There are several ways to use the LSCE cloud storage (aka sharebox). You should learn:

1. how to use sharebox manually for sharing some files,
2. then how to use ownCloud for synchronizing some folders
   • ownCloud can mirror a folder on your local computer to the sharebox server.
3. and (only) then how to synchronize folders on different computers (very useful, and possibly risky)

Have a quick look at the intranet 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 (on sharebox!) and use drag and drop to upload a file from your computer to the new Test 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 storage space you are currently using on sharebox, and what the upper limit is in the Settings panel

The deleted folders and files can use some (a lot…) of space. Do not forget to really remove them regularly

• When you use a (long) public link for sharing data, you may want to use an URL shortening service to make things easier (e.g. bitly)
  • Do not use a URL shortening service to share confidential information!

• With some work, you can use rclone on the LSCE servers to move files directly from one of the LSCE servers to sharebox !

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!

• Download and install the owncloud Desktop App
  • You will also have to restart your computer (directly 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
  • Open the Settings panel and check the recommended settings and usage on the image below

• Create your main OWNCLOUD folder on the local computer:
  e.g. <some_disk_different_from_c>:\Users\<your_login>_owncloud
• Create your main ownCloud folder the sharebox remote server:
  e.g. Backup/<your_login>_owncloud
• Open the ownCloud interface and click on the Add account button
  If you want to add a folder sync to an existing remote server, just select the server and click on Add Folder Sync Connection
  • Use the sharebox address (or CNRS mycore) in the Server Address field, and then your LSCE Username and Password
  • Be sure to select Manually create folder sync connections and then click on Connect…
• 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
    • Click on Add Sync Connection to finalize the connection and you should end up with something looking like

• create test folders and files in the local folder (<some_disk_different_from_c>:\Users\<your_login>_owncloud)
• check the content of the matching folder(s) in the sharebox remote folder (/Backup/your_login_owncloud). You will probably have to refresh the content of the browser window (use the F5 button to easily refresh a browser window)
• 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
• Warning! When you delete something (locally or on the remote server), it will be moved to the Deleted files section of the remote server
  • This is a useful safety feature, because it allows you to recover files from the trashcan
    • It's possible (not sure yet… ) that files in the trashcan may be automatically removed after some time (to determine… )
  • The trashcan may use a lot of space! Be sure to clean it regularly!

• 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

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.

You can start the ownCloud interface and check that ownCloud is operating properly (green check-mark)

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

You should now be ready to add real folders and documents to the local OWNCLOUD folder on your computer!

• Don't try doing too much at the beginning…
• The storage space is not infinite (check your limits from time to time)!
• Do not try to mirror your Windows home folder (on C:), or similar folders (e.g. Thunderbird and Firefox folders) that have lots and lots of useless temporary files
• Never forget that mirroring is not a foolproof type of backup!
  • You should also use SyncBack or other types of Backup software for saving your data to an external disk
• Check from time to time that ownCloud is working as expected

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