Just like many of you, I have a need to keep a certain subset of my data in sync across many of my devices, which may or may not be on my local network. I have tried and used many services, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, all with their own set of pros and cons.

However, after a traumatic experience with a cloud drive service, I needed to find an alternative where I would be in control of my data’s integrity, privacy, and availability. Investing just a few minutes into Google, I came across ownCloud, which claims to be “The last file syncing platform you’ll ever need.” A very bold claim — one I had to challenge to see if it really was going to be the last file syncing platform I would ever need.

I have used many solutions that claim to be the end-all, many of which have fallen very short of that. Many developers or groups of developers fail to recognize that there is much more to being the best solution than just having the best technology. Many developers — like myself — overlook these three important items, which can cause the best technology to be left unused.

  • I designed the software and the end user can’t read my mind to know what my intentions are.
  • Not everyone is an engineer.
  • Users need guidance.

So my first step in deciding whether to give something a shot is to see how well their documentation is. Fortunately for ownCloud, they put a good deal of effort into their documentation. It is written very well so that just about anyone who has ever run their own Linux server or some type of virtual server can get ownCloud up and running. The ownCloud installation documentation is broken into two parts: one part to install it on a Linux server — which includes instructions for multiple Linux distributions at each step — and the other describes how to run it as an appliance. Aside from installing the server, there is a full manual on configuring your installation for first use, as well as walking you through installing the ownCloud client on both your PC and mobile devices.

Along with great documentation, ownCloud has a community of support in the event their documentation falls short of explaining a step in the process of getting set up, or if you just want to speak with others about their or your ownCloud experiences.

The second thing I look at is interoperability — how well will it fit into my use case without needing hacks to make it work. The ownCloud client software is fairly diverse, including a desktop client for Mac OS, Windows, and Linux, as well as mobile apps for both iOS and Android, and if you have a device not running any of the mentioned, it has a very well-designed web UI.

Now, my experience with ownCloud — being that it was well documented — I was able to get my ownCloud server installed in under 45 minutes, including setting up the Ubuntu server in Hyper-V. The final setup and tweaks took just a few more minutes, but overall, the installation was very smooth and encountered no unexpected problems that weren’t already addressed in the documentation.

Setting up the desktop software was as simple as downloading the client and running it — all you need to do is enter the URL for your installation and your credentials. The same went for the mobile app.

ownCloud Pros:

  • Easy to set up
  • In your control
  • Excellent interoperability
  • Open source with a well-documented API
  • Excellent community
  • Expanding marketplace with third-party apps
  • Syncs at a comparable speed to any of the commercial services
  • Has an enterprise option if you don’t want to host your own
  • Allows you to map in external storage
  • Extreme privacy — only those who have access to the server itself can peer into your data

ownCloud Cons:

  • Requires self-maintenance
  • Finite amount of storage (limited to the amount you can build into your server)
  • No option yet to save space (show files locally but keep offline until accessed)

I have not found many cons in the few months I have been using it, and the cons, though cons, are not unexpected given the nature of it being a self-hosted solution. The one con — which is addressable and I presume will eventually be addressed due to the size of the ownCloud community — is the option to save space and sync files on demand.

For anyone needing a cloud file solution that must be within their own control, I highly recommend ownCloud and give it a 4.5 out of 5. Even the best of solutions always have room to evolve and improve.

If you’re interested in getting started with ownCloud, visit their site at https://www.ownCloud.org. Or if you’d like to discuss my opinion on this solution in more detail, or how it can support your needs, please feel free to contact me.