NextCloudPi - The Missing Manual
I’m a complete NCP noob, but I’ve managed to get NCP setup on a Rock64 with an external usb drive. However, I’ve spent hours - days - doing it and much has been trial and error through this forum and Internet searches. I haven’t managed to get Letsencrypt or snapshots running, yet. As useful as the current (NCP wiki) documentation is for experienced users, I see the need for a step-by-step (each and every step detailed and explained with screen shots) manual for noobs like me. It should focus on the web UI. Maybe it’s an expansion on the existing NCP documentation, maybe it’s something else.
The TOC would look something like:
-
NextCloudPi
A brief history of NextCloud
What is NCP?
- core features
- how it works (i.e. distinguishing NCP from the underlying Linux OS)
What NCP is not. -
Preparing for Installation
Choosing a SOC
Rpi
Odroid
Rock64
etc.Choosing a SD card and hard drive(s)
SD cards
USB drive versus SATA driveMiscellaneous Hardware
Router
Ethernet Cable
other? -
Installing NCP on an SD card
-
Installing the SD card and Running NCP for the first time
NCP Wizard
NCP Admin Panel versus NCP user interface
Web UI versus terminal/CLI
Explanation of the Web UI commands and sections in noob terms -
Timeout: Some Linux Basics
What you need to know to use NCP and why
- what are directories and how to navigate
- setting up SSH
- ? -
Users! Users! Users!
Detail what each is, what they’re used for, how to setup, how to delete
NCP “ncp” admin
NCP “ncp” user
NCP users added through the NCP UI
root
pi
SSH user
others? -
NCP on the LAN
IP or Address - what are they? Which is better? How to use?
Basic setup
- dedicated local IP # either through the router or the NCP Admin UI
- Formatting hdd(s) - give instructions for one HD, two HDs, USB and/or SATA
- Basic NCP Settings -
NCP on the WAN
Choosing a DDNS
Setting up router to use DDNS for each of the DDNS options
Opening ports - what are they? how to, how to confirm, trouble shooting step by step
- nc-forward-ports
- port forwarding (explanation of what it is and real world examples)
IP # or Address - what are they? Which is better? How to use?
dnsmasq
letsencrypt -
How to setup and use backups/snapshots
Using 2 or more HD’s
Step by step setting up snapshots w/clear real world examples
Onsite backup versus Offsite backup with real world examples -
Advanced Topics
SAMBA versus WebDAV
Setting up email
Log files
The manual should make no assumptions about Linux knowledge or computer understanding. Everything should be explained and with screen captures.
Yes, yes, I realize NC/NCP is a volunteer affair; I thought it might be helpful to have an outline of what’s needed and modify and/or fill in the bits.