How to Install ownCloud on CentOS 7 VPS and Why Should You Do It?

ownCloud is an open-source and self-hosted solution that you can use to share and synchronize files. You might need it to easily access data via a web-based interface and perform client syncing. In this article, you’ll find a step-by-step guide on installing ownCloud on CentOS 7 VPS. Plus, you’ll get to know about the abilities and advantages of this solution.

ownCloud: What Is It and How Can You Benefit from It?

You can use the ownCloud platform to securely view, share and synchronize data across various devices, having maximum control over the information that you access. With an API, you can extend it for apps and plugins — after that, it should become compatible with any device or storage service. ownCloud integrates with IT systems and enables users to store the following types of data at their data libraries or servers:

  • Contacts
  • Calendars
  • Images
  • Documents
  • Nearly any type of files

It should be very easy for you to work with data stored in a dependable network from a centralized location. You’ll be able to assess the existing data through Dropbox, NAS, FTP drive, and so on. With the help of ownCloud, you can even launch your own cloud server hosting solution.

One of the most important competitive edges of ownCloud consists in the fact that its basic functionality is available for free, without any limitations on the number of users or files. When needed, you’ll be able to upgrade to a paid plan to access enterprise-grade apps and premium support.

The Primary Advantages of ownCloud

Users value ownCloud for its following functionality:

  • Multiple device file access
  • Secure data viewing
  • Seamless file sharing and syncing

You can install an app on your iOS or Android smartphone to be able to access the necessary information 24/7, regardless of your location. You may configure the app so that it will automatically transfer photos and videos once you take them.

Apart from the operating systems of mobile devices, ownCloud is compatible with Windows, Maс, and Linux. You can connect it to your local hardware, OpenStack Object Storage, Amazon S3, and many other solutions.

Regardless of whether you prefer local or cloud storage, you can encrypt all your data and apps, without leaving the ownCloud server. All data transfers will be encrypted according to the WebDAV standards if you use HTTPS. If you wish, you can rely on an external key management solution to control your keys.

As was said above, with ownCloud, you can not only access stored information but also share it. You and the recipients will be able to check these files on the go: watch videos, view images, read PDFs and edit texts in real-time. After you open a file in your browser, a maximum of five users can edit it collaboratively. Plus, they can do video calls and put remarks on images. ownCloud will send notifications to all the members of the collaboration team to keep them informed about any updates of the document.

You can select which folders to sync between various devices and carry out the synchronization right from your home computer. ownCloud informs its clients when file-sharing takes place. When submitting a document, you’ll be able to install a password for it so that only your target recipient can open it.

Now that you realize the opportunities and the importance of ownCloud, let’s move on to the instruction on its installation and configuration.

A Step-by-Step Guide on Installing ownCloud on CentOS 7 VPS

To perform the installation, please prepare SSH root access to VPS and LAMP stack. Then, stick to the following scheme.

Installing the ownCloud

The software repositories of CentOS don’t feature ownCloud by default — but the latter has its own repo to handle. You’ll need to resort to the release key:

rpm –import https://download.owncloud.org/download/repositories/stable/CentOS_7/repodata/repomd.xml.key

To download the repository, use this command:

curl -L https://download.owncloud.org/download/repositories/stable/CentOS_7/ce:stable.repo -o /etc/yum.repos.d/ownCloud.repo

Clear the cache with yum to introduce this package:

yum clean expire-cache

Run the yum install command:

yum install owncloud -y

That’s it, as easy as that! Now, the installation of your ownCloud package has been finalized and you can move to the next phase.

Creating a Database

Use this command:

mysql -u root -p

It will enable you to log in to MySQL. You might be required to introduce your root password.

Create a database and name it owncloud:

CREATE DATABASE owncloud;

Create a new user and assign it to the database:

GRANT ALL ON owncloud.* to ‘owncloud’@’localhost’ IDENTIFIED BY ‘password’;

Feel free to modify the password — and then, exit MySQL:

Exit

Now, all you need to do is to complete the configuration.

Configuring the ownCloud

Type in this address in your browser bar:

https://your_domain_or_IP/owncloud

ownCloud might warn you of the unreliability of the certificate. You shouldn’t get worried: it’s a typical situation and it doesn’t mean that you’ve made a mistake at one of the previous steps. Your data will be encrypted anyway. If you don’t feel comfortable because of the warning, you might install the SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt.

After that, you’ll see a screen where you should create a new administrator account by introducing your user data. Then, proceed to the Storage and Database.

Find the Configure database line and press the MySQL / MariaDB button beneath. You don’t need to do anything with the data folder. Invent a name for your database and the user that you’ve created.

Push the Finish button and that’s it! As you see, the process was genuinely simple. Now, the installation is over and you can start uploading data to your cloud server.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you found this article informative and now you understand how to install ownCloud on CentOS 7 VPS. This solution resembles Google Drive and DropBox, has an open-source code, and allows you to use its basic functionality at no cost. Feel free to try it on your server or computer! You’ll be able to upload files to your ownCloud, share them securely with other users, edit them collaboratively and access them from various devices.