NextcloudPi: bringing the cloud indoors.

A follow-up to a post I wrote in November about taking back ownership of data from Google and the like.

I now have a running instance of NextcloudPi at home. A fully functioning, secure, backed up, connected and synced data server. The hardware amounts to a Raspberry Pi (3 Model B), an SD card and a couple of 1TB USB drives. A shoe box that would be at least twice the size needed to put it in.  

Also got myself a new router (tp-link Archer C9)  as Virgin's Hub 3 does not have the administrative scope I needed to freely access the install on my local network.

I am now able to host, serve up and share my calendar, contacts and files without a third-party getting a look in. Photo gallery, media player, RSS reader are all rolled with it along with a heap of other apps on the side to install as needs must. The last thing I figured out was the need to set some port filtering. This was to have my DDNS accessible on the local network. Simple when you know how. Took a little while but I got there in the end. 

If starting again I would consider single board alternatives to the Raspberry Pi. Probably also consider external hard drives with their own power source. Not had any problems with access , transfer speeds or reliability. Perhaps no more than post install upgrade craving.     

Unlimited credits to Nacho Parker for leading the NextcloudPi open source community project. Colour me as one who has had it made easier to gain control over my own data.