This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
Sharing data with sharebox, and synchronizing folders with ownCloud
There are several ways to use the LSCE cloud storage (aka sharebox). You should learn:
- how to use sharebox manually for sharing some files,
- then how to use ownCloud for synchronizing some folders
- ownCloud can mirror a folder on your local computer to the sharebox server.
- and (only) then how to synchronize folders on different computers (very useful, and possibly risky)
Using the LSCE sharebox server
Have a quick look at the sharebox page, then open the sharebox URL in a browser and use your LSCE login and password to access the server.
If you have never used the LSCE sharebox server, try using it a bit:
- Create a new
Test
folder (onsharebox
!) and use drag and drop to upload a file from your computer to the newTest
folder - Learn how to share the
Test
folder using a public link - Use the public link in another browser (or in a new incognito window of the same browser) to find out how people with the link will see the content of the folder you have shared
- Try to share only the uploaded file (instead of the full content of the
Test
folder)
You can determine how much space you are currently using on sharebox, and what the upper limit is in the Settings
panel
Notes:
- With some work, you can use rclone to move files directly from one of the LSCE servers to sharebox !
Synchronizing folders with ownCloud
The ownCloud
application can be used to automatically mirror one (or more) folder(s) on your computer to the LSCE sharebox server, or another ownCloud server (e.g. CNRS mycore server).
This is a useful but limited kind of backup. If you remove a file on your computer by mistake when ownCloud is running, the file will also be removed from the sharebox server!
Installation and basic configuration
- Download and install the owncloud Desktop App
- You will also have to restart your computer (after installation or later) to complete the installation (and get some special synchronization status icons on top of the regular files' icons)
- Launch ownCloud, but do not configure a server yet
Creating a folder synchronization
- Create your main OWNCLOUD folder on the local computer
- Open the ownCloud interface and click on the
Add account
button- Use the sharebox address (or CNRS mycore) in the
Server Address
field, and then your LSCEUsername
andPassword
- Be sure to select
Manually create folder sync connections
and then click onConnect…
- You are now ready to connect a local folder to a remote folder on sharebox!
- Click on
Add Folder Sync Connection
:Pick a local folder on your computer to sync
:
Select your main local OWNCLOUD folder:<some_disk_different_from_c>:\Users\<your_login>_owncloud
Select a remote destination folder
:
Select your main remote folder:/Backup/your_login_owncloud
- Be sure to uncheck the
Use virtual files instead of donwloading content immediately
Testing a folder synchronization
- create test folders and files in the local folder (
<some_disk_different_from_c>:\Users\<your_login>_owncloud
) - Warning! The mirroring works both ways! If you remove files or folders on the sharebox server (using the web interface), they will also be automatically deleted in the local folder!
- Try it for yourself by deleting some test files on the sharebox server
Checking that things are working correctly
Quitting (one of the rare times when you can use the Quit ownCloud
button) and restarting ownCloud usually takes care of problems
The obvious stuff
- The mirroring will only work if:
- ownCloud is running on the local computer
- your computer has network access (and is online long enough to send/receive all the changes)
- the sharebox server is running
- Be sure to save the files that you are editing (and that are in a mirrored folder) before shutting down your computer
- use a long enough delay (a few seconds will be OK if you have a good network access) after saving a file and shutting down your computer
Is ownCloud running ?
Check that there is an ownCloud icon in the hidden icons of the taskbar (or start ownCloud) and that it has a green check-mark
ownCloud should always be running, unless you have used the Quit ownCloud
instead of Hide
by mistake in the interface.
Checking ownCloud status
You can start the ownCloud interface and check that ownCloud is operating properly (green check-mark)
Checking ownCloud activity
You can use the Activity
panel to check the recent activity and make sure that ownCloud did everything as expected. If you see errors, try to correct them as soon as possible!
The most recent action is listed at the top. In the example below (from bottom to top):
- A new folder on the local computer is uploaded to sharebox, and then renamed (
Moved
…) on sharebox after being renamed locally - A test image is added to the new folder (both locally and on sharebox) and the renamed
- A text file is added, renamed and updated