Private Cloud with Raspberry Pi
As the digital world encircles us, we frequently worry about posting our crucial files. While searching for the best and safest cloud servers to protect data from scammers, many find there are unavoidable shortcomings. Creating your own private cloud server with Raspberry Pi and NextCloud offers a secure alternative.
Over an internet connection, you can move data from your PC to personal storage and vice versa. This indicates that you can access your "cloud storage" from any location and back up your PC anytime. While your data will be stored on your local network, uploading and downloading files from the internet will result in using more bandwidth.
What is NextCloud?
NextCloud is a client-server application that enables you to create and use file hosting services. It is prepared for company use and comes with various support features. Anyone can install and use it on their own private server devices because it is free and open-source software.
When used in conjunction with Collabora Online or OnlyOffice, Nextcloud offers functionality comparable to Dropbox, Office 365, or Google Drive. It may be hosted locally or in the cloud, scaling from inexpensive home office solutions based on Raspberry Pi to expansive data center solutions serving millions of users.
Equipment Needed
- Raspberry Pi 2/3/4
- SD Card / Micro SD (for Pi 2 or B+)
- Ethernet Cable or WiFi Dongle (not required for Pi 3 or 4)
- External HardDrive, SSD, or USB Drive with your desired server storage capacity
Setup Steps
Step 1: Install Raspbian
Install a new version of Raspbian on the Raspberry Pi from the official downloads page. The Raspbian Buster Lite image works well if you want something simple. This version lacks a graphical user interface, but SSH serves all needs.
Step 2: Installing NextCloudPi OS
NextCloudPi OS is a customized edition of Nextcloud that works with Raspberry Pi 3 or 4. Download the most recent NextCloudPi OS image file, extract the IMG file, and use the Raspberry Pi Imager application to flash the OS image onto a microSD card.
Step 3: Boot Up Nextcloud
Switch on your Raspberry Pi and insert the microSD card. After the bootup routine, log in with username "pi" and password "raspberry". Update your password for security reasons.
Step 4: Connect to WiFi
Enter sudo raspi-config, select Network Options, then Wireless LAN. Provide your router's SSID and password. Use ip addr to determine your IP address and note it down.
Step 5: Enable NextCloud Web Interface
Type sudo ncp-config, choose CONFIG, select NC-WebUI option at the bottom, change "no" to "yes", then press Enter to exit the configuration tool.
Step 6: Activate and Configure Nextcloud
On another computer's web browser, navigate to https://[your Pi's IP address]:4443. If you see a security warning, dismiss it and continue. Log in with username "ncp" and the password from the NextCloudPi activation box.
Step 7: Add USB External Storage
Since your microSD card has limited capacity, upgrade your Nextcloud Raspberry Pi server with USB storage. Connect your storage device to a USB port, create a directory with sudo mkdir /media/USBdrive, then configure it through the NextCloudPi web panel's USB Configuration wizard.
External Access
Currently, you can only access your Nextcloud server over your home network, which is somewhat restrictive. To access your Nextcloud server over the internet from any place, port forwarding and a dynamic DNS solution are required.
NextCloud server uses industry-standard SSL/TLS encryption for data transit. Additionally, default military-grade AES-256 encryption with server-based or personalized key management can encrypt data at rest in storage.
The NextCloud server is now prepared for outside access. By using the subdomain you configured in a web browser, you may manage your NextCloud server on your Raspberry Pi. The NextCloud app is even available for iOS and Android devices.