Nextcloud + Syncthing Integration
Editor Note
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Ever wish your Nextcloud files would automatically sync between multiple devices the second they’re changed? All without the need to manually upload and then download them? In this article I’ll describe the benefits of combining Nextcloud and Syncthing to unleash your productivity superpowers.
Nextcloud is a free cloud based file storage solution. It’s features are similar to that of Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive, with additional plugins to extend capability. Users can view and edit their Nextcloud files, from any device with internet access. Nextcloud has user-friendly apps on every major system, as well as a web interface accessible by your browser.
My previous article on Syncthing praised it for it’s superior sync ability. It’s technology can detect file changes in real time, then pushes these changes to specifically connected and synced peer devices regardless if they are on the same or separate networks.
So integrating the two in order to complement each other is an obvious pairing. Connecting both results in a self hosted solution greater than the sum of their parts. This allows us to utilize the powerful, real time, Syncthing protocol along with the user friendly web UI, apps, and extended features of Nextcloud. All that’s needed to do is to add Syncthing to our current Nextcloud install.
Benefits
In addition to all the benefits Nextcloud and Syncthing provide individually, using them together has many viable use cases. The following are just three ideas that you can implement.
Example 1 - Centralization
Because our Nextcloud server is already a centralized location, adding Syncthing provides a constantly available Syncthing peer.
We don’t have to worry about which Syncthing devices are currently turned on, or which are on airplane mode. Our Nextcloud server is always available, and can receive and share changes as devices become available.
Example 2 - Photo Backup
The Nextcloud mobile app already has this ability, but you have to manually select folders and pictures to upload.
If several of us take a trip together, we can all take pictures on our own phone, and they’ll automatically sync with the server using Syncthing. The photos can then be combined into a shared Nextcloud album. That way, we can all see the pictures from the trip via Nextcloud’s gallery.
Example 3 - Sharing Syncthing Files
If we were just using Syncthing, but want to share a file with someone else, we’d have to either download the file and then figure out some way to get it to them, or add them to the Syncthing pool, allowing them to all the other files in that folder.
By incorporating Nextcloud, we can create a sharing link for just that file. This will allow us to provide anyone who has the link with read access to specific Syncthing files. All while preventing access to the entire Syncthing network.
Requirements
For this to work, all you will need is:
- A server, or networked computer than can be left powered on.
sudo/rootpermission.- A working Nextcloud install
- The instructions on connecting Syncthing and Nextcloud.
- Enough storage space to hold all your new files.
From now on, any changes to this file will be synced in both directions.
Summary
Every user with a Nextcloud install should make the simple addition of adding Syncthing.
We can now edit our files directly on the Nextcloud, And have these changes synced to all connected devices. This much needed solution helps us take one more step to being completely in control of our own data.
Next, Click Here for the step-by-step instructions.