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Sharing data with sharebox, and synchronizing folders with ownCloud
The screenshots and examples on this page are based on Windows,
but what is explained here should also work on Linux and Apple computers
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
and (only) then how to synchronize folders on different computers (very useful, and possibly risky)
Using the LSCE sharebox server
Experimenting with sharebox
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)
Space management
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 !
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
Creating a folder synchronization
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
![](/pmip3/lib/exe/fetch.php/other:sharebox_folders_notes.png?w=600&tok=adf979)
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!
Testing a folder synchronization
It is very important to experiment a bit, and understand how the synchronization works!
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)
![](/pmip3/lib/exe/fetch.php/other:owncloud_sync_folders_notes.png?w=600&tok=22ee28)
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!
Warning! When you delete something (locally or on the remote server), it will be moved to the Deleted files
section of the remote server
Checking that things are working correctly
There shouldn't be any problem, but you should still
check regularly that ownCloud is running correctly
Quitting (one of the rare times when you should use the Quit ownCloud
button) and restarting ownCloud may take care of problems
The obvious stuff
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
by mistake, instead of Hide
, 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 then renamed
A text file is added, renamed and updated
Are you ready?
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…
-
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
-
Synchronizing folders on different computers