Ministry of Higher Education

University of Technology and Applied Sciences

Course Project Assignment
Course Code: ITNW 4109
Course: Innovations in Network & Security

OWNCLOUD

Student’s Name :

Section No:

Student ID:
Abstract

The purpose of this report is to provide an in-depth analysis of ownCloud, an open-

source software platform for managing files and collaborating securely across
teams and organizations. This report will cover the various features and benefits of
ownCloud, its architecture, the installation process, and how to run it.
The report will begin with an overview of ownCloud, including its history,
purpose, and key features. It will then provide a detailed analysis of the ownCloud
architecture, covering the PHP web application, the attached database, and the
various components that make up the platform.
Next, the report will provide step-by-step instructions for installing ownCloud,
including the system requirements, configuration options, and best practices for a
successful installation. It will also cover how to configure ownCloud to meet
specific needs, such as integrating with enterprise directory services and
customizing the platform with apps and plugins.
Finally, the report will cover how to run ownCloud, including how to access the
web interface, manage users and files, and collaborate securely across teams and
organizations. It will also provide recommendations for best practices to ensure the
security and performance of ownCloud.
Overall, this report aims to provide a comprehensive guide to ownCloud, covering
its features, architecture, installation process, and how to run it effectively. The
report will be useful for organizations considering ownCloud as a solution for
managing their data securely and collaboratively.

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Contents

Abstract .....................................................................................................................2
Introduction ..............................................................................................................4
Architecture Overview ............................................................................................5
Server Architecture Overview ................................................................................6
OwnCloud Benefits ..................................................................................................7
Install OwnCloud .....................................................................................................8
install Ubuntu 20.04 ................................................................................................8
Install the LAMP stack ...........................................................................................9
Install PHP ............................................................................................................10
Install MySQL ......................................................................................................10
Configure Apache .................................................................................................12
Complete the installation ......................................................................................13
The Web Interface.................................................................................................14
Navigating the Main User Interface .....................................................................16
Upload File............................................................................................................18
Conclusion...............................................................................................................20
References ...............................................................................................................21

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Introduction

Welcome to ownCloud: self-hosted file sync and share solution.

ownCloud is an open-source file sync and share software for everyone from
individuals operating the free ownCloud Server edition, to large enterprises and
service providers operating the ownCloud Enterprise Subscription. ownCloud
provides a safe, secure, and compliant file synchronization and sharing solution on
servers. Persons can share one or more files and folders on their computer, and
synchronize them with ownCloud server .
Place files in local shared directories, and those files are immediately synchronized
to the server and to other devices using the ownCloud Desktop Sync Client,
Android app, or iOS app [1].

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Architecture Overview

The ownCloud solution is centered around the ownCloud server, which provides a
robust set of tools for managing files within the ownCloud environment. Unlike
consumer-grade file sharing services, ownCloud's server enables IT administrators
to protect and manage files from storage to user provisioning and data processing.
All data access events are monitored and logged for downstream auditing and
analysis, using popular tools like Splunk®. The server provides a secure web
interface that allows administrators to control all of ownCloud's resources,
including enabling and disabling features, setting policies, creating backups, and
managing users. Advanced features, such as enterprise directory integration and
file "firewalls," give administrators exceptional flexibility and control.
Additionally, the server manages and secures API access to ownCloud while
providing the internal processing engine needed to deliver high-performance file
sharing services.[2].

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Server Architecture Overview

At the heart of ownCloud is a PHP web application that runs on top of either IIS or
Apache on Windows or Linux. This PHP application is responsible for managing all
aspects of ownCloud, including user management, plug-ins, file sharing, and storage. A
database is attached to the PHP application, which is used by ownCloud to store user
information, file details, plugin application states, and the ownCloud file cache, which
acts as a performance accelerator. ownCloud accesses the database through
an abstraction layer, which allows for support of multiple database systems, including
Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL. Complete web server logging is provided
through web server logs, and user and system logs are available in a separate ownCloud
log or can be directed to a syslog file.

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OwnCloud Benefits

OwnCloud provides several benefits for users and organizations, including:

• Control: With OwnCloud, users and organizations have complete control
over their data and can manage it within their own infrastructure, rather than
relying on third-party services.
• Security: OwnCloud offers strong security features to protect data, including
customizable encryption options, user authentication and authorization, and
audit logging.
• Flexibility: OwnCloud provides a flexible platform that can be customized
to meet the specific needs of different organizations, including integration
with enterprise directory services and support for custom apps and plugins.
• Collaboration: OwnCloud enables easy and secure collaboration across
teams and organizations, with features such as file sharing, version control,
and commenting.
• Cost-effective: OwnCloud is a cost-effective solution for organizations
looking to manage their own data, as it eliminates the need for expensive
third-party cloud storage services.
• Accessibility: OwnCloud provides easy access to data from anywhere, using
a web interface or mobile apps for iOS and Android.
• Open-source: OwnCloud is an open-source project, which means that users
have access to the source code and can modify and customize the platform to
meet their needs.
Overall, OwnCloud provides a powerful and flexible solution for managing data
and collaborating securely across organizations, while maintaining control and
security over data.

