Felix Förtsch

This short tutorial explains how to install Syncthing on a Uberspace. It is based on the Tutorial from Max Haesslein. Thanks Max!

Download newest Syncthing version

Connect to your uberspace:

ssh <user>@<uberspace>

Download the newest Syncthing version for Linux:

cd ~/etc/  
wget <NEWEST AMD64 LINUX VERSION>

Extract the file (eXtract Ze Files!) and move it to its own folder:

tar -xzf <FILENAME>
mv <FOLDERNAME> syncthing/

Link it to your binaries folder and start it once:

ln -s ~/etc/syncthing/syncthing ~/bin/syncthing
syncthing

Close the program with CTRL-C.

Prepare your Uberspace

Get the ports we are going to use for GUI and sync:

uberspace-add-port -p tcp --firewall
🚀  All good! Opened tcp port <PORT1>.
uberspace-add-port -p both --firewall
🚀  All good! Opened tcp port <PORT2>.

Add a subdomain to make your Syncthing easily accessible; also make sure it is possible to connect through HTTPS:

uberspace-add-domain -w -d sync.<DOMAIN>.de
uberspace-letsencrypt
uberspace-letsencrypt-renew -f

If you already use LetsEncrypt, you have to add the domain to your configuration. Just follow the steps displayed after the uberspace-letsencrypt. Don't forget to add the subdomain to your domain registrar DNS records aswell, so it gets redirected correctly!

Now, create the corresponding folder on the Uberspace:

mkdir /var/www/virtual/<UBERSPACE>/sync.<DOMAIN>.de

Edit the .htaccess so it sends you to the correct port:

cd /var/www/virtual/<UBERSPACE>/sync.<DOMAIN>.de/
vim .htaccess

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule (.*) http://localhost:<PORT1>/$1 [P]

Modify the Syncthing config file

Open the syncthing config file:

cd ~/.config/syncthing
vim config.xml

Find the GUI entry and replace the port with <PORT1>:

...
<gui enabled="true" tls="false" debugging="false">
  <address>127.0.0.1:<PORT1></address>
...

Find the options entry and replace the port with <PORT2>:

...
<options>
...
  <localAnnouncePort><PORT2></localAnnouncePort>
  <localAnnounceMCAddr>[ff12::8384]<PORT2></localAnnounceMCAddr>
...

Setup Syncthing as a service

If you don't have any services running, you have to setup the Daemon Tools first: Uberspace Wiki, Daemon Tools.

After setting up the services, you can add Syncthing as a service and restart it once:

uberspace-setup-service syncthing ~/bin/syncthing
svc -du ~/services/syncthing

Secure your Syncthing instance

Your Syncthing is now available via sync.<DOMAIN>.de. However, it is accessible by everyone on the web. Therefore you should secure it. Got to the Syncthing Settings:

IMPORTANT: Do not check Use HTTPS for GUI you will lose access to your GUI. To get it back you have to find the TLS option in your Syncthing config and set it to false again. You connections will have TLS and will be secure without checking this box.

And now enter your admin user and password in the corresponding fields:

The end

Save and that's it! You now have a Syncthing service running on Uberspace! Ideal for private documents you don't want the NSA to have.