diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.md')
| -rw-r--r-- | content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.md | 196 |
1 files changed, 93 insertions, 103 deletions
diff --git a/content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.md b/content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.md index 58df86e..cdb0faa 100644 --- a/content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.md +++ b/content/blog/2022-10-04-syncthing.md @@ -7,26 +7,25 @@ draft = false # 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 -[Syncthing](https://syncthing.net) 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. +If you've been looking around the self-hosted cloud storage space for a while, +you've undoubtedly run into someone suggesting +[Syncthing](https://syncthing.net) 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. +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 -[Downloads](https://syncthing.net/downloads/) page or install via your -device\'s package manager. +To install Syncthing, visit the [Downloads](https://syncthing.net/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. +You can install Syncthing on servers and desktops via the Downloads page linked +above or via the command-line. For Debian-based distros: @@ -43,37 +42,36 @@ sudo dnf install syncthing ## Mobile Syncthing for Android is available on -[F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid/) -and [Google +[F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/packages/com.nutomic.syncthingandroid/) and +[Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nutomic.syncthingandroid). -Syncthing does not have an official iOS client, but there is a -third-party client called [Möbius +Syncthing does not have an official iOS client, but there is a third-party +client called [Möbius Sync](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/m%C3%B6bius-sync/id1539203216). # How Does Syncthing Work? -To start, I wanted to include the main marketing blurb from their -website: +To start, I wanted to include the main marketing blurb from their website: -> 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. +> 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. -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. +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. +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: +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: ```sh sudo systemctl start syncthing@username.service @@ -83,97 +81,89 @@ sudo systemctl stop syncthing@username.service ## 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. +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: +Here's an example web GUI dashboard:  ## 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. +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. +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. +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. +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. +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. +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. +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.). +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. +- 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 [source code](https://github.com/syncthing) and continue -development/support if the Syncthing Foundation decides to stop -developing the software or sells the business. +- 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 [source code](https://github.com/syncthing) and continue +development/support if the Syncthing Foundation decides to stop developing the +software or sells the business. |