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Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

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Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#51

Post by buro9 »

StavrosK wrote: post #50

After finding Backupsy (and RamNode, which a commenter suggested), I've found the holy grail of backup solutions. I will write a simple backup script that mounts a remote directory (through SSH or whatever), mounts an EncFS directory on that and rdiff-backups files onto it. This will give you encrypted, snapshotted backups using open-source systems, that are better than Duplicity because you don't have to be creating…

I just use Tarsnap for this scenario: http://www.tarsnap.com/

What I am looking for is a folder that syncs, but is secure and open source.

BitTorrent Sync is the closest to how it should work, but is not open source: http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#52

Post by StavrosK »

buro9 wrote: post #51
StavrosK wrote: post #50

After finding Backupsy (and RamNode, which a commenter suggested), I've found the holy grail of backup solutions. I will write a simple backup script that mounts a remote directory (through SSH or whatever), mounts an EncFS directory on that and rdiff-backups files onto it. This will give you encrypted, snapshotted backups using open-source systems, that are better than Duplicity because you don't have to be creating…

I just use Tarsnap for this scenario: http://www.tarsnap.com/ What I am looking for is a folder that syncs, but is secure and open source. BitTorrent Sync is the closest to how it should work, but is not open source: http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html

Tarsnap is ideal, but it's around $27 a month, versus $3.

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#53

Post by buro9 »

StavrosK wrote: post #52
buro9 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just use Tarsnap for this scenario: http://www.tarsnap.com/ What I am looking for is a folder that syncs, but is secure and open source. BitTorrent Sync is the closest to how it should work, but is not open source: http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html

Tarsnap is ideal, but it's around $27 a month, versus $3.

It's a question of how much you're backing up... my Tarsnap use and cost is very low.

I retain off-site encrypted HDD images updated once a month of things like media which constitute the vast majority of my data and do not need daily snapshots.

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#54

Post by Tho85 »

e12e wrote: post #45
edvinbesic wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting, does this allow for incremental updates while encrypted?

Encfs is pretty opaque -- afaik modifying a file will at least change an entire block, possibly the entire file. Two identical files will look completely different (per file IVs) -- so no deduplicaton is possible. But adding and removing files works as expected, so adding a few files to the encfs system, should translate to the same number of files added to the underlying folder.

EncFS allows to deactivate some of these features at the price of reduced security. The EncFS manpage [1] has a good explanation of all the tunables. If you want to use Boxcryptor, you're even advised to deactivate most of these features [2].

[1] http://linux.die.net/man/1/encfs

[2] https://boxcryptor.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/565934

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#55

Post by StavrosK »

buro9 wrote: post #53
StavrosK wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tarsnap is ideal, but it's around $27 a month, versus $3.

It's a question of how much you're backing up... my Tarsnap use and cost is very low. I retain off-site encrypted HDD images updated once a month of things like media which constitute the vast majority of my data and do not need daily snapshots.

Yeah, I want to back up my media as well (around 90 GB), but I want my backups to just work. Tarsnap would have been fine if not for the cost, so a tool that combines EncFS + SSH + rdiff-backup will be ideal for me.

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#56

Post by techbob »

wazoox wrote: post #25
Bjoern wrote: post #22

How does this solution measure up to hosting your own Owncloud or alike? Any upsides / downsides? I'm wondering because many non-technical people need a dead simple solution for this if you want to substitute Dropbox.

From what I've seen, Owncloud doesn't provide encryption (files are lying in the clear on the server); furthermore I didn't dig much into the web app part, but I wouldn't bet it to be extremely robust security-wise.

well said, they don't provide any encryption - and I have not found any public cloud services that could solve the browser encryption issue. If you are willing to experiment with public services, my first bet would be tresorit (however, they have limitations in compatibility until august, when upgrades are coming). I also tried wuala and boxcryptor, but they just did not work for me.

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#57

Post by exhilaration »

StavrosK wrote: post #49
Spittie wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're fine with OpenVZ and being in the USA, RamNode ( http://www.ramnode.com/index.php ) offer 50gb for 2$/month and 120gb for 7.50$/month (And it's ssd-cached space). You can even use a coupon like "leb35' to get 35% discount forever. Note: Not affiliate in any way with RamNode, just an happy client.

Wow, $30 a year for 90 GB, that's amazing, thank you. You've been using them and you're satisfied? Basically, all I care about at the moment is that they don't silently corrupt my data, as it's backups.

How did you get that price for that much disk space? I'm on the RamNode website and can't find a plan that matches.

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#58

Post by StavrosK »

exhilaration wrote: post #57
StavrosK wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, $30 a year for 90 GB, that's amazing, thank you. You've been using them and you're satisfied? Basically, all I care about at the moment is that they don't silently corrupt my data, as it's backups.

How did you get that price for that much disk space? I'm on the RamNode website and can't find a plan that matches.

I went here:

https://clientarea.ramnode.com/cart.php?gid=11

And got the 256 RAM one, it has 90 GB space. Then I used the leb35 code the GP gave me, and it comes out to $29.83 yearly.

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#59

Post by jfb »

I applaud this, and other similar efforts (OwnCloud et al) but for me the win with Dropbox is not system to system syncing (for which Unison or rsync works Well Enough for me) but rather as a synchronization service for my mobile devices. This is sadly enough an area where roll-your-own is not going to be able to compete.

Re: Build your own private, encrypted, open-source Dropbox clone

#60

Post by urza »

jfb wrote: post #59

I applaud this, and other similar efforts (OwnCloud et al) but for me the win with Dropbox is not system to system syncing (for which Unison or rsync works Well Enough for me) but rather as a synchronization service for my mobile devices. This is sadly enough an area where roll-your-own is not going to be able to compete.

I started using BitSync[1] few days ago to sync and backup some folders in my Android to my PC and Mac.

Unfortunately it is not opensource, but is is still better than dropbox, because it does not store my files in cloud and it has better setting - i can choose which folders on my device i want to backup or synchronize.

[1] http://labs.bittorrent.com/experiments/sync.html

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