Mounting Cloud Storage on Linux

Mounting Cloud Storage on Linux

Box.com

Using WebDAV

This service will only work on PERSONAL machines--this will not work on CSEE maintained Linux computers. Due to the way this works, it is NOT recommended to actually perform these steps since it breaks the default security that campus places on the box.com accounts.

Install davfs2 Package

Ubuntu, Debian, and Mint

To install davfs2 on Ubuntu, Debian or Mint:

$ sudo apt-get install davfs2

CentOS, RHEL or Fedora

To install davfs2 on CentOS, RHEL or Fedora:

$ sudo yum install davfs2

Disable file locks

The WebDAV share exported by Box.com does not support file locks. Thus you need to disable file locks in the davfs2 configuration file located at /etc/davfs2/davfs2.conf. Otherwise, you will encounter "Input/output error" while attempting to create a file.

$ sudo vi /etc/davfs2/davfs2.conf

use_locks      	0

Create a mount point

mkdir ~/box.com

replace "~/box.com" with your preferred mount point

Add yourself to usergroup

This step is optional if you only want to mount as root.

$ sudo usermod -a -G davfs2 USERNAME

where "USERNAME" is your username

Edit fstab

Add the following to /etc/fstab. The "user" option allows you to mount Box.com as an unprivileged non-root user.

https://dav.box.com/dav /home/user/box.com davfs rw,user,noauto 0 0

Replace "/home/user/box.com" with your own mount point.

Add external password to Box

This steps adds a new authentication method to a box.com account. UMBC may no longer be able to track if this account gets compromised. It is NOT recommended to make this change.

Before you connect, you must create an external password through the Box web interface.

1. Open an internet browser and log on to box.umbc.edu
2. Click on your name in the upper right corner. In the drop down, click on “Account Settings”
3. The bottom section bubble should say “Create External Password.” Click “Edit password”
4. Create an external password.

Note: This password must be different from your email password

Run mount

The final step is to run mount.

$ mount box.com

replacing "box.com" with your mountpoint

Google Drive

Just open the GNOME Control Center (or “Settings”) application, click “Online Accounts”, and add your Google account. It will appear in the File Manager application. Does not work on CSEE systems.