I tried Nextcloud a while back and was not impressed - I had issues withe the speed of the Windows sync that were determined to be “normal” with no roadmap to getting fixed. I’m now planning to move off Windows desktop so that won’t be an issue - so I thought I’d try again.
I went to nextcloud.com, clicked on Download-> Nextcloud server -> All-in-one -> Docker image - Setup AIO. This took me to the github README at Docker section. I’m already running docker for other things so I read the instructions, setup a new filesystem for my data directory and ran the suggested docker command with an appropriate “–env NEXTCLOUD_DATADIR=”. I’m then left with a terminal running docker in the foreground - not a great way to run a background server but ok, I’ve been around for a while and can figure out how to make it autostart in the background ongoing. So I move on to the next step - open my browser at the appropriate URL and I’m presented with a simple page asking me to “Log in using your Nextcloud AIO passphrase:”. I don’t have a Nextcloud AIO passphrase and nothing I’ve read so far has mentioned it. When I search for it I get some results on how to reset it, but not much help. I could probably figure that out too, but after reading some more I found that Nextcloud requires a public hostname and can’t work with a local name or IP address. I’m already running my home LAN with OpenVPN and access it from anywhere as “local” - I don’t really want to create a new path into my home network just for Nextcloud.
I’m sorry - I know this sounds like a disgruntled rant and I guess it is. I just want to check that I’m not missing obvious things before I give up again. All I want is a simple file sync setup like onedrive but without the microsoft.
I haven’t used nextcloud in years, but last I read about it was to avoid AIO at all cost. There is another version and for some reason AIO was shit and not AIO was OK. Can’t remember why though.
That seems to be the case. Really sucks that the documentation at nextcloud.com directs people to the AIO. I guess they hope that if you have a bad time trying to install your own server you might buy their cloud service.
Nextclouds docker setup is an absolute disaster, I don’t blame you for giving up. It’s also slow as molasses to sync anything.
A couple things to look at, I would probably say look at KaraDAV first.
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KaraDAV, this is a simple webdav server that’s compatible with the Nextcloud sync clients. Uses SQLite for a DB so setup is super simple. Has a basic web based file browser too.
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Owncloud Infinite Scale, still a bit of a setup, but it’s better than what Nextcloud offers.
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Syncthing, this is my current setup, just a robust and solid file sync program. You can pair it up on your server with something like SFTPGo or KaraDAV to provide a web file manager and WebDAV server if you need that. Downside is there’s no selective sync or virtual folder support.
simple webdav server that’s compatible with the Nextcloud sync clients
Now THAT is interesting - when I was last experimenting with Nextcloud I learned that the files part is just a webdav server. Unfortunately I also learned that they have a bit of a handshake before the webdav so the client wouldn’t work with my apache2 webdav server. Thanks!
Agreed, Nextcloud has gone from a lean little personal cloud to a hulking enterprise hub.
If you’re after something that’ll just sync your files between devices, try Syncthing. If you need files available online, maybe something like filestash or, like somebody else suggested, SFTPgo.
There are also tiny, lean calendar and contact server apps out there if you decide you need those. After self hosting NC for years I’m really happy spreading out the tasks over dedicated services rather than having all my eggs in one basket.
I replaced Nextcloud with syncthing (files) & radicale (calendar, contacts & todos)
No-one used the calendar on NC, they just used their phones, Outlook, etc
No-one used the photo gallery on NC - that’s now Immich … again, with syncthing.
During the early days, just doing an update would break things.
For a small home setup, NC is too big, too clunky and just not the right tool.
Totally different for me:
- NC-calendar syncs two different calendars (work and private) accross all my devices.
- NC Photos with Memories organizes 2 TB of photos and has all the functions Immich has.
- NC Password Manager syncs my Passwords
- I share big files with my clients via NC and photo albums to friends and family.
- NC syncs and organizes different Input-folders for my paperless-ngx-server.
- I update NC with a small script, works every time
So it replaces at least 5 different Programs. And it’s 80 % private use, 20 % for my business. Not too big, not too clunky, just the right tool.
I love syncthing!! I have one VM with only debian an syncthing and that machine is backed-up frequently. All others PC’s and vm’s syncthing to that one machine.
All of them sync ~/downloads
All machines I use for coding also sync ~/code
My desktop machines sync ~/documents.
And so on. Works great (for me)
Use docker or podman compose https://hub.docker.com/_/nextcloud/
Nextcloud does not need a domain. Ip is fine.
Does it need to be an external IP? I was going to look into setting it up soon but if that’s the case I think I’ll just stick with SMB shares or maybe try syncthing
No
No internal domain could connect to anything if it wasn’t resolved for an ip.
Local IPv4 work. Global ipv4 work. Ipv6 works. Mesh vpn ips work. Any ip works.
You may have to adjust the config.php (iirc) to add the ip/domain to trusted domains
Use docker or podman compose https://hub.docker.com/_/nextcloud/
I could do that - I guess I was just pointing out that someone coming to Nextcloud and following the install instructions does not have a great experience.
Nextcloud does not need a domain. Ip is fine.
So, their documentation is wrong?
Again - not a great experience for a first time user.
Nextcloud it just too heavy I totally agree, and everything feels slow and sluggish.
For just files I use Syncthing and couldn’t be happier, it just works in the background without a central server just syncs the files between phones, PCs and laptops by itself. I set it up like 5 years ago when I had enough of Nextcloud and to be honest most of the time I forget that I have it, but I use it every day to sync my password database for KeePassXC, my music, my private and work documents between all my devices.
