Portable Cloud- Though cloud storage can prove highly useful and valuable, the typical way of utilising it involves paying a company to store data on remote servers.

In the longer term, you can use cloud storage much more cheaply and safely when you have made it yourself. What follows is a guide to creating your own portable cloud server.

Install Nextcloudpi On A Raspberry Pi 3 Or 4 

NextcloudPi is a version of the cloud storage platform Nextcloud. MUO provides detailed instructions for how to install NextcloudPi on the Pi — and it’s a process for which a microSD card will also be required.

Boot Up Nextcloud On The Pi 

Once you have placed the microSD card into the Pi, you can switch it on and then wait a few seconds for the boot-up sequence to finish.

You will subsequently be asked to log in — and you can do so using the default username of ‘pi’ and password of ‘raspberry’.

Connect the Pi to Wi-Fi 

On the Pi, enter ‘sudo raspi-config’ before selecting ‘2 Network Options’ and then ‘N2 Wireless LAN’. After choosing your country and then your router’s SSID (name) and password, select ‘Finish’.

Enter ‘ip addr’ to find out the Pi’s IP address, which will be the ‘inet’ address under ‘wlan0’.

Enable The Nextcloud Web Interface 

You can do this by entering ‘sudo ncp-config’ and then selecting ‘Yes’ if you are prompted to update. Select ‘CONFIG’ in the next menu before scrolling down, selecting ‘nc-webui’ and typing ‘yes’ in the place of ‘no’. Proceed to press ‘Enter’ and then any key before selecting ‘Back’ and ‘Finish’.

Activate And Configure Nextcloud 

On another computer’s web browser, enter your Pi’s IP address with a ‘:4443’ suffix added, and log in with the username ‘ncp’ along with the password ‘ownyourbits’. Also, note down the two passwords you see on the NextcloudPi activation screen. Now, select ‘Activate’.

Log Into The Nextcloud Web Interface 

Use the same web browser to go to your Pi’s IP address, this time sans the ‘:4443’ suffix. Then, log in using the username ‘ncp’ and the second password you noted down just a little earlier.

Just past a welcome screen is your cloud server’s main web dashboard. In the top toolbar, click the NextcloudPi icon to be sent to a login screen where you should use the username ‘ncp’ and the first password noted down earlier.

Add Usb External Storage And External Online Access 

You can do both of these things after completing the login instructions provided just above, as this step will take you to a wizard that can help guide you through the relevant processes. As your Pi’s microSD card will be limited in capacity, you ought to add USB storage for your cloud server.

Protect Your Cloud Server With A Case 

Leaving the Raspberry Pi board bare would be ill-advised, as dust can accumulate on the surface. Fortunately, many different Pi-ready cases are available — such as from The Pi Hut’s online Maker Store, where plastic enclosures and zipper cases can be ordered.