What tool to offload files from devices to NAS? reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-13 21:18 Currently, I use google drive to upload files from my phone/computer/etc devices. Then I can safely delete them my device where storage is at a premium. I would like to de-google-ify by hosting these files on my NAS instead. It is important to me that I can easily search / download / interact with those files from all my devices. Tools I've considered (but rejected): - SyncThing: A non starter, as it syncs all files to all devices. The files will not fit on most of my devices - my goal is to remove file storage from devices. - NextCloud: I've tried it, but it's been a disaster for me. There are just way too many features and in general NextCloud tries to do too much, which makes the experience of simply uploading, viewing/searching, and downloading files too cumbersome. What tools would you recommend for this? So far my best tool is File Browser (https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser), but it doesn't feel feature-rich enough, doesn't have native mobile/desktop apps etc. There must be a middle ground somewhere... ---- UPDATE: So far having a positive experience with SeaFile: https://github.com/haiwen/seafile-rpi/releases. It allows me to have the feeling of extending my mac storage capacity, as the network directory from SeaFile can be mounted. This makes adding and accessing files a breeze. Additionally there is a native mobile iOS app that gets the job done as well. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mpopgun · 2023-11-13 22:25 I've tried open media vault and their OneDrive sync...it deleted everything in my OneDrive...so maybe if you don't use that feature it might be worth exploring. Sorry, butt Nextcloud might be your best bet. Maybe try using Mistborn, it has a one click install for nextcloud and several other popular selfhosted apps. Maybe that'll make it easier to get it up and working right? Digital Ocean also has a one click install for Nextcloud. Running your own "cloud" is a little bit of work, which is why most just use the public cloud. I believe synology has an app that might do some syncing. Might check that reddit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-11-13 22:28 > SyncThing: A non starter, as it syncs all files to all devices. No, it does not. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- persiusone · 2023-11-14 00:25 >No, it does not. To be fair, I recall this being an issue at one point when I tried it. Not sure if it's a configuration issue or a default, either way I'm sure it could be configured to not sync everything on all devices. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EnochWright · 2023-11-14 01:02 If your using Snyology they have a app called DS file. It backs up folders from phone as they are generated and over wifi. So all my photos at full resolution backup and then get deleted from my phone automatically. Then since I use their Photo app, I have access to them on my phone in the Synology photo app. It's great! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-14 01:54 Educate me? It says all over the website that it’s designed to keep files in sync across devices. In sync means all the directories are the same right? And when the NAS picks up new files, it does not remove them from the original device. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-14 01:55 Nice. I don’t have synology and prefer something open source anyway ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-11-14 03:40 Maybe keep reading the documentation a bit more. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-14 03:48 You have no idea what you’re talking about. Why else would you be so vague? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-11-14 04:06 Because im not here to copy/paste the documentation for you. If youre not willing to read the SyncThing docs, then youre not willing to read my explanation either. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-14 05:59 I was hoping you were contributing to this thread to be helpful. Oh well. I'll just leave you with these notes I came across: * https://github.com/syncthing/syncthing/issues/5060#issuecomment- 403611998 * https://old.reddit.com/r/Syncthing/comments/syerzw/is_there_a_way_i_ can_sync_a_folder_but_not/hy13rm7/ * https://forum.syncthing.net/t/use-syncthing-as-a-backup-tool/19766 * https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synchronize * And from the FAQ: https://docs.syncthing.net/users/faq.html#is- syncthing-my-ideal-backup-application Read the docs. They make it clear that syncthing is not designed for backup. Sorry for the snark. This is all to say, I tried it, it's not an ideal workflow, I wouldn't say it is a product that should be compared to google drive in my experience, and everything I see online says it was not designed to be. It's designed to sync things (gee I wonder if that's where the name came from). If there's something specific I'm missing, I'm here asking for help. "Trust me bro, read the docs" is just the most annoying possible response, designed to be unhelpful. Why even post? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-11-14 06:14 > I was hoping you were contributing to this thread to be helpful. I did, by telling you that your statement that SyncThing "syncs all files to all devices" is wrong. Thanks for those notes but i dont need them, i have been using SyncThing for years now and i know exactly what it does. > They make it clear that syncthing is not designed for backup. I know. And i never said otherwise. As the name suggests, its made for syncing. > It's designed to sync things (gee I wonder if that's where the name came from). Genius. > If there's something specific I'm missing, I'm here asking for help. "Trust me bro, read the docs" is just the most annoying possible response, designed to be unhelpful. About as unhelpful as posts like yours, when people dont bother to simply use the search function here. Good luck on your search :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-14 06:18 This is my thread dude, if you don't want to be a part of it don't be (seriously, won't be missed). I'm having good luck with SeaFile, but it's still early. Hopefully as good as it seems. You sent me on a goose-chase re-evaluating a software that is not and never pretended to be what I described clearly that I was looking for. Maybe wasting people's time is fun for you idk, honestly can't fathom why you wrote anything. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-11-14 06:20 > This is my thread dude Hahahaha, yes thats exactly how this works. Thanks for the laughs! > You sent me on a goose-chase re-evaluating a software that is not and never pretended to be what I described clearly that I was looking for. Maybe wasting people's time is fun for you idk, honestly can't fathom why you wrote anything. You only did that to yourself. You claimed SyncThing "syncs all files to all devices" and all i did was to say thats wrong. If you infered more to that, thats simply on you. Bye. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-14 06:29 There should be a special reddit flair for pedantic-aggressive types so that rest of us know when to ignore. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thekrautboy · 2023-11-14 06:38 Meh, dont worry, i am blocking you so neither of us have to suffer the others responses any longer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- zakafx · 2023-11-14 12:28 he who blocks is the real butthurt one. you're fine. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- tech2but1 · 2023-11-14 18:28 I use Seafile for this. Switched after getting fed up of fixing Nextcloud every time I updated it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dcabines · 2023-11-14 20:52 Each device has to accept the new shared folder. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- mrorbitman · 2023-11-14 21:16 Good to hear! I have liked Seafile so far, nice to hear an endorsement! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- persiusone · 2023-11-14 22:10 Well sure, but is there a way to not sync unused files, similar to onedrive? I think that's what I was missing when testing it ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dcabines · 2023-11-14 22:55 What is an unused file? You can set an ignore pattern to skip some folders or file types. I found a request to [add an ignore pattern based on last changed date](https://forum.syncthing.net/t/date-age-ignore-pattern/13042/6), but I don't think they'll implement it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- persiusone · 2023-11-14 23:50 >What is an unused file? A file which is available on the cloud, but has yet to be accessed or downloaded on-demabd by the host. This is how OneDrive natively works (by defaults), although can be configured (by folder) to always sync or on-demand. I looked into syncthing as a onedrive alternative in the past, and couldn't find this ability at the time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- dcabines · 2023-11-15 01:06 Oh, I think you'd need something that mounts like a virtual hard drive for that. Something like [CloudDrive](https://stablebit.com/clouddrive) ought to do it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- persiusone · 2023-11-15 02:20 Yeah, I wanted a replacement for OneDrive with that native compatibility.. I'll check clouddrive out but not wanting a mounted drive unless it can be managed with a GPO