Using Dropbox on Raspberry Pi with Rclone

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You can use Rclone to connect your Raspberry Pi to Dropbox, allowing you to access your files from anywhere. This is a great way to share files between devices.

Rclone is a command-line program that supports over 40 cloud storage services, including Dropbox. It's free and open-source, making it a great option for Raspberry Pi users.

To use Rclone with Dropbox, you'll need to install it on your Raspberry Pi and then configure it to connect to your Dropbox account. This involves creating a Dropbox API app and entering the API key into Rclone.

Rclone supports a wide range of cloud storage services, making it a versatile tool for Raspberry Pi users.

Script Setup

The Script Setup process is relatively straightforward and can be completed in a couple of minutes.

First, make sure your Raspberry Pi is up to date, then ensure that curl and git are installed. Curl is required by the Dropbox uploader script, while git will allow you to update the script easily.

Credit: youtube.com, 2 Ways to Upload to Dropbox with Raspberry Pi - IFB102 Mini Project

To install curl and git, run the following command on your Raspberry Pi.

Now that you have everything you need, clone the Dropbox uploader script to your Raspberry Pi using git. This script was written by Andrea Fabrizi and is what you'll be using to download and upload files to Dropbox's servers.

Move into the newly cloned folder by running the following command.

Give the dropbox_uploader.sh script execution privileges by using the chmod command. This will allow you to run the script.

Finally, run the dropbox_uploader.sh script by running the following command. This will prompt you to enter your Dropbox access token to configure the script.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Nextcloud Pi

Automation

Automation is a powerful tool for keeping your Dropbox directory up-to-date on your Raspberry Pi.

You can automatically sync your folder every hour by adding one line to crontab. Simply add this line at the end:

There doesn’t seem to be a way to trigger automatic cloning whenever a file in the Dropbox directory changes, but you can set the time in crontab to 15 minutes if you need your directory to be updated often.

Using the Script

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To use the Dropbox script on your Raspberry Pi, you'll need to make sure curl and git are installed, as they are required by the script.

You can install them by running the command `sudo apt-get install curl git` on your Raspberry Pi. This will ensure that you have the necessary tools to download and run the script.

The Dropbox uploader script is designed to be easy to use, and can be cloned to your Raspberry Pi using the command `git clone https://github.com/andreafabrizi/dropbox_uploader.git`. This will download the script to your Raspberry Pi.

To upload a file using the script, simply navigate to the script's directory and run the command `./dropbox_uploader.sh upload /path/to/your/file`. This will upload the file to your Dropbox account.

Here are the basic steps to upload a file:

Once you've uploaded your file, you can verify that it has been successfully uploaded by checking the script's output. If everything is working correctly, you should see the message "DONE" indicating that the upload was successful.

Autostart

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To get Dropbox to start automatically after a system reboot, you'll need to add a few lines of code.

One way to do this is by using the exagear command. You can execute the following commands in the host ARM terminal to make Dropbox autostart: archarmv7, sudo su, printf '#!/bin/bash

exec exagear -- $0 $@

' > /usr/bin/dropbox, chmod +x /usr/bin/dropbox, and exit.

This will create a new Dropbox executable in the /usr/bin directory. The printf command creates a new bash script that calls exagear, which is necessary for Dropbox to work correctly.

Using the Upload Command

You can upload a file from your Raspberry Pi to Dropbox using the upload command with the dropbox_uploader.sh script.

To upload a file, specify the upload command followed by the location of the local file or directory, and the location you want to upload it to.

The command will automatically try to create a directory if it doesn't already exist, making it easy to upload files and directories.

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You can upload a file called pimylifeup.zip to the root directory of your Dropbox by running the upload command with the correct file and directory locations.

Once the text "DONE" appears, your file has been successfully uploaded.

The script will handle the upload process for you, making it a simple and straightforward process.

Digging Deeper into the Code

The Dropbox API is used to interact with the Dropbox account from the Raspberry Pi, and it's a crucial part of the setup process.

To access the Dropbox account, you need to create an app on the Dropbox Developer Portal, which will provide you with an App Key and App Secret.

The Raspberry Pi's operating system, Raspbian, has a built-in Python library called dropbox that makes it easy to interact with the Dropbox API.

The dropbox library is installed by default on Raspbian, so you don't need to install anything extra.

By using the Dropbox API, you can upload and download files from the Raspberry Pi to the Dropbox account.

