Dropbox Syncing
Overview
Dropbox is a service that allows syncing files/folders across many computers. Now there is a way to sync a webOS device to Dropbox. This is not a native dropbox client. It connects to a Windows PC that has a Dropbox client installed and syncs the files to that PC's dropbox folder. It syncs to inbox/outbox folders in each direction. The current version is not yet able to sync bidirectionally to the same folder, so inbox/outbox folders are used within a defined dropbox folder.
Signup free or see for more info on Dropbox.
How this method works
This uses Xorg Tools to setup the configuration.
It uses existing cifs filesharing and rsync to perform the dropbox syncing.
In a nutshell, it mounts a Windows fileshare specific to dropbox onto webOS device and uses rsync to sync. Cron scheduling (limited) is used to periodically check for dropbox updates.
Requirements
You need the following tools/knowledge to use this service...
- A dropbox account with client running on a Windows PC
- PC terminal access to phone, or webOS Quick Install
- Need to know the local IP address of the PC with dropbox client
- Helps to know how to setup Windows print/filesharing
-- though the xt wizard walks you through setup
How to install
Install Xorg Tools
Paste this in a terminal session or use webOS Quick Install Linux Command line...
cd /tmp && wget -qO- http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3812896/xt.setup | /bin/sh
In Terminal app (available on Preware) or in a Terminal session...
- Run 'xt' from linux
Find the IP address of the computer with dropbox before continuing. If you don't know how to find the local IP address on your computer, this is not for you. Use the local IP address, not the WAN address. Best to start with local segment and then once working, tinker with router port forwarding to maybe use over EVDO and external WiFi.
Initial Setup
- plg) plugin menu
- dbx) dropbox menu
- dbi) dropbox initial setup
Follow all instructions very carefully.
Once installed, run a manual sync.
Manual Sync
- adv) advanced menu
- dbx) dropbox menu
- dsn) dropbox sync now
If this is successful, setup scheduling.
Scheduling
- adv) advanced menu
- dbx) dropbox menu
- sds) schedule dropbox sync
There is an issue with cron that it doesn't consistently run jobs when asleep. It will sync when you use your phone or if charging. Am working on it.
Using the Inbox/Outbox Folders
This method cannot sync dropbox in both directions to the same folder so inbox and outbox folders are created.
webOS inbox and outbox locations:
/media/internal/dropbox/inbox
/media/internal/dropbox/outbox
Drop a file on webOS outbox and it will appear on Windows inbox.
Drop a file on Windows outbox and it will appear on webOS inbox.
To delete files, you must do it from the outbox side. If you delete from the inbox side, it will be updated again. I hope to find a way around this in a future release.
Use Internalz app (available on Preware) to manage moving files/folders in and out of dropbox.
Troubleshooting
Permission Errors
If you get permission errors when doing a manual sync, check the following...
- Make sure the Windows backup folder share has 'full control'. Must have read/write access to the share.
- Ensure the Windows folder _sharename_ is 'webos'. It must be named this.
- The Windows user account cannot have a space in the name or password. If so, create a new Windows user with no space/password and re-run backup initial setup.
Caveats
- The username and password on the Windows PC cannot have any spaces. You'll need to use or create an account on Windows that has no spaces for the user id and password.
- The username/password of the Windows PC appear in /etc/fstab. Anyone know how to hide this?
- It turns out that webos kernel has built in cifs support and samba is not needed. If you were an early tester and installed samba (on or before Jan 31), you can remove unless you're using for other reasons.
ipkg-opt remove samba
Layout Details
These are the configuration/script files involved if you want to make manual changes.
/media/internal/xorgtools/etc/dropbox.cfg (stores ip, username, passwd, etc)
/var/spool/cron/crontabs/root (cron schedling)
/media/internal/xorgtools/dbx.mnu (the dropbox menu)
/media/internal/xorgtools/dbx (directory of dropbox scripts)
How to Remove
Remove the backup setup...
- adv) advanced menu
- dbx) dropbox menu
- rdb) remove all dropbox setup
This remove the dropbox related entries in...
/etc/fstab
/etc/hosts
/var/spool/cron/crontabs/root
You can re-install with 'dropbox initial setup' menu item.
ToDos/Requests
Looking for help on triggering the sync when a file changes in /media/internal/dropbox/outbox. It can likely be done with Upstart inotify but I'm not too up on Upstart. Could use some help. - pm me at precentral - xorg.
Please post other ideas and feature requests here.
Alternate Methods/Other Platforms
I chose to do Windows/cifs because that is what most people have available. This could be more easily ported to Mac/Linux by just using rsync (cifs not necessary) in both directions setting up in/outbox as described above.
Credits
Thanks much to testers... Vincent Law, navinaq, Kyusaku