Rclone Connects Google Drive and More

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Rclone seamlessly connects Google Drive to other cloud storage services, making it a versatile tool for managing files across multiple platforms.

Rclone supports over 40 cloud storage services, including Google Drive, Dropbox, Amazon S3, and Microsoft OneDrive.

Google Drive

Google Drive is a great option for storing files, but as of 2021, the storage is no longer unlimited. Consider what data should be stored by this method.

Rclone is a command line program that can sync files and directories to and from Google Drive. It works differently from scp and sftp tools, and more like the linux 'rsync' program.

To use Rclone with Google Drive, you need to load the Rclone module with the command "module load rclone" followed by "rclone config". This will show your existing remote Drives if any and prompt you for your input.

You can quit the config by choosing the option "q) Quit config". Most of the prompts get the default values, but you need to choose the option "rclone should act on behalf of Enterprise".

To sync files and directories to and from local and remote object stores, you can use the command "Sync files and directories to and from local and remote object stores - v1.29".

Remote Directory Management

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Rclone makes it easy to manage your remote directories with a few simple commands. You can use rclone mkdir to create new directories on your remote storage, just like you would with Unix's mkdir.

To create a new directory, you would use a command like rclone mkdir, followed by the name of the directory and the remote storage location. For example: rclone mkdir remote:directory.

This command will create a new directory on your remote storage, allowing you to organize your files and folders in a way that's easy to navigate and understand.

For another approach, see: Azure Remote Rendering

Create Remote Directory

Creating a new directory on a remote is as simple as using the rclone mkdir command, which behaves like Unix's mkdir.

The syntax for creating a new directory is straightforward, and you can do it by using a command like rclone mkdir remote:directory.

This command will create a new directory on the specified remote location.

You can also create a new directory on a remote by using the rclone mkdir command with a specific path, like rclone mkdir remote:directory/subdirectory.

Take a look at this: Rclone Remote Machine

List Remote Files

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To list files in a remote drive, you can use the command rclone ls remote:admin/script, which will display a list of files, including their sizes and timestamps.

Rclone offers a few methods for listing files, but none of them are identical to Unix's ls command.

You can get a list of files with their sizes and timestamps using rclone ls remote:admin/script.

For a more Unix-like experience, you can use rclone lsf --max-depth 1 remote:path/to/dir to list files in a directory and its immediate subdirectories.

This command comes close to the functionality of Unix's ls command.

See what others are reading: Remote Backup Service

Cloud Storage Options

Rclone is a versatile tool that can integrate with various cloud storage options, making it a great choice for users who need to manage their files across different platforms.

Google Drive, Dropbox, and Amazon S3 are some of the most popular cloud storage options that Rclone supports.

Rclone can sync files and folders with Google Drive, allowing you to access your files from anywhere with an internet connection.

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You can also use Rclone to backup your files to Dropbox, ensuring that your data is safe and secure.

Amazon S3 is another cloud storage option that Rclone can integrate with, providing a scalable and durable solution for storing large amounts of data.

Rclone supports over 40 cloud storage providers, including Microsoft OneDrive, pCloud, and Backblaze B2.

With Rclone, you can easily manage your files across multiple cloud storage providers, making it a great choice for users who need to collaborate with others or access their files from different locations.

Amazon S3

To create an Amazon S3 connection with Rclone, you'll need to set up a new remote configuration. To start, open the configuration mode by typing `rclone config` in the console, and a dialog box will appear asking if you'd like to make a new one.

The process involves selecting the storage type, which in this case is Amazon S3 Compliant Storage Provider. You'll then choose the provider type, which is Any other S3 compatible provider.

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You'll need to enter your AWS Access Key ID and Secret Access Key, which you can find in your S3 key. Make sure to enter the correct pool, which hosts your object storage, and the URL for S3 API access, which depends on the pool location.

Here are the main settings you'll need to enter:

  • Storage type: Amazon S3 Compliant Storage Provider
  • Provider type: Any other S3 compatible provider
  • AWS Access Key ID: Your Access key from S3 key
  • AWS Secret Access Key: Your Secret key from S3 key
  • Pool: The region where your object storage is located
  • Endpoint: The S3 API domain depending on the pool location

S3 on CSC

If you're using the CSC supercomputers, you can use Rclone with the S3 protocol to access Allas. Rclone is a versatile tool that supports multiple cloud storage protocols, including S3.