A different take: What Is Google Dropbox

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To upload a file, you need to use the upload_file method from the dropbox library, which takes the file path and the Dropbox API as arguments.

The Dropbox API allows you to access the files in the Dropbox account, including the ability to delete files.

The dropbox library also provides methods to get the metadata of a file, such as its name, size, and type.

You can use the metadata to determine the type of file and take appropriate actions, such as deleting or uploading it.

The Dropbox API is a powerful tool for interacting with the Dropbox account from the Raspberry Pi, and it's an essential part of the setup process.

Intriguing read: Dropbox User Guide Manual

Setup and Installation

To set up your Raspberry Pi for Dropbox, start by updating your Pi to the latest version. This will ensure you have the necessary packages installed. Then, install rclone on your Raspberry Pi with a single line command in the Terminal.

Credit: youtube.com, How To Install DropBox Server On Raspberry Pi

You'll also need to install curl and git on your Raspberry Pi, as these are required for the Dropbox uploader script. You can do this by running a command in the Terminal. Once installed, you can clone the Dropbox uploader script to your Pi using git.

After cloning the script, move into the newly created folder and give the dropbox_uploader.sh script execution privileges. This will allow you to run the script and configure it with your Dropbox access token.

A fresh viewpoint: Upload Dropbox

Installing Rclone

Installing rclone on your Raspberry Pi is as simple as entering one line in the Terminal: `sudo apt-get install rclone`. If you get a message like "Now, before you proceed, we need to make another installation of rclone", don't worry, it's just a reminder to ensure you have the same release version on your computer as on your Raspberry Pi.

To authenticate rclone with Dropbox later, you'll need to have an installation of rclone with the same release version on your computer that you use to access the Raspberry Pi via Terminal.

The installation process is quite straightforward, and you can do it in just one line.

Take a look at this: Dropbox One

Set Up

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To set up your Raspberry Pi for use with Dropbox, you'll need to create a new folder on your Pi and a corresponding folder on your Dropbox account. Create a new folder on your Pi within the Pictures folder called “photos_on_pi” and put a few sample files in there.

Next, create a new folder on your Dropbox account called “photos_on_dropbox” and put the same sample files in there. This will allow you to test the syncing process.

Once you have your folders set up, you'll need to install the Dropbox script on your Pi. This process is relatively straightforward and can be completed in a couple of minutes. To start, ensure that curl and git are installed by running the following command on your Pi: `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install curl git`.

Now that you have curl and git installed, you can clone the Dropbox uploader script to your Pi. Run the following command: `git clone https://github.com/andreafabrizi/dropbox_uploader.git`.

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To give the dropbox_uploader.sh script execution privileges, run the following command: `chmod +x dropbox_uploader.sh`.

Finally, run the dropbox_uploader.sh script by running the following command: `./dropbox_uploader.sh`. You'll be asked to enter your Dropbox access token to configure the script.

To set up your Dropbox access token, you'll need to create a new app in the Dropbox Developers section. Select 'Dropbox API' followed by 'App Folder' and choose a unique name for your app within Dropbox. Click 'Create app' to generate an Access Token.

Note the Access Token as you'll need to specify it later in your code. If you lose the token, you can navigate back to your app's settings by clicking 'My apps' in the Dropbox 'Developers' section and generate a new token.

Here's a quick reference of the steps to set up your Raspberry Pi for use with Dropbox:

  • Create a new folder on your Pi within the Pictures folder called “photos_on_pi”
  • Create a new folder on your Dropbox account called “photos_on_dropbox”
  • Install curl and git on your Pi
  • Clone the Dropbox uploader script to your Pi
  • Give the dropbox_uploader.sh script execution privileges
  • Run the dropbox_uploader.sh script and enter your Dropbox access token
  • Create a new app in the Dropbox Developers section and generate an Access Token

Frequently Asked Questions

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For a Raspberry Pi, exFAT is a recommended USB filesystem due to its wide compatibility with modern devices, including Apple and Android. This choice ensures seamless sharing and access across various platforms.

Judith Lang

Senior Assigning Editor

Judith Lang is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a passion for curating engaging content for readers. With a keen eye for detail, she has successfully managed a wide range of article categories, from technology and software to education and career development. Judith's expertise lies in assigning and editing articles that cater to the needs of modern professionals, providing them with valuable insights and knowledge to stay ahead in their fields.

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