Nextcloud

• Introduction
• FOSS
• Managed Service
• Cross Platform
  • Android
• File Browser
• Calendar
• Contacts
• Business Tools
• Security
• Summary

Introduction

Sometimes I can be very disorganized. When I started forgetting appointments and missing deadlines, I realized I desperately needed a change. I should have been using technology to keep my datebook. This led to my discovery of Nextcloud. I was looking for a way to sync a digital calendar across devices, regardless of which device I was currently using. To my surprise, Nextcloud offered much more than just calendar synchronization.

Nextcloud provides users with a complete file backup and cloud solution. It’s a free and open source alternative to similar services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or Office 365. A Nextcloud web GUI is accessible via the internet. There are also downloadable clients for all major devices. It allows users to easily backup and sync files, calendars, and contacts. Nextcloud boasts enterprise-level networking between connected users. As such it is equally beneficial to individual users, as well as businesses. Through the same Nextcloud web interface, administrative tools are available, in order to manage your multiple users.

FOSS

Nextcloud is a server-based service. Because Nextcloud is FOSS, it can be downloaded and installed free of charge to a user’s own server. My first ever Nextcloud instance was running on a Raspberry Pi, and now runs on as a Proxmox container. It takes some time, but it’s not too hard to install nextcloud on Debian.

Managed Service

For those who lack the time, hardware, or ability to manage a server, there are companies that handle the install, configuration, and support for you. There’s no need to have your own server hardware, and you won’t have to do any technical stuff yourself. A managed nextcloud hosting provider, such as the one below, is great because they take care of everything, and just get you up and running.

Click Here

Cross Platform

Once the Nextcloud server is set up, it is reachable through the internet at a URL similar to www.example.com/nextcloud. From there, we have access to the powerful Nextcloud web GUI.

Nextcloud also offers desktop clients for Linux, Windows, and Mac. Users can access their Nextcloud on mobile, through the Android and iOS mobile apps. Users also have access through mounting Nextcloud as a network location, and on Windows can even assign it a drive letter.

Although, Nextcloud itself doesn’t feature an SFTP server, many SFTP clients such as WinSCP can connect via the WebDAV protocol. If a user has access to the underlying server that hosts Nextcloud, they may still be able to use SFTP/SCP to manipulate Nextcloud files.

Android

Keeping an Android device in sync with Nextcloud can be tricky, due to Google wanting you to continue using their own services. So we wrote an article about how to set up Nextcloud and Android file, contact, calendar, and tasks syncing.

File Browser

Once connected to Nextcloud, we first see a file manager. The Nextcloud file manager functions similarly to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. From here, we’re able to create or upload new files and folders. Of course standard file operations are here as well. Moving, renaming, and deleting files work exactly as would be expected.

Thumbnails are shown for images, music album covers, and text content. Clicking a file opens it for larger preview. Opening a video or audio file allows streaming directly from the Nextcloud interface. From Nextcloud, user’s can change files as needed with the built in editor. The file can even be downloaded for use on the user’s own computer.

Files can be tagged with keywords so that they can be grouped together. Often used or important files can be favorited so that they’re more easily found later.

In addition to files within a user’s Nextcloud account, files can be added from external sources. Nextcloud is able to connect to Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, SMB/CIFS share, FTP, and more. It can even connect to another Nextcloud server.

We can also add a “local” external storage location. This means files that are stored elsewhere on the same server that hosts Nextcloud will be made accessible. This feature makes it possible to use Syncthing with nextcloud, to set up a powerful real-time sync between devices.

Calendar

The real reason I began using Nextcloud. Multiple calendars can be created to help organize different aspects of your life. Nextcloud is able to act as both a source and destination for calendars.

Events can be added to calendars manually, or imported using the iCalendar .ics file format. This means we can use Nextcloud to subscribe to our existing calendars hosted elsewhere, such as those hosted by Google, Apple, and others.

Contacts

Since I was already going to use Nextcloud for calendar sync, I thought it would be a good idea to back up my contacts too. That will make it easier when I get a new phone, or reformat the one I have.

This works similarly to calendars. In addition to being able to sync the devices from your device, you can also manually enter them on Nextcloud. Nextcloud also offers the ability to import .vcf/.vcard files.

Business Tools

I’m the only one using my Nextcloud instance. However, Nextcloud does offer multi-user support. This can be extended to a family, group of friends, or even a business. Once additional users are added, files can be shared with anyone within the Nextcloud network. Shared files and chats between users can be grouped into a project. This is helpful if multiple people are working on the same report, presentation, or idea.

Users can be designated as Nextcloud administrators. These administrators control the multi-user functions of Nextcloud. These accounts can create or delete other users. They can add new features, or block unwanted features. Administrators also have the ability to set disk storage quotas. This is one way to unsure the Nextcloud server isn’t completely filled up.

Security

Nextcloud offers the ability to encrypt some or all files. A password is used to lock the file. Without the same password the file cannot be opened. Nextcloud offers the ability to quickly lock or unlock all files.

Nextcloud also offers two factor authentication (2FA). For those unaware, 2FA requires two things to access. Usually, one is something you know (a password), and the other is something you have (cellphone, physical key, 2FA token). Many 2FA methods are available as Nextcloud addon apps.

Summary

Nextcloud is more than just a central cloud server. It offers a large range of functionality. Users should feel free to pick and chose which features they wish to use. Personally, I only use Nextcloud as a central location for my calendars and contacts. However, as I use continue to try out Nextcloud’s various features, I become more and more impressed with this software.