What is Nextcloud?
Nextcloud is PHP based open source software with which we can build file hosting services like Dropbox. Since it is free source software, we can also install it on our own private server. With Nextcloud employees of the any organisation can also share files among themselves. As this software is modular, its capabilities can also be expanded with the help of plugins and more features can be added. Such as Calendar, RSS feed reader, Browser based text editor, connection to Amazon S3, Dropbox etc. Nextcloud is a very useful software, whether to host files on the Internet or install a local file server at home or office. Nextcloud can use various kind of databases like SQLite, MySql, PgSql, Oracle etc.
Server Software Requirements for Nextcloud
| Platform | Options |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (recommended) Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (recommended) Debian 10 (Buster) SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 openSUSE Leap 42.1+ CentOS 8 |
| Database | MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.2+ (recommended) Oracle Database 11g (only as part of an enterprise subscription) PostgreSQL 9.5/9.6/10/11 SQLite (only recommended for testing and minimal-instances) |
| Web Server | Apache 2.4 with mod_php or php-fpm (recommended) nginx with php-fpm |
| PHP Runtime | 7.2 7.3 (recommended) 7.4 (recommended) |
How much RAM is required for Nextcloud?
Next Cloud can run on 128MB of RAM, however, at least 512MB of RAM is recommended. But depending on your usage, RAM requirements may vary.
Nextcloud vs OwnCloud
Nextcloud vs OwnCloud In 2010, Frank Karlitsch started the OwnCloud project. But later he left OwnCloud but did not gave any clear reason. He then launched Nextcloud. Therefore you will find a lot of similarity in both interfaces. Owncloud offers the standard version (or community version) under the AGPLv3 license, but the enterprise / enterprise version falls under the commercial license of OwnCloud. Whereas both enterprise / enterprise and community versions of Nextcloud are covered under the APGPLv3 license.
Some features of On Cloud are available only to premium subscribers. Whereas all the features of Nextcloud are available to everyone.
Nextcloud client apps
In order to access Nextcloud files from mobile and desktop Client apps are also available for Linux, Mac, Windows, Android and iOS.
Easiest way to install Nextcloud
In order to install Nextcloud, you have to configure and install Apache, PHP, MySQL etc. But if you want to avoid the hassles of server setup then the easiest way to do this is to install Nextcloud via snap package. By installing Nextcloud through Snap Package, it also automatically installs and configures Apache MySQL PHP etc.
Install Nextcloud from Snap package
sudo snap install nextcloudAfter entering the above command, the next cloud will be installed in your server. To open it, enter the server’s IP on your browser and open it. For example: http://192.168.1.107
Here you will be asked to create an admin account. Enter Admin ID and Password. Now click on Finish setup button.
And within a few minutes your next cloud setup will be completed.
Cloud service providers like Digital Ocean provide Nextcloud Servers in 1 Click install. If you want to use Nextcloud online, you can use Digital Ocean.
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