to create your organization by entering its name, selecting the type and language, and providing your email. Once the organization is created, you can invite your team and start collaborating right away.

Initial Setup

After registering, Zulip creates a workspace for your organization. You immediately get access to chats, streams, private messages, and onboarding tips for quick and efficient collaboration.

1. Views and navigation: On the left panel, you see your inbox, recent conversations, mentions, reactions, starred messages, and drafts for easy navigation.
2. Direct messages and streams: Below, you find direct messages with users and a list of channels ("streams") grouped by topics.
3. Workspace header: The top panel displays configuration instructions, search bar, and workspace management tools.
4. Main chat area: In the center, you see the current conversation or selected topic with the full message history and useful onboarding information.
5. Message composer: At the bottom, the message composer allows you to send text, format messages, add attachments, emojis, and start threads.
6. User and organization management: Invite users to your organization directly from the sidebar and manage team collaboration easily.

Updating Zulip

curl -fLO https://download.zulip.com/server/zulip-server-latest.tar.gz
/home/zulip/deployments/current/scripts/upgrade-zulip zulip-server-latest.tar.gz

Upgrading will result in brief downtime for the service, which should be under 30 seconds.

PostgreSQL upgrade steps for the Zulip server:

1. Stop the server:

   su - zulip -c '/home/zulip/deployments/current/scripts/stop-server'

2. Take a backup, in case of any problems:

   su zulip -c '/home/zulip/deployments/current/manage.py backup --output=/home/zulip/postgresql-upgrade.backup.tar.gz'

3. Run the database upgrade tool:

   /home/zulip/deployments/current/scripts/setup/upgrade-postgresql

4. Start the server again:

   su - zulip -c '/home/zulip/deployments/current/scripts/start-server'

Now you should be able to access the Zulip server by entering its URL in your web browser. Log in to your account and verify that all main features, messages, and integrations are working as expected.

Zulip Mobile and Desktop Apps

If you already have access to a Zulip server, you can connect directly using the server address or invitation link. Simply enter the provided URL in the Zulip desktop or mobile app, or open it in your web browser to log in with your credentials and start collaborating.

iOS

iOS 14.0+

Download

Install Guide

Android

Android 7.0+

Download

Install Guide

Windows

10+

Download

Install Guide

macOS

12+

Download

Install Guide

Linux

***

Download

Install Guide

Opening SMTP Ports

For security reasons, outgoing TCP ports (25, 465, and 587) are blocked by default on all VPS servers. This measure aims to prevent spam distribution. To lift the block, follow these steps:

1. Register your domain zone. The A-record for your domain must point to your server’s IP address.
2. Submit a request to technical support specifying that you need to open outgoing SMTP ports for sending email and the domain (or subdomain) from which it will be sent.
3. After analyzing your domain name, we will make a decision on opening the SMTP ports and notify you.