Dropbox installation on Linux and a brief review !
Scribbled on Friday, September 12th, 2008Updated on: 14 Sep, 2008 at 2:16 PM IST
Added Installing Dropbox in Ubuntu entry
Here I will provide a brief tutorial on installing Dropbox in Linux. I will be covering the installation in Arch Linux. A how to for Ubuntu will be coming soon when I log on to Ubuntu ;p
What is Dropbox ?
Dropbox is the easiest way to share and store your files online.
Features
Works like you do
No complicated interfaces to learn. Dropbox runs in the background on your desktop.
Worry-free syncing
Sync your files automatically to your computers and the web.
It’s everywhere you are
Sign in and access your files from any browser or mobile device.
Easy sharing
Sharing files with your friends and family is just two clicks away.
Photos
View your photos in a gallery and share them easily with anyone.
Installation
Ubuntu:
- First thing is to add these two lines to your sources.lst file (/etc/apt/sources.list). Use any text editor but remember to use sudo to be able to successfully save the file. e.g. sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
deb-src http://www.getdropbox.com/static/ubuntu hardy main
For Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon (7.10) user, add these two lines:
deb-src http://www.getdropbox.com/static/ubuntu gutsy main
- Now do an update of local repository:
- Install the dropbox plugin for Nautilus by using this command:
- At last , after the installation has finished, restart Nautilus file manager by using this command
- Now you will see a blue opened box like icon in system tray. Yes the Dropbox client is installing now, one can see the progress by right clicking on this icon.
- After the completion you will be prompted with a GUI screen to start-up. One can either create a new account or if you have already created an account, only need to fill in email and password.
Arch Linux:
- One should be a root user to start the following steps. su to root user in Terminal.
- Add these lines to pacman.conf file (/etc/pacman.conf) using any text editor. I used nano via Terminal.
Server = http://repo.archlinux.fr/i686
For x86-64 (64 Bit system) add these two lines:
Server = http://repo.archlinux.fr/x86_64
- Now update the local software database by using this command and install yaourt (its a complementary brother to pacman :p)
- Now install the nautilus-dropbox plugin by issuing this command
- Select the default options if asked for any and install it.
- At last , after the installation has finished, restart Nautilus file manager by using this command
- Now you will see a blue opened box like icon in system tray. Yes the Dropbox client is installing now, one can see the progress by right clicking on this icon.
- After the completion you will be prompted with a GUI screen to start-up. One can either create a new account or if you have already created an account, only need to fill in email and password.
- Few steps to set up
I have a Dropbox account already
Fill in th appropriate details !
linking with the server
- Skip the tour and finish configuration.
Press on Skip tour and finish button if you don’t want to be bugged !
Finish and go to My Dropbox
sweet notifications !
- Now you will be greeted with Dropbox folder, here is mine :p
Folders are syncing
Folder synced !
- Look the synced folders are on your account:
Only two…huh !
Menu options
-
Tray menu is something like this
Tray menu
- So I added one image to the Photos folder, one can see the recently changed entry to track the changes one made (adding, modifying, deleting and renaming etc.)
recent changes !
- A more verbose detail about changes can be found on your Dropbox home page
Isn’t it cool !
Preferences:
- Clicking on Preferences will let you change these settings:
Change directory or disable notifications
Throttle the bandwidth or change proxy setting
Folder/File Context Menu Options
- Folder context menu:
Will let you browse the folder via web interface (web brower)
- File context menu:
Will let you see the revisions of a file
Work in Action !!!
-
Here I added an image to images folder
Syncing
Synced !!
- Here is the uploaded image and the things you can do with it.
Cut it, paste it, move it , rename it, delete it (did I sound like Daft Punk fan ?)
Share Files with Friends and umm…with your sucky project team:
-
Add a user to share files with
Add the name and email
- A folder with corresponding name will be created in Dropbox folder.
jit folder is created
- I added a text file in this folder to share with jit.
linuxthingy !
- You can see the shared files via web interface and other verbosity
Verbose details about shared files !
Performance
- CPU usage for client is fairly low for most of the time and Memory usage is below 30MB uptil now. Its still in beta so further improvements are to be seen. Here is a screenshot of usage.
All is good till now !
- Web interface is light and unobtrusive. I hope they don’t add lots of Ajax or Javascript animations to make it a bloat. I like it the way it is now. But a bit of Ajax wouldn’t hurt if it doesn’t sacrifice the ease.
Some thoughts
- Initially I thought that they are more inclined towards Windows and Mac. So I was a least bit interested as my primary desktop is Linux.
- But then today I got an email from them. When I clicked on the link, to my surprise, I was directed to the page where linux specific installation files were given for download. And yeah they did a great job in creating it. It doesn’t feel like port but a genuine effort.
- I appreciate the development team for their efforts. But please don’t fcuk this service like many others did. I want it to be nice and clean.
- Nautilus file manager is required for dropbox to function.
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