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Rclone

Rclone

Cloud storage sync and mount utility for Google Drive or Dropbox remotes

Overview

Rclone is a command-line program for syncing files and directories between local storage and cloud providers. QuickBox installs it per user and builds a working directory that includes cache, mount points, and upload scripts.

Rclone is not a media server or download client; it focuses on syncing, mounting, and optional encryption of storage paths.

Key features

QuickBox provisions Rclone with standard mounts, a mergerfs overlay, and scheduled uploads.

Provider presets

Install with --gdrive or --dropbox; QuickBox creates a remote named gdrive or dropbox and builds the Media tree.

Optional crypt remote

Use --encrypted to create a crypt remote; encrypted installs mount crypt: to the same path.

Managed mounts

Systemd unit rclone@username mounts to /home/username/rclone/gdrive or /home/username/rclone/dropbox with mergerfs overlays at /home/username/rclone/gmedia or /home/username/rclone/dmedia.

Scheduled uploads

A nightly cron entry runs /home/username/rclone/move.sh at 03:12 server time and writes to /home/username/rclone/move.log.

When to use it

Use Rclone when you want QuickBox to manage cloud mounts, overlays, and scheduled uploads.

Prerequisites

  • You need a per-user Google Drive or Dropbox mount managed by QuickBox.
  • You have provider client ID and client secret ready for setup prompts.
  • You want optional encryption with rclone crypt using two different passwords.
  • You prefer uploads handled by systemd and cron instead of custom scripts.

What you get

  • Install with qb install rclone -u username --gdrive or --dropbox to create remotes and mount targets.
  • Mount points are created under /home/username/rclone with cache, remote, and mergerfs overlay paths.
  • Uploads run through /home/username/rclone/move.sh on a nightly schedule.
  • Services include rclone@username and home-username-rclone-gmedia.mount or home-username-rclone-dmedia.mount.

Installation

Install from the QuickBox CLI

Rclone installs are managed with qb and require a username plus one provider flag. The beta branch is available with —beta.

Command
qb install rclone -u username --gdrive
Description
Install Rclone with a Google Drive remote and gmedia mergerfs mount.
Command
qb install rclone -u username --dropbox --encrypted
Description
Install with Dropbox and create a crypt remote for encrypted mounts.
Command
qb update rclone -u username --beta
Description
Update Rclone using the beta download branch.
Command
qb remove rclone -u username
Description
Remove Rclone for a user and clean its files.

CLI options

-u, --usernameRequired

Target QuickBox username (required).

--gdrive

Configure a Google Drive remote and mount to /home/username/rclone/gdrive with a gmedia mergerfs overlay.

--dropbox

Configure a Dropbox remote and mount to /home/username/rclone/dropbox with a dmedia mergerfs overlay.

--encrypted

Create a crypt remote using passwords provided during setup.

--beta

Install the beta branch from https://beta.rclone.org.

Once installed, Rclone appears in the Service Control panel as RClone with Upload and View Logs actions.

Access and authentication

Rclone provides local mount paths rather than a web UI, and QuickBox stores its configuration under each user’s home directory.

URL / route

There is no web route for Rclone. Access the mounted paths directly at /home/username/rclone/gdrive or /home/username/rclone/dropbox, and use the mergerfs overlay at /home/username/rclone/gmedia or /home/username/rclone/dmedia.

Login / credentials / tokens

During install, QuickBox prompts for the provider client ID and client secret. If —encrypted is selected, it also prompts for encryption and salt passwords that must differ.

Security notes

  • QuickBox enables user_allow_other in /etc/fuse.conf so mounts can use —allow-other.
  • Upload jobs use /home/username/rclone/rclone.lock to prevent concurrent runs.

Configuration and files

QuickBox creates a per-user config directory and an Rclone working folder with cache, mounts, and logs.

/home/username
.config/rclone/# Per-user rclone configuration
├── rclone.conf# Remote definitions and credentials
├── rclone_beta.txt# Present when installed with --beta
└── mergerfs_mount_service.txt# Active mergerfs mount unit name
rclone/# Working directory for mounts and uploads
├── cache/# Upload staging area
├── gdrive/# Google Drive mount (or crypt view when encrypted)
├── dropbox/# Dropbox mount (or crypt view when encrypted)
├── gmedia/# Mergerfs overlay for gdrive installs
├── dmedia/# Mergerfs overlay for dropbox installs
├── move.sh# Upload script invoked by cron
├── move.log# Upload log file
└── rclone.lock# Upload lock file

Common tasks

Use the commands below to manage services, uploads, and logs.

Command
systemctl restart rclone@username
Description
Restart the user’s Rclone mount service.
Command
systemctl status home-username-rclone-gmedia.mount
Description
Check the Google Drive mergerfs mount unit.
Command
systemctl status home-username-rclone-dmedia.mount
Description
Check the Dropbox mergerfs mount unit.
Command
qb user rclone -u username -o upload
Description
Trigger an upload using move.sh.
Command
qb user rclone -u username -o logs
Description
Show the tail of move.log in the CLI.
Command
qb user rclone -u username -o remove_lock
Description
Remove a stale rclone.lock file.
Command
qb clean rclone_logs -u username
Description
Clear move.log for the user.

Typical workflows:

  • Install with one provider flag and confirm mounts at /home/username/rclone.
  • Trigger qb user rclone -u username -o upload after a large cache sync.
  • Use the RClone card in Service Control to upload or view logs.

FAQ

A cron entry is added for 03:12 server time (12 3 * * * /home/username/rclone/move.sh). Each run writes to /home/username/rclone/move.log and uses /home/username/rclone/rclone.lock.
Rclone runs as rclone@username. Google Drive installs create /home/username/rclone/gdrive plus a mergerfs mount at /home/username/rclone/gmedia (unit: home-username-rclone-gmedia.mount). Dropbox installs mirror this with /home/username/rclone/dropbox and /home/username/rclone/dmedia.
Encrypted installs mount crypt: to the same gdrive or dropbox path and the upload script uses the encrypted remote.
Both actions read /home/username/rclone/move.log, which is also used by qb user rclone -o logs.

Best practices

Do

  • Use only one provider flag per install: --gdrive or --dropbox.
  • Keep /home/username/rclone/move.log and rclone.lock owned by the user account.
  • Reinstall with qb if service or mount files need regeneration.

Don't

  • Do not edit systemd unit files under /etc/systemd/system by hand.
  • Do not remove rclone.lock while an upload is active.

Troubleshooting

Mount path not available

Symptom: mount path under /home/username/rclone/ is empty or missing. Checks: confirm rclone@username is active and the correct mount unit is enabled (home-username-rclone-gmedia.mount or home-username-rclone-dmedia.mount).

Uploads not running

Symptom: cache files are not moving to the remote. Checks: confirm the cron entry 12 3 * * * /home/username/rclone/move.sh exists for the user, ensure rclone.lock is not lingering, and run qb user rclone -u username -o upload.

Resources

Resources

Rclone Website
Rclone Documentation

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