beginners guide to self-hosting Nextcloud on Raspberry Pi

Beginners Guide to Self-Hosting Nextcloud on Raspberry Pi

What is Nextcloud?

Nextcloud is an open-source cloud storage platform that allows you to store files, share documents, manage contacts, and collaborate on projects. Unlike commercial alternatives, Nextcloud provides you complete control over your data, giving you the opportunity to self-host your cloud service, ensuring your privacy and security. Utilizing a Raspberry Pi to run Nextcloud is an ideal solution for beginners due to its low cost, ease of use, and compact size.

What You Need

Hardware Requirements:

1. Raspberry Pi: Any model from Raspberry Pi 2 and later will work, but the Raspberry Pi 4 is recommended for optimal performance.
2. Power Supply: Ensure you have a reliable power supply (5V, 2.5A for Raspberry Pi 3 and 3B+, and 5V, 3A for Raspberry Pi 4).
3. MicroSD Card: At least 16GB Class 10 microSD card for the operating system and Nextcloud installation. Consider using a 32GB or larger card for more storage.
4. USB Flash Drive or External Hard Drive: Optional but recommended for additional storage space.
5. Ethernet Cable: For a stable internet connection. Wi-Fi can be used, but wired connections are preferred.
6. Computer or Laptop: For initial setup and further configuration.

Software Requirements:

1. Raspberry Pi OS: The recommended OS is Raspberry Pi OS (previously Raspbian). Install the Lite version for a minimal experience.
2. Nextcloud: The latest version of Nextcloud.
3. PHP, MariaDB, and Apache (or Nginx): Required web stack components.

Setting Up Raspberry Pi OS

1. Install Raspberry Pi Imager: Download the Raspberry Pi Imager from the official website, and install it on your computer.
2. Flash the OS: Insert the microSD card into your computer. In the Raspberry Pi Imager, select the OS (Raspberry Pi OS Lite) and the SD card. Click “WRITE” and wait for the process to complete.
3. Boot Raspberry Pi: Eject the microSD card, insert it into Raspberry Pi, and power it up. Connect through Ethernet for the setup phase.
4. Access the Terminal: Once booted, connect via SSH using your terminal. Default login is pi and password is raspberry.

Preparing Your Raspberry Pi

1. Update and Upgrade:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install Required Dependencies:

   sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-xml php-curl php-zip php-gd php-mbstring -y

3. Start and Enable Services:

   sudo systemctl restart apache2
   sudo systemctl restart mariadb
   sudo systemctl enable apache2
   sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Configuring MariaDB

1. Secure Installation:

   sudo mysql_secure_installation

   Follow the prompts to set a root password and remove anonymous user accounts.

2. Create Nextcloud Database:

   sudo mysql -u root -p
   CREATE DATABASE nextcloud;
   CREATE USER 'nextclouduser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
   GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON nextcloud.* TO 'nextclouduser'@'localhost';
   FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
   EXIT;

Downloading and Installing Nextcloud

1. Download Nextcloud:

   cd /var/www/
   sudo wget https://download.nextcloud.com/server/releases/nextcloud-X.Y.Z.zip
   sudo unzip nextcloud-X.Y.Z.zip
   sudo chown -R www-data:www-data nextcloud

2. Configure Apache:

   sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/nextcloud.conf

   Add the following configuration:

   <VirtualHost *:80>
       DocumentRoot /var/www/nextcloud
       ServerName your_domain_or_IP
   
       <Directory /var/www/nextcloud>
           Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
           AllowOverride All
           Require all granted
       </Directory>
       ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/nextcloud_error.log
       CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/nextcloud_access.log combined
   </VirtualHost>

   Replace your_domain_or_IP with your Raspberry Pi’s IP address.

3. Enable the Configuration and Rewrite Module:

   sudo a2ensite nextcloud.conf
   sudo a2enmod rewrite
   sudo systemctl restart apache2

Final Nextcloud Setup

1. Accessing Nextcloud:
   Open a browser and navigate to http://your_domain_or_IP. You’ll see the Nextcloud initialization page.

2. Database Setup:

   • Database user: nextclouduser
   • Database password: your_password
   • Database name: nextcloud
   • Database host: localhost

3. Create Admin Account:
   Input your desired admin username and password.

4. Storage Configuration:
   If using external storage, select the appropriate options before finishing installation.

5. Complete Installation: Click on “Finish Setup”.

Secure Your Nextcloud Instance

1. Install SSL Certificate: For SSL, consider using Let’s Encrypt.

   sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y
   sudo certbot --apache -d your_domain

   Follow on-screen instructions.

2. Set up Auto-renewal:

   sudo certbot renew --dry-run

Conclusion of Setup

Nextcloud is now installed and configured on your Raspberry Pi. You can access your own cloud storage from any internet-connected device. Add files, create users, and manage settings through the intuitive Nextcloud interface.

Best Practices

• Regularly back up your data.
• Keep your system updated with the latest security patches.
• Explore Nextcloud apps for additional functionalities (like calendar and contacts).

By following this guide, you have successfully set up your own self-hosted Nextcloud server on a Raspberry Pi, providing a compliant and personal cloud storage solution. Enjoy your newfound data sovereignty and privacy!