To use Rclone with S3 on CSC supercomputers, you need to run the allas-conf command with the --mode S3 option. This option allows you to access Allas using the S3 protocol.

The copy and move subcommands in Rclone only work with files, so if you want to copy or move entire directories, you should use the copyto or moveto subcommands instead.

Create Buckets and Upload Objects

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To create buckets in Amazon S3, you need to give them unique names, which should be project- or user-specific, such as 2000620-raw-data. This ensures that no two projects have the same bucket name.

If you're using Rclone, you can create a bucket by uploading files to it. Files larger than 5 GB will be split into several objects, which are stored in a distinct bucket with the same name as the target bucket, but with "_segments" appended to it.

You can list all the buckets belonging to a project using a command.

Box

To use Rclone with Box, you'll need to get an authorization token, which acts like a password and allows Rclone to access your files. You'll need a visual environment with a web browser to get this token, so you can log in with single sign on and get the token.

To get the token, open a terminal and run module load rclone && rclone authorize box. Firefox should open, allowing you to log in and get the token. If you're on the supercomputer, you should now be able to access box with rclone.

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You can confirm that you can access Box with rclone by running rclone lsd box:. Once you've run rclone authorize box, you can move on to configuration. The easiest way is to use our default rclone.conf, but you can also run rclone config manually if you want more customization.

Box is slow, so backing up directly with Rclone may take some time. If you want to exit your ssh session while the copy is going, you may want to use screen or tmux to make the transfer.

To back up compute with Box, consider using a full-featured backup tool like Kopia. For most use cases, it will be faster, use less space, and be more secure. The main advantage of using Rclone directly is that your directory structure will be mirrored on Box.

The current backup will live at box:backup/dataset/primary, while older snapshots, organized by date, will go in box:backup/dataset/old/. To get started, let's copy over dataset to the current backup directory at box:backup:.

Consider reading: How to Use Rclone

Configuration and Setup

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Configuration and setup with Rclone is a straightforward process. You'll only need to configure it once, and Rclone will take care of the rest as long as you use it at least monthly.

Rclone provides several options for configuration, including using a sample configuration file or running the rclone config command. If you choose to run rclone config, you'll be presented with a few options, including choosing a remote storage connection name, storage type, and provider.

To create a new remote storage connection, you can use the rclone config command. Here's a step-by-step guide:

  • Open the configuration mode by running `rclone config`
  • Choose to create a new remote by typing `n`
  • Enter the name of the remote storage connection
  • Choose the storage type and provider
  • Enter the necessary credentials, such as AWS Access Key ID and Secret Access Key
  • Confirm the creation of the configuration

Alternatively, you can use the auto config option, which will prompt you to run rclone authorize on your local machine and paste the authorization information into the remote terminal.

It's worth noting that Rclone also provides a graphical interface for configuration, which can be accessed by running `rclone config` in a terminal. This interface will guide you through the configuration process and provide options for creating a new remote, editing existing remotes, and setting configuration passwords.

Setting up Google Drive

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To set up Google Drive, start by loading the Rclone module with the command "module load rclone". This will allow you to access your remote drives.

Rclone is a command-line program that syncs files and directories to and from Google Drive. It works differently than scp and sftp tools, and more like the Linux 'rsync' program.

To configure Rclone, run the command "rclone config". This will show you your existing remote drives, if any, and prompt you for your input. Refer to the instructions at http://rclone.org/drive/ for more information.

You'll be asked to choose an option, and most of the prompts will get default values. Choose the option "rclone should act on behalf of Enterprise" and select "No" for Edit Advanced Config.

To create a Google Drive remote drive, run "rclone config" again, and select the option to "Edit existing remote". Then, select the option to "Set configuration password".

Download

To download files using Rclone, you can use the copy command. This command allows you to download files from a remote drive to your local machine.

