DIY Cloud Storage Alternative To Dropbox

[CTrap33]

As part of a 6 person company scattered across 4 states, I am looking for an alternative to paying $15/month/user for more dropbox space as we are approaching the free version storage limit. Instead of this $1080 per year cost (we've been a non-profit for just over a year so our budget is small), I was thinking of building my own server (buying a couple of 4TB HDDs, motherboard, budget RAM, budget PSU, and budget processor; will also consider a UPS) and using some open source software with my company to sync everything. I believe this could be done for $500-$600 easily.

My questions are as follows:

1. Is there a good open source software that is simple like dropbox?
2. Would this software have encryption?
3. What are some recommended hardware components for such a task?


I'm not too familiar with building your own server, though I have built a few PCs. Could this be done using Windows 7 or would I need something like Windows Server?

Thanks in advance.

 

[13thmonkey]

dependent on security concerns something like a WD NAS drive with cloud functionality could do it.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1140

It's probably more secure than something homebrew if you don't know what you are doing.

 

[Spectre694]

1) syncthing and owncloud. BTsync may be worth a look at too
2) syncthing yes owncloud AFAIK BTsync supposed to but not opensource.
3)depends on the performance and usage requirements.

I wouldn't recommend windows for this task though you could use it if desired. I would look at FreeNAS. It is a BSD system but the main thing is it is based on the ZFS filesystem huge advantage for a storage appliance. It also has plugins available for owncloud, syncthing, and BTsync. More or less just plug and play You could also setup a VPN and use it like a NAS too if you so desired. and always make sure your data exists in at least two locations.

There is also rockstor (linux) for BTRFS but BTRFS really isn't production ready at this point.

 

[CTrap33]

dependent on security concerns something like a WD NAS drive with cloud functionality could do it.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1140

It's probably more secure than something homebrew if you don't know what you are doing.

This is actually pretty reasonably priced. I cannot tell how this would work...I would only need one physical product and each user could access it, correct? Or does each user need their own physical drive?

 

[13thmonkey]

Just dump one in a location with a decent connection and it communicates to WD servers and they create the gateways for you to access it. you can create users etc. And give access to certain folders etc. Buy one from somewhere with a good return policy, or just buy a tiny one for test.

 

[CTrap33]

1) syncthing and owncloud. BTsync may be worth a look at too
2) syncthing yes owncloud AFAIK BTsync supposed to but not opensource.
3)depends on the performance and usage requirements.

I wouldn't recommend windows for this task though you could use it if desired. I would look at FreeNAS. It is a BSD system but the main thing is it is based on the ZFS filesystem huge advantage for a storage appliance. It also has plugins available for owncloud, syncthing, and BTsync. More or less just plug and play You could also setup a VPN and use it like a NAS too if you so desired. and always make sure your data exists in at least two locations.

There is also rockstor (linux) for BTRFS but BTRFS really isn't production ready at this point.

I'm no computer wizard, but I can learn pretty easily. The issue would be ease of use for the other 5 members of my company. Storage space at this point doesn't need to be huge. 2TB would be good enough. If I could add more as needed, even better.

Do you have any recommended reading that would teach me more about what you are talking about?

 

[CTrap33]

Just dump one in a location with a decent connection and it communicates to WD servers and they create the gateways for you to access it. you can create users etc. And give access to certain folders etc. Buy one from somewhere with a good return policy, or just buy a tiny one for test.

Would I need to connect this to a "host" computer so to speak? Like via USB or wireless? And just for initial setup or does it require ongoing connection?

So it appears that other users would access via web browser and/or desktop application?

If it's as easy as they make it seem, I will probably go for it.

 

[13thmonkey]

connect to router, setup users with laptop, leave connected to router, leave it alone.

It might be a bit clunky in terms of file access etc., but (as a small business owner myself) my job is to run the business and not the IT for the business so keep it simple. In 1-2 years once you start to outgrow it then consider other options.

 

[Spectre694]

1) syncthing and owncloud. BTsync may be worth a look at too
2) syncthing yes owncloud AFAIK BTsync supposed to but not opensource.
3)depends on the performance and usage requirements.

I wouldn't recommend windows for this task though you could use it if desired. I would look at FreeNAS. It is a BSD system but the main thing is it is based on the ZFS filesystem huge advantage for a storage appliance. It also has plugins available for owncloud, syncthing, and BTsync. More or less just plug and play You could also setup a VPN and use it like a NAS too if you so desired. and always make sure your data exists in at least two locations.

There is also rockstor (linux) for BTRFS but BTRFS really isn't production ready at this point.

I'm no computer wizard, but I can learn pretty easily. The issue would be ease of use for the other 5 members of my company. Storage space at this point doesn't need to be huge. 2TB would be good enough. If I could add more as needed, even better.

Do you have any recommended reading that would teach me more about what you are talking about?

Hmm ya I'll send you some stuff but I'm now thinking it may be a bit overkill depending on how much space you plan on expanding into. I saw the $1080 a year and figured you needed some space it isn't sounding like it if you are only asking for 2TB.

ZFS
http://www.freenas.org/
https://owncloud.org/
https://syncthing.net/
Little primer on COW FS's