Setting Up and Configuring FileBrowser Service¶

Using FileBrowser in conjunction with Nextcloud on a Linux server can be advantageous for several reasons, offering a complementary set of features and flexibility in file management:

1. Simplified File Management Interface: FileBrowser provides a straightforward and lightweight interface for managing files. For users or situations where Nextcloud's more comprehensive suite of features is not required, FileBrowser offers an easy-to-use alternative for basic file operations.

2. Different Use-Case Focus: While Nextcloud offers a wide range of features including file hosting, collaboration tools, calendar, and contacts management, FileBrowser is solely focused on file management. This focus can make FileBrowser a more efficient choice for simple file access and management tasks.

3. Performance Considerations: FileBrowser might be more lightweight and faster in environments where server resources are limited or when a minimalistic file manager is preferred. This can be particularly beneficial for servers handling a large number of files or concurrent users.

4. Ease of Setup and Maintenance: For smaller setups or instances where the full feature set of Nextcloud is not needed, FileBrowser can be easier to set up and maintain due to its simplicity.

5. Direct File System Access: FileBrowser can offer more direct interaction with the server's file system, which might be useful for administrative tasks or when handling files that are not necessarily part of the Nextcloud managed directories.

6. Complementary Usage: In some scenarios, FileBrowser can be used alongside Nextcloud to provide an alternative access point to files. This can be useful in setups where different user groups require different interfaces or functionalities.

7. Redundancy and Flexibility: Having both services available provides redundancy; if one service is down for maintenance or encountering issues, users can still access files through the other service.

In summary, while Nextcloud offers a broad and feature-rich environment for collaboration and cloud storage, FileBrowser adds a layer of simplicity and directness in file management, making them complementary tools in a robust and versatile server setup.

Step 1: Install FileBrowser
Use the script to install FileBrowser:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/filebrowser/get/master/get.sh | bash

Step 2: Create the Systemd Service File:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/filebrowser.service

Add the following content: NOTE: Add your IP address

Unit]
Description=FileBrowser service

[Service]
User=nextcloud
Group=nextcloud
Type=simple
WorkingDirectory=/srv/data
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/filebrowser -d /srv/data/filebrowser.db -a your_IP_ADDRESS -p 8080
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Step 3: Enable and Start the Service

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

sudo systemctl enable filebrowser.service

sudo systemctl start filebrowser.service

sudo systemctl status filebrowser.service

Access FileBrowser by navigating to http://YOUR_IP_ADDRESS:8080 in your web browser.

Additional Notes
Ensure the firewall settings on your server allow traffic on port 8080.
Regularly check for updates to FileBrowser to maintain security and functionality.
Verify that the nextcloud user has the necessary permissions for /srv/data and that the directory exists.
If you encounter issues, check the logs using journalctl -u filebrowser.service for detailed error messages.