Hello! How are folks self-hosting online storage, similar to Google Drive?
Some options I’ve found:
- https://filebrowser.org/ (maintenance-only mode)
- https://www.seafile.com/en/home/ (weird disk layout scares me)
- https://tinyfilemanager.github.io/ (i like simple!)
- https://github.com/mickael-kerjean/filestash
A bunch more: https://github.com/awesome-selfhosted/awesome-selfhosted?tab=readme-ov-file#file-transfer---web-based-file-managers
I mainly just need basic file management features. I don’t plan to share files outside of my tailscale VPN. I do need to support multiple users though.
I’m not considering Nextcloud because that seems too big. I’m also not considering syncthing for this project because I don’t want copies on multiple devices.
I’m currently just using ssh+nautilus and that’s worked great for just me, but something similar to Google Drive would be easier to onboard my family.
Why does the storage layer of seafile scare you? Are you also scared of databases and prefer storing things in raw txt files? The difference is the same. You get certain features in return:
- Versioning is possible (so each file can have a history you can roll back)
- Sync is very fast
- It can sync incremental changes even of big files
You still have access via:
- Web
- Synced locally using Seafile Client
- WebDAV
- Mounted as network filesystem anywhere using SeaDrive.
Are you also scared of databases and prefer storing things in raw txt files?
Yes, actually. 😅 I can’t manage a database for more than a few weeks before I screw it up or want to easily edit something and stop using it.
I don’t think databases are bad. I think I’m too much of a fuckup to manage one.
https://github.com/kd2org/karadav
Nextcloud client/app compatible WebDAV server with a lightweight file browser webUI, and multi-user support.
Should be the closest thing to Google Drive without actually running Nextcloud.
The only issue is it looks like the Nextcloud iOS clients don’t work.
I use Nextcloud, but as you said it’s a bit big, and with each update it’s slowly turning into more of the entire G-Suite.
I’ve used filebrowser, but be aware that until just a few days ago, it gave out access to a shell. Even with that turned off, I’d be very weary of allowing access from out of the VPN. I had a server pwned with filebrowser appearing to be the vector, and to my memory console access was disabled for the account most likely breached.
Nextcloud, hands down.
I personally really like sftpgo and I mount it via webdav.
I used seafile first, then nextcloud. Each for a couple of years and had significant problems with both.
Self hosting backups for anything remotely critical is usually a terrible terrible idea. Carry on.
