[dba-Tech] ownCloud

[Jim Lawrence]

Hi Tina:

The ownCloud is basically free but there are service costs if you need it setup (if you are a business) and there is also a hosting service which I would suspect costs as well. There is a pricing policy but it is based on volume and usage. 

I am not sure what you know about DNS so I will assume that you do not know anything...my apologies if you are already versed in the basics. The other main costs is that you must have a domain registered. That is not particularly expensive. I have my main domain directed to a service like ZoneEdit (http://www.zoneedit.com), is forwarded from there to my IP address. This service allows me to create any number subdomains like https://jim.MyDomain.com, https://tina.MyDomain.com and so on. ZoneEdit's services are free for one domain and for unlimited subdomains within that domain. Within a home or business network, these subdomains can be forwarded to any server in the network..to do any local Domain management (hosting and forwarding) you must have a Internet server like IIS or Apache (they are free) running on one of the network servers and all internet traffic routed to it (via your router of course). Example of getting the latest IIS version: http://www.iis.net/learn/install/installing-iis-85 or Apache version: http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi

This is unrelated, directly, to the installation of ownCloud but if you are "rolling your own", on your own network, all the above must be in place first. (though not nearly as difficult as it may sound, this is used as an excuse for having ownCloud hosted...which to my way of thinking defeats much of the purpose for having ownCloud. ;-))  The only other issue of note is that ownCloud only runs on a 64 bit computer. Until recently ownCloud only ran on Linux but it has been ported to all major operating systems. Here is a brief overview: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OwnCloud

Of course, you can go the DigitalOcean route (https://www.digitalocean.com). It can be a pretty cheap way to get an internet presence going. For example: if you choose the $5 basic package and enter the promo code "dounplugged", you will get a $10 bonus, which means three months for $5. If you use more than resources you just pay more but there are no penalties for overages. The droplet can be presetup with ownCloud application, all ready to go (there are also extensive tutorials on everything related):

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-the-owncloud-one-click-install-application

I may try to see if I can get a MS Access application running...BE on ownCloud and FE on the desktop station but of course it will only work if the internet connection is stable otherwise it is ADO.

Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tina Norris Fields" <tinanfields at torchlake.com>
To: "Discussion of Hardware and Software issues" <dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2015 6:19:05 AM
Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] ownCloud

Jim,
I'm very interested in learning from your experience with this product.  
Please keep telling about it.  I took a quick look into the website, but 
did not find the pricing policy, so I'd like to know more about that 
part of it.  What are the commitments one must make in order to have 
ownCloud?  How might I make use of it - for example, could I use it to 
host my own online tutorials?
Thanks for any information.
TNF

Tina Norris Fields
tinanfields-at-torchlake-dot-com
231-322-2787

On 05/31/15 4:27 PM, Jim Lawrence wrote:
> Hi All:
>
> I finally have a copy of ownCloud running on a server. The only initial expenses is the cost of a Domain name and that can be as cheap $1.49 per year.
>
> The great thing about ownCloud is the you can share, upload and download, using any policy, privilege or encryption arrangement you wish, with family, friends and business associates and with any number of files and file types, via any web browser. The amount of data is only limited by your resources. That of course is just the start.
>
> Most files type can also be read, viewed, added, deleted and even collaborated with like documents and spreadsheets...even graphic and software development  collaborations are coming on line.  This is done through a series of "plugins" and APIs which, for the most part run on the client's computers, so it is low over head on the server and on the client. There are also plugins/APIs which extend it capabilities, like torrent mail, various levels of data synchronization and backups.
>
> If you consider a business’s ownCloud like a node, which dozens of clients can connect to, for access to resource then clusters of nodes (ownCloud sites) can be federated together. Some existing "federations" have exceed 5000 nodes...all sharing data and resources. The product is also capable of integrating with other Cloud structures, SharePoint, Windows network drives, Dropbox and with Cloud management and tools applications like Juju.
>
> So far all I have been sharing is family photos but I have been testing some word documents and spreadsheets. I would also like to see is a database can be shared but that is for future efforts.
>
> It is easy to initially setup and many instruction say that it should take no more than ten minutes. For the full-meal-deal check out the following link where even hosting and full-time support arrangements can be made. This product is basically a poor man's Share-Point and Cloud hosting system, with most and maybe more features, personal security and private ownership.
>
> https://owncloud.com/owncloud-overview
>
> ...and...
>
> https://owncloud.com/products/enterprise
>
> Jim
>
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