/RaspiAsUSBStickWithCloudSync

A Raspberry Pi Zero W is used as a USB Stick with integrated cloud syncronization. All files written to the USB drive are either copied to a Dropbox account or another linux server.

Primary LanguagePythonGNU General Public License v3.0GPL-3.0

RaspiAsUSBStickWithCloudSync

A Raspberry Pi Zero W is used as a USB Stick with integrated cloud syncronization. All files written to the USB drive are either copied to a Dropbox account or another linux server. Power is supplied by the USB port.

Overview pic

This project can be used in conjunction with a camera system which has the possibility to store the video files locally on a USB stick, but not in the cloud.

Each new video file is automatically uploaded to a free Dropbox account and can subsequently be viewed and replayed with the Dropbox app.

Some very basic linux skills are necessary. Should also work with a "Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W".

This project is open source software licensed via GNU General Public License v3.0, use at your own risk.

Quickstart

Basic process: Install a Raspberry Pi Zero W, adjust project config.json, copy project files to home directory of the Raspi and execute the setup script.

The Micro-SD card should have at least 16GB.

  1. Install Raspberry Pi OS Lite (32bit) from category Raspberry Pi OS (other) with the Raspberry Pi Imager. Take note whether it is a Debian Bullseye or Debian Bookworm image. pi imager
  • Settings (After NEXT)
    • Set Hostname: raspberrypi.local
    • Enable SSH with Password
    • Username: pi
    • Password: YOUR_PASSWORD
    • Setup your Wifi (important)

  1. Be patient on first setup boot, it might take several minutes on Raspi Zero.

  2. Download latest released RaspiAsUSBStickWithCloudSync.zip and extract files

  3. Update settings in configuration file config.json:

    Entry Description
    ActivateDropboxSync Activate (1) or deactivate (0) sync to dropbox
    Dropbox... Prepare and configure for Dropbox sync

    Click here for all possible settings.

  4. Copy all extracted and updated files from home_pi to /home/pi on the Raspberry Pi.

    For example use WinSCP:

    • File protocol: SFTP
    • Host name: raspberrypi.local
    • User name: pi
    • Password: YOUR_PASSWORD

  5. Login to Raspberry Pi with SSH. For example use Putty with Host name: raspberrypi.local and user: pi

    • For Debian Bullseye image type and execute command: bash /home/pi/execute_setup_bullseye.sh
    • For Debian Brookworm image type execute command: bash /home/pi/execute_setup_bookworm.sh

Note

The setup script downloads and installs necessary software components, configures driver modules as well as services and creates the USB drive image.

  1. Restart and you are all set. For a first test connect the pi with it's USB port to your PC and see whether the USB drive is accessible. Create a folder with some files and check whether it is auto uploaded to configured Dropbox or linux server.

    • Connect the USB cable to the USB port and not to the PWR port.
    • Make sure to have a data capable USB cable and not a cable which only support power via USB.

  2. Connect to system of your choice, for example camera system with video sync to USB.

View videos in dropbox mobile app:

dropbox app

Diagnose

Diagnose issues

More information

Detailed documentation