Hey All,
Im trying to set up BigBlueButton with Moodle 1.9 using a local server. I downloaded the BigbLueButton virtual server from their website and have it set up and running I can even access it through a browser.
I downloaded the moodle module for BBB from Dual Code and had moodle recognize BBB as an activity too, but the problem is when I try and create a meeting it says the following:
"Your subscription to the BigBlueButton service has expired or the credentials you entered are not valid. Please renew your subscription or contact the system administrator."
If I am using a local server how does my subscription to BBB matter? How do I get around this problem? Can anyone please help?
Thanks a lot.
Hi Siddharth,
I have the same problem.
I have bigbluebutton version 0.7 installed which is the latest, unfortunately the Moodle module is currently only working for version 0.6 of bigbluebutton.
If you visit http://www.dualcode.com/bigbluebutton/index.htm there is a badge saying that the version for 0.7 is currently in development. I am sure it won't be too far away so if you keep checking that site when it is released you should be able to get the updated module from there.
I have the same problem.
I have bigbluebutton version 0.7 installed which is the latest, unfortunately the Moodle module is currently only working for version 0.6 of bigbluebutton.
If you visit http://www.dualcode.com/bigbluebutton/index.htm there is a badge saying that the version for 0.7 is currently in development. I am sure it won't be too far away so if you keep checking that site when it is released you should be able to get the updated module from there.
I also have the same problem.
My configuration is as follow:
- One server running Moodle v1.9.9+ with the BigBlueButton plug-in v20100405.
- One server running the BigBlueButton server v0.7 (0.7ubuntu2).
I always get the error: "Your subscription to the BigBlueButton service has expired or the credentials you entered are not valid."
After making some traces and debugging, it shows that the problem is the authentication (salt / checksum) between the Moodle plugin and the BigBlueButton API.
I did not managed to make it work until now.
But as said by Mat, there is this announcement on the Dual Code web site (the one making the Moodle BBB plugin): "The Moodle plug-in for BBB v0.7 is currently in development."
Then, let's wait...
Eric
My configuration is as follow:
- One server running Moodle v1.9.9+ with the BigBlueButton plug-in v20100405.
- One server running the BigBlueButton server v0.7 (0.7ubuntu2).
I always get the error: "Your subscription to the BigBlueButton service has expired or the credentials you entered are not valid."
After making some traces and debugging, it shows that the problem is the authentication (salt / checksum) between the Moodle plugin and the BigBlueButton API.
I did not managed to make it work until now.
But as said by Mat, there is this announcement on the Dual Code web site (the one making the Moodle BBB plugin): "The Moodle plug-in for BBB v0.7 is currently in development."
Then, let's wait...
Eric
This can be found in the following slide-cast (page 6): http://www.slide-casts.com/file.php/se1279693466/source.pdf
Compatibility (of the present BBB Modle plug-in)
- BigBlueButton version 0.63 and 0.64
- Moodle version 1.9.7+
- PHP 5
- Not compatible with BigBlueButton version 0.70
- Not compatible with Moodle version 2.x
- Not compatible with PHP 4
Compatibility (of the present BBB Modle plug-in)
- BigBlueButton version 0.63 and 0.64
- Moodle version 1.9.7+
- PHP 5
- Not compatible with BigBlueButton version 0.70
- Not compatible with Moodle version 2.x
- Not compatible with PHP 4
To all interested.
The plug-in for BBB v0.7 is now available at http://www.dualcode.com/bigbluebutton/
The slide-cast will be updated within the next 24-48 hours.
The plug-in for BBB v0.7 is now available at http://www.dualcode.com/bigbluebutton/
The slide-cast will be updated within the next 24-48 hours.
I have tried the new plug-in for BBB 0.7 but also get "Your subscription to the BigBlueButton service has expired or the credentials you entered are not valid. Please renew your subscription or contact the system administrator."
I wondered if this was due to the fact that I hadn't uninstalled the previous version. Is there a procedure to do this?
I wondered if this was due to the fact that I hadn't uninstalled the previous version. Is there a procedure to do this?
John,
I just have installed the new BBB plugin (v0.7) for Moodle (v1.9) and it works fine.
