[PLUG] ownCloud/nextCloud

[Tom]

Changing topic/subject to own/nextCloud ...
I am using ownCloud to replace G..gle services as well as to
synchronize/access personal data around many devices. I use the
storage, address book, calendar, bookmarks and photo modules
exclusively from ownCloud keeping no such data with G. That being said,
G sees my emails and phone calls, so I am sure that they can/do build
my address book (email and phone No., without the postal part)
themselves. Own/nextCloud integrates well with Android, iOS as well as
Gnome/KDE applications leaving me in charge of my own personal data.
I switched to ownCloud after experiencing the hassle of changing to
different cell provider and to Android, bot at the same time -
realizing that - the only way to be free to change services the next
time , avoid lock-in and to be able to share the same data on desktop -
is to invest in self hosting of cloud storage and personal info such as
address book and calendar. I find ownCloud stable and mature, with 2
years of active full time experience.
The easiest and cheapest way to setup ownCloud/nextCloud securely is to
run it on a virtual computer in cloud using cloud providers like Linode
or AWS-LightSail rather than self hosting at home. There are many
reasons, primary being reliability, cost and having recognized SSL
certificates (via LetsEncrypt) without the need for own DNS server and
paying for own IP at home. Linode/AWS-LightSail will cost less than a
static IP from my ISP; and again, I am free to change the cloud
provider much easier/cheaper than ISP. To make own/nextCloud
practically useful, one needs: domain + DNS, SSL certificate and full
control over a web server on the internet. That disqualifies shared
hosting and makes self hosting at home more complex thing to do. Using
own/nextCloud service could make backups and switching painful, leading
to repeating the same pain later.
I find own/nextCloud the most useful on portable devices such as phone
and my collection of laptops. It is great to be able to synchronize
bin, Documents and other files in my home dir between portable devices
as well as to share common address book, calendar and other bits and
pieces.
There are better ways for bulk data sharing than own/nextCloud such as
free (as in beer) BtSync AKA resilioSync which will work from home
without too much setup and one can host TBs without too much expense,
albeit at relatively slow home upload speeds.
I hope that this does not sounds too much like and infomercial or fan
-boy zeal.
Tomas
On Sat, 2017-02-25 at 08:54 -0800, Erik Lane wrote:
> > > 
> > > I have had a couple instances where I actually needed to create
> > > the keys
> > as
> > > root as well. I was using rsync with sudo, (and the files were
> > > owned by a
> > > different user for Owncloud) so I had to have root create the
> > > keys, since
> > > that was what would be running the ssh transfer. Well, there
> > > might have
> > > been other options, I really don't know, but setting it up that
> > > way took
> > > care of it for me. Once I got it working I stopped looking for
> > > other ways
> > > to do it. :)
> > > 
> > 
> > having root do anything on the "cloud" (esp the way some distros
> > configure sudo) is absolutely insane.  Nuts.  Bonkers.
> > 
> > 
> At first I was confused, but then I remembered that I mentioned
> 'owncloud'... I don't have anything going out to any cloud services,
> well
> other than that we do use Gmail and Google's various other cloud
> stuff. I
> had Owncloud running on a Raspberry Pi, just for fun, and only
> exposed to
> my own LAN. It's firewalled from the internet. In fact I haven't used
> it
> for months - I was thinking of trying to get it up and running well
> enough
> to get away from doing Google drive type stuff, but then didn't spend
> enough time and effort to actually get it into good enough shape to
> really
> be useful. I don't know if it's mature enough to provide enough
> incentive
> to make my wife want to change.
> 
> Thanks,
> Erik
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