Archive for May, 2011
Bored, as usual? Why not set up Sparkleshare?
Even though everyone loves Dropbox since it is so extremely simple to use, some might not like the idea too much saving all files in the cloud. Privacy? Anyone? You’ll never know. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a simple client and sync files and folders across your machines with your very own servers instead of Dropbox’s? Yes, that would be awesome!
I tried different approaches in search for a solution but nothing seemed to be as simple as Dropbox. Finally, I found something: Sparkleshare The good news is, it does exactly what I am lusting for: The clients connect to my own server via SSH and sync certain folders. Bad news is, Sparkleshare seems to be not fully ready, in heavy development and, ahem, not really simple to set up. I had to give it a try anyway. Sparkleshare uses GIT on the server side.
Fun fact: There aren’t any official binaries yet, although the client’s source code is available for Mac and Linux. Yes, you have to be a big boy and build your own binary.
Since there are a few steps to get it up and running I copied the necessary steps together. If you’re interested in giving it a try, here you go:
1. Install the client (linux):
You’ll find a rather good help in the official readme:
https://github.com/hbons/SparkleShare/blob/master/README
Install the dependencies to build Sparkleshare on your client (command line, folks).
“sudo apt-get install git gtk-sharp2 mono-runtime mono-devel monodevelop libndesk-dbus1.0-cil-dev nant libnotify-cil-dev libgtk2.0-cil-dev libwebkit-cil-dev intltool libtool python-nautilus libndesk-dbus-glib1.0-cil-dev”
Download the latest version from the repository.
“mkdir ~/install”, “cd ~/install”, “git clone https://github.com/hbons/SparkleShare.git”, “cd ~/install/SparkleShare”
Build and install.
“./autogen.sh”, “make”, “sudo make install”
Please use “./autogen.sh –prefix=/usr” if you want the Nautilus extension to work.
Hang in there, we will have to set up the server before you start Sparkleshare for the first time.
2. Set up the server:
Take a look at the official help or just read on:
https://github.com/hbons/SparkleShare/wiki/How-to-set-up-your-own-server
To be able to connect Sparkleshare to your server you need to have access via ssh.
Connect via ssh to your server and install git-core.
“sudo apt-get install git-core”
We recommend setting up a folder within /home for easy sharing purposes.
“sudo mkdir /home/share”. Please set the corresponding access rights for “share” via chmod for all necessary users.
Set up the GIT repository.
“git init –bare /home/share/REPONAME.git”
Disconnect from the server, you’re done here.
3. Upload the keyfiles:
Install the SSH client on your local machine.
“sudo apt-get install openssh-client”
Generate a RSA key pair that will be used to authenticate with the server instead of using a password. Attention: Please accept the defaults and leave the password blank. Yes, blank!
“ssh-keygen”
Send your RSA key to your server. The username will be later used to connect with Sparkleshare.
“ssh-copy-id USERNAME@SERVER”
4. Start Sparkleshare:
Type “sparkleshare start” on the command line. A dialog box magically appears.
Enter your name and e-mail, click next. Chose “On my own server:” and enter USERNAME@SERVER in that box. Easy.
In the “Folder Name” field, enter the full server side path to the git repository you created on your server (like “/home/share/REPONAME.git”)
Click Sync.
Happy camper?
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Sound of the day: Prodigy – Fuel my fire
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