ownCloud private web storage

ownCloud is a webdav based application allowing you to store files on your own personal server on the Internet and access them via http or webdav. Installation is as follows:

Ensure apache2, php and mysql are installed

$ apt-get install apache2 php5 mysql-server php5-mysql sqlite php5-sqlite

Download the latest stable (or the experimental version via git if preferred). At time of writing, the latest stable version is stable version 1.2 and install to the webserver directory:

$ wget 'http://owncloud.org/releases/owncloud-1.2.tar.bz2'
$ bunzip2 owncloud-1.2.tar.bz2
$ tar xvf owncloud-1.2.tar
$ mv owncloud /var/www/

Appropriate permissions need to be set so that the webserver has full control of the directory. On debian or ubuntu this is:

$ chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/owncloud

Next you need to decide upon the database used, the administrator user and password. This is done through the "first run wizard" which will appear the first time the owncloud directory is browsed. Sqlite requires no configuration, while selecting MySQL will require additional information to build the tables.

ownCloud first run wizard

After configuration, the standard login will be presented:

ownCloud login page

once logged in files are displayed and options to upload or create directories are available under "More Actions":

ownCloud file listing

The web interface is now functioning as well as access via webdav. Since KDE supports webdav it is possible to configure access to the server storage space via the "Network" place as follows:

Select "Add Network Folder"

Select the "webdav"access method:

Select WebFolder (webdav)

fill in the details, notice that the folder field is set to "/owncloud/webdav/owncloud.php" (this assumes the installation was to /var/www/owncloud on a debian or ubuntu system)

Enter configuration details

Upon saving the details a prompt for the password will appear and an option to "Remember password" so you don't have to re-enter it whenever accessing the folder:

Enter password

The share will now appear in the "Network" places:

ownCloud in Network places

And can be used like any other folder on the system within KDE:

ownCloud access via webdav in KDE

The files themselves are stored in a per-user directory in a sub-folder of the owncloud directory entitled "data"