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diff --git a/blog/syncthing/index.org b/blog/syncthing/index.org deleted file mode 100644 index 8c3656a..0000000 --- a/blog/syncthing/index.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,169 +0,0 @@ -#+title: Syncthing: A Minimal Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Solution -#+date: 2022-10-04 -#+description: An overview of how you can use Syncthing as a minimal alternative to cloud storage. -#+filetags: :selfhosting: - -* An Overview of Syncthing -If you've been looking around the self-hosted cloud storage space for a -while, you've undoubtedly run into someone suggesting -[[https://syncthing.net][Syncthing]] as an option. However, it is an -unusual alternative for those users out there who are used to having a -centralized cloud server that serves as the "controller" of the data and -interacts with clients on devices to fetch files. - -This post is a walkthrough of the Syncthing software, how I set up my -personal storage, and some pros and cons of using the software. - -* Installing Syncthing -To install Syncthing, visit the -[[https://syncthing.net/downloads/][Downloads]] page or install via your -device's package manager. - -** Server & Desktop -You can install Syncthing on servers and desktops via the Downloads page -linked above or via the command-line. - -For Debian-based distros: - -#+begin_src sh -sudo apt install syncthing -#+end_src - -For Fedora-based distros: - -#+begin_src sh -sudo dnf install syncthing -#+end_src - -** Mobile -Syncthing for Android is available on -[[https://f-droid.org/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid/][F-Droid]] -and -[[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nutomic.syncthingandroid][Google -Play]]. Syncthing does not have an official iOS client, but there is a -third-party client called -[[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/m%C3%B6bius-sync/id1539203216][Möbius -Sync]]. - -* How Does Syncthing Work? -To start, I wanted to include the main marketing blurb from their -website: - -#+begin_quote -Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program. It synchronizes -files between two or more computers in real time, safely protected from -prying eyes. Your data is your data alone, and you deserve to choose -where it is stored, whether it is shared with some third party, and how -it's transmitted over the internet. -#+end_quote - -Let's break this apart and add in some other details to help explain -what exactly Syncthing does in order to sync files between devices. - -** Local Syncthing Server(s) -Syncthing syncs files between multiple devices by creating a local -server on each device. These local servers handle a few different -things, such as watching files and directories for changes, hosting an -administrative GUI website, and authenticating with connected devices. - -You can also start, stop, and restart the Syncthing server via the -command-line or web dashboard. If you're running Syncthing on a device -with =systemd=, you can use the following commands: - -#+begin_src sh -sudo systemctl start syncthing@username.service -sudo systemctl restart syncthing@username.service -sudo systemctl stop syncthing@username.service -#+end_src - -** Syncthing Dashboard -This biggest part of Syncthing is the admin GUI website that runs on -each device (note that mobile devices will use the Syncthing app rather -than the web GUI). The admin GUI is available through the web browser on -the local device that is running Syncthing - simply go to -=http://localhost:8384= or =http://127.0.0.1:8384=. This web page is the -place where you will change settings, add/modify synced files, and -add/modify connected devices. - -Here's an example web GUI dashboard: - -#+caption: Syncthing Dashboard -[[https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20221020-syncthing/syncthing_gui.png]] - -** Remote Devices -A cloud storage solution wouldn't be very useful if you aren't able to -share data among various devices. Syncthing does this by sharing Device -IDs to connect servers, and then by manually sharing Folders with -devices that have been connected. - -For instance, if you have a laptop running Syncthing and then install -the Syncthing mobile app on a phone, you could scan the laptop's QR code -for Device ID and then accept the authentication on the laptop's -dashboard. Next, you can use either device to select a folder for -sharing and dictating which device should send, receive, or both. - -When you connect devices, you can set one device as an "Introducer," -which can add devices from the introducer to the device list, for -mutually shared folders. You can also configure Auto Accept, -compression, rate limits, and more settings per device. - -* My Personal Cloud Storage Set-up -Personally, I use a model similar to a traditional cloud storage -service. I have a "centralized" server running 24/7 that acts as an -Introducer for my Syncthing network. I think of this as my main storage -and all other devices as tertiary client devices. I will likely add -additional servers as backups as time goes on so that I don't have to -rely on my laptop or phone as the only backups. - -Currently, I have one desktop and one mobile device connected to the -network, both running intermittently as they are not powered-on 24/7. - -The initial set-up of the software was easy enough, but data transfer -rates were incredibly slow for me due to the Wi-Fi. Instead, I plugged -my laptop into the ethernet network that my server is on and manually -copied my folders over to the server with =scp=. Once complete, -Syncthing validated that all files were there and not missing, and it -did not need to transfer any data through the WAN. - -As slow as the transfer was going, this probably saved me a few days of -waiting for my ~100GB sync. - -* Pros & Cons -I've put together a short list of pros and cons for Syncthing. I thought -about my experiences with Nextcloud, WebDAV, proprietary services -(Google Drive, iCloud, etc.), and privacy-focused cloud solutions -(pCloud, Tresorit, etc.). - -*Pros:* - -- I've faced no data loss at all through my two-month trial run. -- No third-parties store your data on their servers. -- You have full control over your data and can take your data and leave - at any time. -- It's possible to encrypt client-side easily with software like - Cryptomator. -- No proprietary clients or mounted volumes, just plain files and - folders. - -*Cons:* - -- The learning curve is steeper than traditional cloud services and is - focused on a technical audience. -- If a device needs to modify files in a Folder, the devices will need - to sync ALL files from the folder, which may be large. To avoid size - restraints, split large folders into smaller folders for syncing. -- Syncing can be slow due to the clients/servers initially connecting or - re-connecting after sleeping. -- Multiple personal devices are required and require the user to own or - rent them as no third-party servers are involved in the storage of - data. - -Overall, I've had a great experience with Syncthing so far. I've had no -data loss, syncing has been quick and easy when changes are made to -files, device connections are reliable, and I love the freedom of -controlling the clients and servers as I choose. - -Not to mention that I appreciate that I - or someone else - could pull -the Syncthing [[https://github.com/syncthing][source code]] and continue -development/support if the Syncthing Foundation decides to stop -developing the software or sells the business. |