Procedure to install the new BBB 0.7 plugin:
a) Removed the previous plugin from Moodle: go to "Modules - Activities - Manage activities", and click on "Delete" for the "BigBlueButton" activity. This will only delete the BBB table in the DB.
b) After that, go on your Moodle server, and delete the BBB directory:
E.g.
cd /var/www/moodle/mod
rm -Rf bigbluebutton
c) Download the new plugin:
cd /var/www/moodle/
wget http://www.dualcode.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton.zip
unzip bigbluebutton.zip
Caution: download and unzip the bigbluebutton.zip file in /var/www/moodle (the root of your Moodle installation), not in /var/www/moodle/mod!!! This new zip file includes the mod directory (which should better not be). Probably, that's your problem: because of that, you are still using the old (0.64) plugin.
Then go to "Notifications" in the Moodle admin interface: you should see the that the new BBB table has been created.
Hope it will help.
Eric
I just have installed the new BBB plugin (v0.7) for Moodle (v1.9) and it works fine.
Procedure to install the new BBB 0.7 plugin:
a) Removed the previous plugin from Moodle: go to "Modules - Activities - Manage activities", and click on "Delete" for the "BigBlueButton" activity. This will only delete the BBB table in the DB.
b) After that, go on your Moodle server, and delete the BBB directory:
E.g.
cd /var/www/moodle/mod
rm -Rf bigbluebutton
c) Download the new plugin:
cd /var/www/moodle/
wget http://www.dualcode.com/bigbluebutton/bigbluebutton.zip
unzip bigbluebutton.zip
Caution: download and unzip the bigbluebutton.zip file in /var/www/moodle (the root of your Moodle installation), not in /var/www/moodle/mod!!! This new zip file includes the mod directory (which should better not be). Probably, that's your problem: because of that, you are still using the old (0.64) plugin.
Then go to "Notifications" in the Moodle admin interface: you should see the that the new BBB table has been created.
Hope it will help.
Eric
Hi, we have been running version 0.64 and have just upgraded to version 0.70 of the plugin and moodle version 1.9.9+. I have just gone into activites > manage activites and deleted the bigbluebutton module and then removed the folder from the mod folder.
I have downloaded the new module and copied the lang and mod folders to the root folder of our moodle install and logged into moodle and on clicking on the notifications tab big blue installs the database table successfully.
I then navigate to activities > bigbluebutton and get on the right the bigbluebutton title with the text "Be careful modifying these settings - strange values could cause problems." below it then nothing until finally the browser times out and I get the error message below.
Fatal error : Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs\mod\bigbluebutton\lib.php on line 241
I am having the same error "Be careful modifying these settings - strange value could cause problems." How could get rid of this error and be able to edit the settings? Thanks!
That is not an error its just a caution message, indicating that you should verify properly before making BBB configuration changes.
Now the question is after puting the necessary details, and created a BBB activity, did you get any error message?
The problem is the warning message doesn't go away. And there is nothing under the warning message. So I could not set the setting variables.
Hello...hmm..that is quite strange, ok try this; login as admin and go to your moodle section and delete the BBB plugin completely. The ftp into the moodle directory and go to your moodle folder, check whether the Bigbluebutton folder is still there, if it is delet completely also delete BBB in the help directory.
The follow this instruction for installing the plugin. If you still have issues, come back with the print screen the error page
I reinstalled the moodle ( version 1.9.10 ) and bbb plugin ( 2010080401 ). Now the settings for BigBlueButton under Modules/Activities for user "admin" works ok. I can set the setting variables now. However, when I click the meeting activity for a teacher user, the meeting is just blank.
Hello,
Could you verify that your moodle server meets the php requirement, and also check whether BBB server is reachable from the moodle server.
Seun, the moodle server ( a Cetos 5.4 Vmware ) has php 5.1.6 installed. And the BBB server can be reached from the moodle server by firefox browser. Thanks!
ok i also assume that the salt in moodle is correct. What version of BBB are you using? if 0.71 run bbb-config --salt to verify the salt you put in moodle. If lower version, check the salt in the BBB config file. Another thing is what ip do you have setup on moodle for the BBB server? if all this are correct then we may need to narrow down.
Change the IP to a wrong one on moodle: Did you get a different response this time?
If yes then it means moodle can properly reach the BBB so you should run bbb-config --debug, maybe you could get some msg paste here if you do.
I am using BBB version 0.70 . I turned on the debug message for server when login in as "admin". When I clicked a BBB meeting as a teacher, I got the following message:
XML Parsing Error: XML or text declaration not at start of entity
Location: http://192.168.0.108/moodle/mod/bigbluebutton/view.php?id=7
Line Number 2, Column 1:<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
I need to install php-mbtsring in the Centos vmware. Now Eveything work well. Thanks Seun!
