Linux desktop client doesn't support virtual files

đŸ“± Desktop & mobile clients
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1

Neither the AppImage (version 33.0.5?) nor the nextcloud-desktop support virtual files. How come a program built with Linux in mind has worse support than Windows? I’ve been very disappointed to find out, since one of the biggest reason why I switched to self hosted Nextcloud was the lack of support of OneDrive for Linux.

Am I missing something?

EDIT:

Workaround

~/.config/Nextcloud/nextcloud.cfg

[General]
showExperimentalOptions=true

Enable virtual files support in your account’s settings inside the client (three dots button). This might suffice.

2

The problem is missing VFS API in Linux.. in opposite to Windows and MacOS which both ship an API to use with all kind of sync tools (Onedrive, Google Drive etc) such an API doesn’t exist now.. and only some workarounds exist.. VFS on Linux · Issue #3668 · nextcloud/desktop · GitHub

3

Same problem here. It s a shame that a enterprise grade product as nc does not have support for such a important feature.

4

@Odir_Ferreira_Neto, did you not read and/or understand what @wwe wrote?

There is no API part of Linux for that type of function you miss.

5

I do understand that. However, is a blind spot that, imo, should be addressed. Nextcloud is a way too good software to keep this loop open. This fix could make the transition from Office 365 to nc seamless.

I am trying to do this in my organization, but we have some friction with linux OS workstations.

But, as I said, it is just my opinion.

6

Do you mean users who are currently using M365 on Linux workstations? If so, why would that cause any friction?

I mean, nothing will change for them in this regard, right? They don’t have ‘Virtual Files’ now with M365, and they still won’t have it after you have switched them to Nextcloud. And for all other users working on Windows or macOS, nothing changes either because Virtual Files is supported by the Nextcloud client on these platforms. :wink:

7

Well, you’re talking about virtual files, aren’t you? In other words, files that aren’t stored locally on the Linux workstations. Files that only exist on the Nextcloud server.

But there’s a traditional, Linux-compatible solution for this: WebDAV. The Linux admin(s) can simply create a corresponding mount point in the /etc/hosts file on the Linux workstations, and the users of those workstations will then have access to these files.

On the Nextcloud server, the only thing that needs to be installed is the Temporary Files Lock app. If 2FA (e.g. TOTP) is used, you’ll also need app-specific passwords.

8

Exactly! I am trying to move our enviroment from MS ecosystem to a unix based. And this gives additional friction.

I will use WebDAV, but it isn’t an elegant solution, as other packages from nc. This is one of the best piece of software of the last decade, competing with the best solutions of the world, with a linux opensource way
 why don’t address it?

9

I don’t see why this should be a less elegant solution than, for example, in Windows. Even on Windows, you’ll mainly open and edit the virtual files using File Explorer.

If you use the /etc/hosts file, the directories containing the virtual files are also made accessible via the Linux distribution’s default file manager. It’s no different from Windows, at least not from the desktop user’s perspective.

10

I’m not saying it shouldn’t be addressed, but unfortunately it isn’t that easy, because as @wwe already mentioned, Linux doesn’t have a standardized API for this like macOS and Windows do.

There’s a fairly long discussion on GitHub that provides some insight into the challenges involved. Feel free to add a comment there if you have any concrete suggestions on how this could be implemented: VFS on Linux · Issue #3668 · nextcloud/desktop · GitHub

However, there is what I would call a “light” version of Virtual Files available on Linux, which works by using placeholder files. As far as I know, it is still considered experimental. See this post for information on how to enable it: Virtual Files on Ubuntu Desktop - #4 by bb77

Otherwise, as already mentioned by others, WebDAV is probably your best option if storage space is limited on the client devices. Alternatively, you could use a combination of WebDAV and selectively synced folders via the desktop client. That way, you can save storage space while still keeping certain files available offline.