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You can specify the remote drive and the destination directory using the following syntax: rclone copy remote:admin . This will download the files from the remote drive to your current working directory.

One thing to note is that the download speed can vary depending on the node you're using. For example, on the dtn3 node, the download speed is about 70 mb/s, which is higher than the upload speed.

If you want to download a specific file, you can use the same rclone copy command and specify the file path. If you include a destination parameter, Rclone will create a directory for the download.

Here are the basic steps to download a file:

  1. Use the rclone copy command to download the file.
  2. Specify the remote drive and file path.
  3. Include a destination parameter to create a directory for the download.

Remember to navigate to the directory with the Rclone distribution before running the command, as described in the installation section.

Configuration

Rclone only needs to be configured once, and you'll never need to do it again as long as you use it at least monthly.

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You can either use the sample rclone.conf or run rclone config to create your own configuration. Running rclone config will give you a few options, including the chance to choose different names and options than the default.

You'll be asked for Box App Client Id and Box App Client Secret, but most users can simply hit enter to leave these blank. You'll then be asked if you want to "Edit advanced config", and most users should enter n.

You'll be presented with a message prompting you to run rclone authorize "box" on your local machine. This will give you the authorization information you need to complete the configuration.

Here are the steps to create an Rclone configuration:

  1. Create a new configuration by typing 'n' and pressing Enter.
  2. Enter the name of the remote storage connection (for example, selectel_s3).
  3. Enter the storage type (for example, s3).
  4. Enter the type of provider (for example, Other).
  5. Enter the AWS Access Key ID and AWS Secret Access Key.
  6. Enter the pool, which hosts the object storage (for example, ru-1).
  7. Enter the URL for S3 API access (for example, s3.amazonaws.com).

Create a Configuration

Creating a configuration for Rclone is a straightforward process that requires you to run the rclone config command. This will prompt you to create a new remote, and you can choose to edit the advanced config settings if needed.

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To create a new configuration, you'll need to follow the prompts to enter the name of the remote storage connection, the storage type, and other relevant details. For example, when configuring a remote drive, you might be asked to enter the name of the remote drive, such as "selectel_s3".

Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a configuration for Rclone:

1. Run the rclone config command to start the configuration process.

2. Choose to create a new remote by selecting the "n" option.

3. Enter the name of the remote storage connection, such as "selectel_s3".

4. Choose the storage type, such as "s3" for Amazon S3.

5. Enter the access key ID and secret access key for your S3 account.

6. Enter the region and endpoint for your S3 account.

7. Review the configuration settings to ensure they're correct.

8. Confirm the creation of the configuration by selecting the "y" option.

Alternatively, you can use the auto config option to simplify the configuration process. This will prompt you to run the rclone authorize command to obtain an authorization token, which will then be used to configure the remote drive.

By following these steps, you can create a configuration for Rclone that allows you to sync files and directories to and from your remote storage account.

Take a look at this: Jupyter Notebook Azure

Group Accounts

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When setting up group accounts, consider using group role accounts to store data long term. This allows your entire research group to access it in the future.

Google Drive's "team drive" feature is available, but it's not enabled for Iowa State accounts.

Storing data in group role accounts can be a convenient way to collaborate with your team and ensure everyone has access to the same information.

Expand your knowledge: How Do I Access Amazon Cloud Drive

Frequently Asked Questions

What is rclone used for?

Rclone is a tool for managing and transferring files between cloud storage services and local devices, offering backup, restore, and data mirroring capabilities. It's a versatile solution for securely storing and accessing your files across multiple platforms.

How safe is rclone?

Rclone's safety is comparable to other tools that store credentials, but it offers an extra layer of protection by allowing you to encrypt the config file. With this added security feature, you can enjoy peace of mind while using rclone.

Is rclone any good?

Rclone is a high-performance tool that offers fast deployment, efficient job handling, and excellent upload and syncing speeds. It outperforms Google Drive's browser-based interface in speed tests, making it a reliable choice for syncing and uploading files.

Ann Predovic

Lead Writer

Ann Predovic is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for research, she has established herself as a go-to expert in various fields, including technology and software. Her writing career has taken her down a path of exploring complex topics, making them accessible to a broad audience.

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