Wow! here comes the php thing...glad that you figured it out...and thanks for the feedback...cheers
The last DualCode (for BBB 0.70) plugin didn't work with BBB 0.71?
There are a workaround? It's possible to rewrite or edit the plugin? Any just di this?
I love the new BBB 0,71version, but i must unnistall it? (is not easy) and install the 0.70? to use it with moodle?
Where i found it?
Hello Alen,
I am running BBB 0.71 and the moodle plugin still works perfectly! Is there any specific challenge you are having with the plugin...maybe we could help out?
Hello Seun, I have installed Moodle 2.0.7 and BBB .71a VM, I can reach the server perfectly with the ip address and I can make a conference, but if I try to add an activity it is possible to link the activity but when we try to reach the conference through the activity in the course and nothing happens. I checked several things even the version of the plug. But I haven't resolve the connection.
Any suggestion?
Eric,
Thanks very much for this. I'm still getting the same message I'm afraid. What I was a bit suprised about is that I didn't have to re-enter the SALT which suggests that this didn't clear the previous BBB plug-in completely from my system. Do you know id there is another step I should have done?
Thanks very much for this. I'm still getting the same message I'm afraid. What I was a bit suprised about is that I didn't have to re-enter the SALT which suggests that this didn't clear the previous BBB plug-in completely from my system. Do you know id there is another step I should have done?
John,
a) To be sure you have installed the new v0.7 plugin properly, you have to see correctly the last configuration parameter (Administration -> Modules -> Activities -> BigBlueButton):
"Automatically check for updates to this plug-in (but do not install them)."
With the previous plugin (not compatible with BBB v0.7), that configuration parameter was not properly shown.
In Administration -> Modules -> Activities, you have to see the version of the BigBlueButton activity/module: the new version is 2010080401.
b) I noticed that the "salt" is shown in two files on the BBB server:
/var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/WEB-INF/classes/bigbluebutton.properties:
beans.dynamicConferenceService.securitySalt=a4xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx68
/var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/demo/bbb_api_conf.jsp:
String salt = "a4xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx68";
Be sure the two salts are identical and well configured in the BBB-Moodle plugin.
c) Be sure the two servers (Moodle and BBB) can connect through the BBB API port: by default it is TCP:80 (type some characters then enter):
root@moodle-server:~# telnet bbb-server.lan 80
Trying 192.168.1.125...
Connected to bbb-server.lan.
Escape character is '^]'.
aaa
<html>
<head><title>400 Bad Request</title></head>
<body bgcolor="white">
<center><h1>400 Bad Request</h1></center>
<hr><center>nginx/0.7.65</center>
</body>
</html>
Connection closed by foreign host.
d) I can give you access to my BBB server if you want (and send you the salt by email). Then you can check if the problem is on the Moodle side, on the BBB side, or in between (network).
Br,
Eric
a) To be sure you have installed the new v0.7 plugin properly, you have to see correctly the last configuration parameter (Administration -> Modules -> Activities -> BigBlueButton):
"Automatically check for updates to this plug-in (but do not install them)."
With the previous plugin (not compatible with BBB v0.7), that configuration parameter was not properly shown.
In Administration -> Modules -> Activities, you have to see the version of the BigBlueButton activity/module: the new version is 2010080401.
b) I noticed that the "salt" is shown in two files on the BBB server:
/var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/WEB-INF/classes/bigbluebutton.properties:
beans.dynamicConferenceService.securitySalt=a4xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx68
/var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/demo/bbb_api_conf.jsp:
String salt = "a4xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx68";
Be sure the two salts are identical and well configured in the BBB-Moodle plugin.
c) Be sure the two servers (Moodle and BBB) can connect through the BBB API port: by default it is TCP:80 (type some characters then enter):
root@moodle-server:~# telnet bbb-server.lan 80
Trying 192.168.1.125...
Connected to bbb-server.lan.
Escape character is '^]'.
aaa
<html>
<head><title>400 Bad Request</title></head>
<body bgcolor="white">
<center><h1>400 Bad Request</h1></center>
<hr><center>nginx/0.7.65</center>
</body>
</html>
Connection closed by foreign host.
d) I can give you access to my BBB server if you want (and send you the salt by email). Then you can check if the problem is on the Moodle side, on the BBB side, or in between (network).
