Seafile - cloud storage platform

[Bushido]

Are there any updates or further alternatives to Nextcloud regarding this?

[joseph]

Last I checked, seafile has it's own storage system. This means that files are not stored as-is on the filesystem and retrieval can be complicated in case of fs corruption.

[timconsidine]

@joseph spot on
Needed I think because of its approach to indexing and version/change tracking/sync
Seafile does provide a utility to abstract files from its format to traditional format but it needs to be run periodically if you want to keep a clean copy, and of course doubles the size.
Nonetheless I use Seafile heavily and it’s always been reliable.
Would love to see it here on Cloudron, I currently run it on a VPS with Docker
Packaging for Cloudron has its challenges.

[qwinter]

I also use seafile and would love to have it on my cloudron

[Bushido]

With 49 upvotes, this seems to be a killer feature in Cloudron. What is the current status of efforts in this regard?

[timconsidine]

Cross-posting from https://forum.cloudron.io/post/118075

Making progress on packaging Seafile for Cloudron

[timconsidine]

I have a first version of Seafile Community Edition packaged for Cloudron !

Took longer than I expected, but I previously didn't believe it even to be possible.

All seems working, including the web UI and desktop sync clients.

• Only issue I have found is that my Safari does not display PDFs when loaded in the browser from the Seafile library. Firefox does work (Chrome untested).
• other file formats do work in the browser

More testing needed, but looks good currently.

I will add this to the Custom App Installer shortly.

PRO edition needs some thought.
Due to Seafile licensing, I cannot package it.
There is an upgrade route from Community to PRO.
Need to test it out against this package.
Will try this out later.

EDIT : also need think about using volumes and about backups to extract files into native names, not Seafile's tracked/masked naming.

[timconsidine]

If you want to try out Seafile on Cloudron :

Installation methods :

Custom App Installer :

• hosted https://ccai.appx.uk
• or install Custom App Installer Personal Edition on to your Cloudron and import catalogue

Cloudron CLI + Pre-built docker image

• install Cloudron CLI on your local device (desktop/laptop)
• clone the repo
• cloudron install --image tcmbp132021:cloudron-seafile-ce:v1.0.1 -l seafile.domain.tld

Manual :

• install Cloudron CLI on your local device (desktop/laptop)
• install docker on your local device
• have a docker registry and be logged in
• clone the repo
• docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t <registry.domain.tld>/cloudron-seafile-ce:v1.0.1 . (remember the final '.')
• docker push <registry.domain.tld>/cloudron-seafile-ce:v1.0.1
• cloudron install --image <registry.domain.tld>/cloudron-seafile-ce:v1.0.1 -l seafile.domain.tld

[timconsidine]

Seems that the Wiki feature in Seafile is not working
Fixing ….

EDIT : Fixed wiki.
Versions in previous post updated
But note :

Community vs. Professional Edition :

• You are running Seafile Community Edition (indicated by the seafile-mc base image and lack of Pro binaries).
• Full-Text Search (searching inside files and wiki pages) is a feature exclusive to Seafile Professional Edition . It relies on an integrated ElasticSearch engine which is not included in the Community Edition.
• The Community Edition only supports searching for filenames , not the content within documents.

[robi]

@timconsidine sounds like it's time to integrate Meilisearch instead of the bulky elastic search.

[timconsidine]

@robi I will investigate

[timconsidine]

Announcing related item ....

SeaClone - backup utility for Seafile

https://forum.cloudron.io/post/118327

[timconsidine]

@robi said in Seafile - cloud storage platform:

sounds like it's time to integrate Meilisearch

I started packaging Meilisearch

[timconsidine]

I started packaging Meilisearch

I have a basic app packaged, but it is a bit hard-coded on indexing, so need to make it more flexible for different deployment and configuration scenarios, before sharing it.

[luckym]

@timconsidine Wait, so you can just swap the built-in elisticsearch with meilisearch?! Wouldn't you have to change the code of the seafile package?

[timconsidine]

@luckym ah, very good question !

To answer it, first I had to package Meilisearch but veered off path (ooops) to produce SRTD as a test and a need general purpose utility.

Having done that, I now need to work out how to add Meilisearch into or onto or alongside Seafile-CE for Cloudron.

It's one of my current dev tasks, so bear with me.

I'm also testing the robustness of the Clouron Seafile-CE app. Seems all fine currently.

[luckym]

Gotcha. I could probably help test the robustness of Seafile-CE - is there a tutorial on how to install the custom app installer on my own Cloudron? I'm a bit hesitant to enter login information on the hosted site

[timconsidine]

@luckym totally understand
for that reason I made CCAI-P : Personal Edition
cloudron credentials are in the app - not entered anywhere -sits entirely on your server

there is the conundrum of how you get CCAI-P in the first place, but once you have it, no creds needed for future usage.

to get Seafile-CE for cloudron you can try :
cloudron install --image tcmbp132021/cloudron-seafile-ce:v1.0.1 and it will then prompt you for what app address you want to use.

but this presupposes you have Cloudron CLI installed - at least you don't need Docker installed

but I think you need the CloudronManifest.json also from the repo locally

to install CCAI-P manually, it's similar to:

• have cloudron CLI installed
• cloudron install --image tcmbp132021/cloudron-customapp-installer-personal:latest
• might need that repo's CloudronManifest.json locally