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JohnCrawford's avatar
JohnCrawford
New member | Level 2
7 years ago

“something similar” to SCP for Dropbox

I'm trying to backup some file on my Linux server to Dropbox. I do *NOT* want to install Dropbox on my server as I do *NOT* want any of the files on my Dropbox account to be on this server. I'm look...
Dropbox Basic
Linux
Sync
  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    7 years ago
    Well, if your server doesn’t have a GUI whatsoever, then you’ll need to find another solution to somehow access a browser, since there isn’t a Dropbox command line to directly login to your account.
     
    You could use a CLI browser like Lynx and open the link there to see if that helps.
     
    Otherwise, you could even type the link generated on a normal computer which does have a browser, and after a short time the server will be connected.
JohnCrawford's avatar
JohnCrawford
New member | Level 2

This is being installed on a server and as such there is no GUI.  

 

The install instructions found here: https://www.dropbox.com/install-linux are not that helpful as it doesn't have any details on how to connect to your actual Dropbox account.  

Jay's avatar
Jay
Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
7 years ago
The Python script at the bottom of the page tells you how to control the Dropbox desktop application daemon, and there’s also this article with commands used in the script.
 
However, simply installing from that page means you want files to sync to your machine, which is the opposite of what you want. 
 
Of course, you could use the exclude button to selectively unsync every single folder on your account. Provided there’s nothing in the root Dropbox folder, no files should download to the server.
 
Regardless, you won’t be able to upload to the Dropbox site without any folders actively syncing, so in the end this won’t help with your query.
  • JohnCrawford's avatar
    JohnCrawford
    New member | Level 2
    7 years ago

    Hi Jay,

     

    Many thanks for the feedback.  I've decided to try and install Dropbox on my server as it doesn't look like it actually can do an "SCP like" command.

     

    However I can't seem to actually link my account on the server.  The help options also don't seem to actually show an "add your dropbox account by email and password" type thing as seen here:

    • Jay's avatar
      Jay
      Icon for Dropbox Staff rankDropbox Staff
      7 years ago
      The instructions to sign in were on the original installation page at the bottom.
       
      I’ve copied and pasted them here in case you cant see that on the site:
       
      Run the Dropbox daemon from the newly created .dropbox-dist folder.
       
      ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd
       
      If you're running Dropbox on your server for the first time, you'll be asked to copy and paste a link in a working browser to create a new account or add your server to an existing account.
       
      Once you do, your Dropbox folder will be created in your home directory. 
      • JohnCrawford's avatar
        JohnCrawford
        New member | Level 2
        7 years ago

        Hi Jay.  Those instructions do not help.  As mentioned already this is a server and as such does *not* have a GUI.  So you can not do as you mentioned "copy and paste a link in a working browser".

         

        This is a 100% text based terminal.

         

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