Br,
Eric
Eric,
Thanks for your comprehensive list of things to check as it was really helpful. However I have checked all this and it all looks to be OK. I've discovered though that when I set up a new BBB activity, leaving the password field blank, I am asked if I want to join as an Attendee or Moderator. Clicking on Moderator gives the following response.
<response>
<returncode>FAILED</returncode>
<messageKey>invalidPassword</messageKey>
−
<message>
You either did not supply a password or the password supplied is neither the attendee or moderator password for this conference.
</message>
</response>
If I enter a password in the Attendee and Moderator field when I set up a BBB activity then it all works although it doesn't ask for a password when I access the activity.
So it appears as thought there are a few issues here:
1. A password is always required when setting up a BBB activity (which may not be what everyone would want if they have to inform their users of it prior to a session - especially for ad-hoc sessions)
2. If a password is required then there is no check on the activity entry form to ensure that a password is entered.
3. There is no prompt for the user joining the activity to enter a password which seems to defeat the reason for having one.
regards
John
Thanks for your comprehensive list of things to check as it was really helpful. However I have checked all this and it all looks to be OK. I've discovered though that when I set up a new BBB activity, leaving the password field blank, I am asked if I want to join as an Attendee or Moderator. Clicking on Moderator gives the following response.
<response>
<returncode>FAILED</returncode>
<messageKey>invalidPassword</messageKey>
−
<message>
You either did not supply a password or the password supplied is neither the attendee or moderator password for this conference.
</message>
</response>
If I enter a password in the Attendee and Moderator field when I set up a BBB activity then it all works although it doesn't ask for a password when I access the activity.
So it appears as thought there are a few issues here:
1. A password is always required when setting up a BBB activity (which may not be what everyone would want if they have to inform their users of it prior to a session - especially for ad-hoc sessions)
2. If a password is required then there is no check on the activity entry form to ensure that a password is entered.
3. There is no prompt for the user joining the activity to enter a password which seems to defeat the reason for having one.
regards
John
Hello John, Eric,
It seems i have the same problem and questions to ask. Did you have any solution to the problem as yet;
Thanks,
Giannis
Als antwoord op Giannis Koumoutsos
Re: Using BigBlueButton with a local server
door Sergio Rabellino -
I installed the latest vm from bbb site, configured as suggested on the site and installed the latest plugin module into my 1.9.8 moodle: all fine.
how about some information on your errors ?
Als antwoord op Sergio Rabellino
Re: Using BigBlueButton with a local server
door Giannis Koumoutsos -
If I enter a password in the Attendee and Moderator field when I set up a BBB activity then it all works although it doesn't ask for a password when I access the activity.
I need to have some free teleconferences without any password set but when I set a password I need everyone to use it in order to join the meeting.
Thanks,
Giannis
Als antwoord op Giannis Koumoutsos
Re: Using BigBlueButton with a local server
door Sergio Rabellino -
You need to use the API (in the source package of bbb you can find many examples in various languages) to create an authenticated url that you can use to enter the room without any extra request to the users.
I did an integration of bbb with my intranet web site and works like you need, but the code is specifically written for our purposes, it's not a general solution, so sharing it it's unuseful
I have this same problem, even if i create a passowrd, users still gets logged in automatically without prompting for passowrd....
Is there a way i can correct this?
Hi, Please and please how do i locate this security salt? Totally new to ubuntu. I have tried to reason out the location without any success. Is it on the DOS prompt bbb server (i'm hosting mine on my computer) or there is a file/directory i need to check.
2. I also tried to change it from the dualcode instructions but , the new salt will only take 8 characters, think i'm doing something wrong that i still do not know. All help will be gratly appreciated.
Thank you.
Dipo.
Hello Dipo,
It depends on the BBB version you have installed if its the latest 0.71 then run "sudo bbb-config --salt" (without the collon)
That will display the salt.
for lower versions run "sudo nano /var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/WEB-INF/classes/bigbluebutton.properties" the scroll to the salt line.
Else use: sudo cat /var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/WEB-INF/classes/bigbluebutton.properties| grep Salt
That will filter out the salt and display
Come back if you have problem...or send me a PM
Als antwoord op Siddharth Bhansali
Re: Using BigBlueButton with a local server
door Bartłomiej Polakowski -
Hi,
do you know if it is possible to connect Moodle with a few different local BBB servers in such a way that the web conferences are spread among all servers?