Use your Raspberry Pi as a Remote File Server / Backup Device

Diode Drive can turn your Raspberry Pi into a decentralized file server and backup device - one that is much more secure than cloud-based alternatives, and one that is always available no matter where you are in the world. This article lays out the step by step configuration required to do that.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The instructions below are descriptive of the process a somewhat technical user would employ. They assume you have a working knowledge of Raspberry Pi systems and computer terminal programs. People new to these topics may have trouble following the instructions as an explicit step by step guide. Please feel free to send suggestions for improvement to this content!

Once you’ve configured a Raspberry Pi as described below, you can put it under your desk, in your closet, or in some other secure location anywhere in the world, and basically forget about it. It will securely keep a copy of all files in your Diode Drive Zones, and you’ll be able to remotely administrate as needed. We have setup many Pis with similar instructions and they reliably and silently just work as anywhere, always-on, file availability and backup devices.

#General Configuration

 

#Enable SSH

Enabling SSH will allow you to remotely SSH into the system to maintain it, if needed.

 

#Install VNC

Enabling VNC will allow you to remotely VNC into the system to maintain it, if needed.

 

#Install Diode Drive

Diode Drive enables 256bit encrypted tunnel to any “Zone” the Pi is added to. Whenever a file is updated in the Zone, the Pi will sync it / store it. This allows any given team member to always get the most recent files from the Zone without having to be online all the time, or at the same time as other team members.

 

#Install the Diode CLI

The Diode CLI enables secure remote access to the SSH and VNC interfaces. We’ll lock the VNC interface to your PC’s Diode CLI address so that the _only_ other system that can get to the VNC interface is your PC. As such, you’ll need to install the Diode CLI on your PC (if you haven’t already).

 

#Configure the Diode CLI to always load at boot

This will ensure that if the Pi reboots, the Diode CLI interface will be up and running and ready for you to remotely administrate the system.

#Install Additional Packages

Diode Drive running on Raspberry Pi requires a few additional packages due to the different Linux features.

#Invite the Pi as a Diode Drive Team Member

Adding the Pi as a Team Member will enable it to synchronize your files for any Zones it is invited to.