Pydio Cells is a great alternative for those looking to have more control over their file storage and sharing needs. Here’s a step-by-step guide to deploy Pydio Cells:

Step 1: Prepare Your Server

1. Choose your server: You can deploy Pydio Cells on a VPS or a dedicated server. Ensure your server meets the minimum requirements:
   • CPU: 2 cores or more
   • RAM: 2 GB or more
   • Storage: 10 GB or more
   • OS: Ubuntu 18.04/20.04, CentOS 7/8, Debian 9/10, or similar
2. Update your server:
   bash sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Dependencies

1. Install MySQL: sudo apt install mysql-server
2. Secure MySQL Installation: sudo mysql_secure_installation
3. Create a database and user for Pydio Cells: sudo mysql -u root -p Inside the MySQL prompt: CREATE DATABASE pydio; CREATE USER 'pydio'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'yourpassword'; GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON pydio.* TO 'pydio'@'localhost'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES; EXIT;
4. Install other dependencies:
   bash sudo apt install -y unzip curl

Step 3: Download and Install Pydio Cells

1. Download the latest Pydio Cells version: wget https://download.pydio.com/pub/cells/release/latest/linux-amd64/cells
2. Make the file executable: chmod +x cells
3. Move it to a directory in your PATH:
   bash sudo mv cells /usr/local/bin/

Step 4: Configure and Start Pydio Cells

1. Run the initial configuration: sudo cells install
2. Follow the on-screen instructions:
   • Database configuration: Use the database and user you created earlier.
   • Admin account: Create an admin account for Pydio Cells.
   • Storage configuration: Configure the storage path.

Step 5: Access Pydio Cells

1. Start Pydio Cells: sudo cells start
2. Access the web interface:
   Open your web browser and navigate to http://your-server-ip:8080.
3. Log in with the admin account you created during the setup.

Step 6: Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy (Optional)

If you want to access Pydio Cells using a domain name and secure it with SSL, you can configure Nginx as a reverse proxy.

1. Install Nginx: sudo apt install nginx
2. Configure Nginx:
   Create a new configuration file for your Pydio Cells instance: sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/pydio Add the following configuration: server { listen 80; server_name your-domain.com;location / { proxy_pass http://localhost:8080; proxy_set_header Host $host; proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr; proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for; proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme; }}
3. Enable the configuration: sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/pydio /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
4. Test the Nginx configuration: sudo nginx -t
5. Restart Nginx: sudo systemctl restart nginx
6. Secure your site with Let’s Encrypt (optional):
   bash sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx sudo certbot --nginx -d your-domain.com

After completing these steps, you should have Pydio Cells running and accessible via your domain.