Set up Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9: Best Cloud Storage

This tutorial is designed to guide you through the process of setting up Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9. You will also learn how to install the Dropbox Command Line Interface (CLI) on AlmaLinux 9. Dropbox is a leading cloud storage service that allows you to store files online and synchronize them across your various devices.

Dropbox offers a convenient way to share files and folders with others via shareable links, eliminating the need for large email attachments. While Dropbox offers a free plan that provides 2 GB of storage, paid subscriptions allow you to increase your storage capacity up to 3 TB.

How Dropbox Works:

When you subscribe to Dropbox, you are allocated storage space on an online server often referred to as "the cloud." After installing the Dropbox application on your computer, mobile device, or both, any files you store locally in your Dropbox folder will be automatically copied to the Dropbox server.

Any changes made to these files in one location are automatically mirrored across all synchronized devices and the cloud. This synchronization ensures that your files are accessible from anywhere and easily shareable with others. This makes Dropbox a great cloud storage solution.

Now, let’s proceed with the steps to set up Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9 and install the Dropbox CLI.

Before you begin, ensure you are logged in to your AlmaLinux 9 server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. If you haven’t already configured this, you can follow a guide on initial server setup with AlmaLinux 9.

1. Install Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9

First, update your system’s package list to ensure you have the latest versions of all installed software. Use the following command:

sudo dnf update -y

Download the Dropbox Package for Linux

Next, download the Dropbox package directly from the official Dropbox website. Use the wget command for this purpose.

To download and extract the Dropbox package for a 64-bit operating system, execute the following command in your terminal:

sudo cd ~ && sudo wget -O - "https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86_64" | tar xzf -

For a 32-bit operating system, use the following command:

sudo cd ~ && sudo wget -O - "https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86" | tar xzf -

Note: The above command will create a hidden folder named .dropbox-dist within your home directory. To view hidden folders, navigate to your home directory using cd ~ and then type ls -a.

To start the Dropbox service, run the following command:

sudo ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd

Note: If you are running Dropbox on your server for the first time, you will be prompted to copy and paste a link into a web browser to create a new account or link your server to an existing account. Once you complete this process, a Dropbox folder will be created in your home directory. Setting up Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9 requires an internet connection to sync.

2. Access the Dropbox Application on AlmaLinux 9

You can access the Dropbox application on your AlmaLinux 9 desktop under Applications > Internet. Simply click on the Dropbox icon to launch the application.

3. Install Dropbox CLI on AlmaLinux 9

For users who prefer working with the command line, Dropbox provides a command-line interface (CLI) that allows you to manage Dropbox directly from the terminal.

To install the Dropbox CLI, follow these steps:

First, install Python on your server using the following command:

sudo dnf install python3 -y

Next, download the Python script required to control Dropbox from the command line. Execute the following command:

sudo wget -O /usr/local/bin/dropbox "https://www.dropbox.com/download?dl=packages/dropbox.py"

Then, make the script executable using the following command:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/dropbox

To view a list of all available commands for controlling Dropbox CLI, simply run:

dropbox

For example, to check the version of Dropbox, use the following command:

dropbox version

Conclusion

You have now successfully set up Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9 and installed the Dropbox CLI.

Alternative Solutions for Cloud Storage on AlmaLinux 9

While Dropbox is a popular and user-friendly cloud storage solution, several other options exist that may be more suitable depending on your specific needs and technical expertise. Here are two alternative approaches:

1. Nextcloud: Self-Hosted Cloud Storage

Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted cloud storage solution that provides you with complete control over your data. Unlike Dropbox, where your data is stored on Dropbox’s servers, Nextcloud allows you to host your cloud storage on your own server. This can be particularly appealing to users concerned about data privacy and security. Setting up Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9 is a good option, but using Nextcloud is another.

Explanation:

Nextcloud offers features similar to Dropbox, including file syncing, sharing, and collaboration. It also provides additional functionality such as calendar, contacts, and task management. The key difference is that you are responsible for managing the server infrastructure and ensuring data security.

Installation:

Installing Nextcloud on AlmaLinux 9 involves setting up a web server (e.g., Apache or Nginx), a database (e.g., MariaDB or PostgreSQL), and PHP. While a detailed installation guide is beyond the scope of this article, here’s a high-level overview:

Install a LAMP or LEMP stack: This involves installing Apache or Nginx as the web server, MariaDB or PostgreSQL as the database, and PHP along with necessary PHP extensions.
Download Nextcloud: Download the latest version of Nextcloud from the official website.
Extract Nextcloud: Extract the downloaded archive to your web server’s document root.
Configure Web Server: Configure your web server to serve the Nextcloud directory.
Create Database: Create a database and user for Nextcloud.
Run the Nextcloud Installation Wizard: Access the Nextcloud installation wizard through your web browser and follow the on-screen instructions to configure Nextcloud.

Example (MariaDB Database Creation):

sudo mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE nextcloud;
CREATE USER 'nextcloud'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON nextcloud.* TO 'nextcloud'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Pros:

Complete control over data: You own your data and control where it is stored.
Enhanced security: You can implement your own security measures.
Extensibility: Nextcloud offers a wide range of apps and plugins to extend its functionality.
Cost-effective: While there are costs associated with server infrastructure, it can be more cost-effective than paid cloud storage plans for large storage needs.

Cons:

Requires technical expertise: Setting up and maintaining a Nextcloud server requires technical knowledge.
Responsibility for security: You are responsible for ensuring the security of your data.
Maintenance overhead: You need to manage server updates and maintenance.

2. Rclone: Command-Line Cloud Management

Rclone is a command-line program to manage files on cloud storage. It is a feature-rich alternative to cloud vendors’ web interfaces. Rclone is "rsync for cloud storage". Rclone is similar to setting up Dropbox on AlmaLinux 9, but with more flexibility.

Explanation:

Rclone supports a wide variety of cloud storage providers, including Google Drive, Amazon S3, Microsoft OneDrive, Backblaze B2, and many more. It allows you to sync, copy, move, and encrypt files between your local machine and cloud storage services.

Installation:

Download Rclone: Download the latest version of Rclone from the official website.
Extract Rclone: Extract the downloaded archive.
Install Rclone: Follow the instructions on the Rclone website to install the binary in a suitable location (e.g., /usr/local/bin).

Example (Download and Install on Linux):

curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash

Configuration:

After installing Rclone, you need to configure it to access your cloud storage provider. This involves creating a configuration file and authenticating with your cloud storage account.

rclone config

This command will guide you through the process of configuring Rclone to connect to your chosen cloud storage provider.

Usage:

Once configured, you can use Rclone to perform various operations, such as syncing files:

rclone sync /path/to/local/directory remote:path/to/remote/directory

This command will synchronize the contents of /path/to/local/directory with /path/to/remote/directory on your configured remote.