Deprecation Notice for Matrix Federation
Matrix federation is being deprecated. Rocket.Chat’s native, built-in federation will launch in August 2025, removing the need for a separate home server or PostgreSQL instance. Existing federated deployments will remain supported until that date. To join the early-access program, contact your CSM and review the roadmap webinar for details.
Rocket.Chat’s Federation feature enables secure, decentralized communication across multiple workspaces using the Matrix protocol. This guide outlines how to enable federation, supported deployment paths, limitations, and key considerations for successful setup and management.
Rocket.Chat Federation fundamentals
Federation in Rocket.Chat allows workspaces to securely communicate and share resources across a federated network. This supports collaboration with external partners, customers, and other organizations. By using the Matrix protocol, Rocket.Chat ensures secure and decentralized messaging, enhancing both interoperability and security across the network.
Key features of Federation
Security: Secure communication protocols protect data in transit and at rest across the federated network.
Interoperability: Data and communication flow seamlessly between different platforms within the federation.
Efficient Services: Unified policies and configurations streamline network management and operations.
Supported deployment paths
Rocket.Chat Federation supports the following deployment models on Kubernetes, with a single Matrix home server configuration:
Monolithic Deployment: A single application instance that contains all core Rocket.Chat services. Suitable for smaller teams or simpler infrastructures.
Microservices Deployment: A distributed architecture where Rocket.Chat components run as independent services. Ideal for larger teams, complex environments, or high-availability setups.
Enabling Federation in Rocket.Chat
Set up and configure federation using the Federation Admin Guide. Rocket.Chat uses the Matrix protocol for federation and supports Matrix bridges to connect with platforms like Slack and WhatsApp.
Rocket.Chat Basic Federation is deprecated as of version 6.0. We strongly recommend following the Federation Admin Guide for the most up-to-date implementation practices.
Limitations of Rocket.Chat Federation
1. Scaling limitations
The scalability of Rocket.Chat Federation is constrained by the capabilities of the Matrix home server. For guidance on sizing and scaling, refer to the official Matrix documentation.
2. Connectivity dependencies
Federated Rocket.Chat deployments support both continuous and sporadic connectivity. However, Rocket.Chat has not been extensively tested in environments with intermittent or unstable network connections.
3. Event synchronization limitations
Event synchronization between Rocket.Chat and the Matrix home server presents several challenges that can affect operational consistency. Below are known limitations:
Room and user deletion: Deletions of rooms and users are not currently synchronized between Rocket.Chat and the Matrix home server. Actions taken in one environment (e.g., deleting a user) will not automatically reflect in the other. Administrators must account for this when managing data lifecycles across systems.
File upload limits: There is a discrepancy in maximum file size limits between Rocket.Chat and the Matrix home server. These limits must be manually aligned to ensure files are properly transferred and managed during synchronization.
Administrators should review these limitations carefully and adapt their workflows to reduce disruptions, ensure operational continuity, and meet regulatory requirements. Future updates to the documentation will include additional guidance and mitigation strategies for these known issues.
Federation plan features
Below is an overview of the Rocket.Chat federation features and the plans in which they are available:
Feature | Community | Starter | Pro | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Create 1:1 DMs | ||||
Invite multiple users to multi-user DMs using slash commands | ||||
Invite an external user to DMs using slash commands | ||||
Send and receive attachments (files, audio and video messages) | ||||
Edit, delete and quote messages | ||||
React to messages and send emojis | ||||
Mention internal and external users in federated channels | ||||
Synchronize user avatars across federated systems | ||||
Display user typing indicators | ||||
Rocket.Chat Federation extends your workspace's communication capabilities, enabling seamless collaboration across platforms and organizations.
By understanding the supported deployment models, limitations, and core features, administrators can confidently set up and manage federated networks, ensuring secure, interoperable, and efficient communication throughout the Rocket.Chat ecosystem.