How do I back up Dropbox to a TrueNAS server? Practical guide
Is it worth backing up data from Dropbox if it's a cloud service? It's a question that may seem redundant... until something happens. User-side errors, accidental deletion of files, infrastructure failures or even account takeovers - there are more reasons to think about extra backups than you might think.
In this article, I will show you how to easily make a copy of your Dropbox account directly on the server TrueNAS. All step by step, without unnecessary technobabble.
Why back up cloud services?
Cloud data offers convenience, but not always security. Human error, delayed data recovery and even service provider misconfigurationas in the case of the Australian fund Unisuper, which by Google's mistake lost access to its entire infrastructure, can deprive us of important files. They were lucky - they had off-site backup.
And since we have access to a tool such as TrueNASwhy not secure it on your own terms?
How do I backup my Dropbox to TrueNAS?
Here is a quick overview of the steps to follow:
1. Prepare the environment
Make sure you have an active Dropbox account and are logged into your browser.
On TrueNAS, create a dataset, e.g.
CloudSync/Dropboxwhich will be the destination for the files.
2. Configure credentials
Go to Cloud Credentials in TrueNAS and add new credentials for Dropbox.
Use the 'Login to provider' option to have TrueNAS automatically acquire your access token (you must be logged into Dropbox in your browser).
Save the data and click 'Verify' - if everything works, you move on.
3. Create a synchronisation task
Go to Data Protection > Cloud Sync Tasks and create a new task.
Select the credentials and indicate the destination folder.
Set the mode Pull (i.e. downloading data from Dropbox to NAS).
Select the transfer mode: Sync, Copy or Move - preferably select 'Sync' to reflect the account balance.
Decide how often you want the backup to take place - you can set it at midnight every day, for example.
4. Run and ready
You can wait for the synchronisation to be scheduled or click "Run" manually.
Check the logs - if everything went well, the files are already on your TrueNAS.
Is it worth it?
Of course! Backing up data locally, regardless of the cloud, is one of the most important things we can do to keep our files safe. It's not just about paranoia - it's about conscious risk management. Since we have the tools, it makes sense to use them.