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Install OwnCloud

install ownCLoud on Ubuntu 20.04 [3]

install Ubuntu 20.04

first we Create vm Ubuntu 20.04 in VMware_Workstation

First step, check that your system is up to date:

• sudo apt update
• sudo apt upgrade

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Install the LAMP stack
OwnCLoud needs a web server for first configuration and for the web interface.
The simplest option is to install LAMP to get Apache, MySQL and PHP. Install
the LAMP package:
sudo apt install lamp-server^ -y

Once the installation is completed, start and enable Apache service:

sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2

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Install PHP
Install PHP and the required package with the following command:
sudo apt-get install php php-opcache php-gd php-curl php-mysqlnd php-intl php-
json php-ldap php-mbstring php-mysqlnd php-xml php-zip -y
Restart Apache to enable changes:
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Install MySQL
Start and enable the MySQL service:
sudo systemctl start mysql
sudo systemctl enable mysql
• We now need to create the ownCLoud database from the MySQL console:
sudo mysql --user=root -p
• Create the MySQL ownCloud database:
CREATE DATABASE ownclouddb;
• Create a new user. Replace password by the appropriate value:
CREATE USER 'ownclouduser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

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 • Grant the new user with the necessary privileges:
GRANT ALL ON ownclouddb.* TO 'ownclouduser'@'localhost' WITH GRANT
OPTION;
• Enable changes by flushing the privileges:
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
• Finally, exit the MySQL console:
Exit
download and unpack ownCloud
• We’ll now download the latest version of ownCloud with the command:
wget https://download.owncloud.com/server/stable/owncloud-complete-latest.zip
• Unzip the file with:
unzip owncloud-complete-latest.zip

• Move the newly created directory with:

sudo mv owncloud /var/www/html
• Change the ownership of the directory with the command:
sudo chown -R www-data: /var/www/html/owncloud

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Configure Apache
We’ll now create an Apache configuration file for ownCloud. Create the new file
with the command:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/owncloud.conf

Restart Apache with:
sudo systemctl restart apache2

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Complete the installation
Open a web browser and point it to http://SERVER/owncloud (Where SERVER is
the IP address of our ubuntu VM)

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The Web Interface
You can connect to your ownCloud server using any Web browser; just point it to
your ownCloud server and enter your username and password. Supported Web
browsers
are:
• Edge (current version on Windows 10)
• IE11 or newer (except Compatibility Mode)
• Firefox 60 ESR or newer
• Chrome 66 or newer
• Safari 10 or newer
The GUI in web browser after type: http://10.128.0.1/owncloud

For the database, fill in the following:

• Database user: ownclouduser
• Database password: the password you set ('password' in our case)
• Database–ownclouddb
• Localhost–localhost

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After filling in all the necessary details, click Finish setup and, in less than a
minute, the installation will complete and you can then log in as the admin user.

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Navigating the Main User Interface
Once you have accessed the ownCloud Server main web interface you can add
files, remove files, and make changes based on the access privileges set by you (if
you are administering the server) or by your server administrator.

The ownCloud Main User Interface contains the following fields and functions:
• Apps Selection Menu: Located in the upper left corner of the user interface,
this bar contains apps that are configured on the ownCloud server. The icons
in this bar enable you to launch the different apps available and navigate
between them within the ownCloud user interface.
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• Apps Information field: Located in the left side bar, this field provides filters
and tasks associated with the chosen app. For example, using the Files app,
you can use the filters in the apps information field to view only files that
have been shared with you, files that you have shared with others, files that
you have shared through the use of a link, or an option to delete files. Other
app-specific information fields might provide tasks for creating new
documents or modifying calendar entries.
• Application View: The main, central field in the ownCloud user interface.
This field displays the contents or user features of the app selected in the
Navigation Bar. By default, this field shows the files and directory (“Files”
view) of your user account.
• Navigation Bar: Located over the main viewing window (the Application
View), this bar provides a type of breadcrumbs navigation that enables you
to migrate to higher levels of the folder hierarchy up to the root level (home)
of your ownCloud instance.
• New button: Located in the Navigation Bar, the New button enables you to
create new files, new folders, or upload existing files from a specified link.
• Upload button: Located next to the New button in the Navigation Bar, the
Upload button enables you to upload files from your system to the
ownCloud server. Clicking this button launches a file picker (e.g. Windows
Explorer or Mac OS X Finder) window with which you can choose files for
uploading.
• Search field: Residing in the upper right hand corner of the Main User
Interface window, the Search field enables you to search for files and folders
stored in ownCloud. The ownCloud search function provides a full text
search. However, for searching to function, administrators must enable the
app in the search app settings.
• Personal Settings menu: Located to the right of the Search field, the Personal
Settings dropdown menu provides access to your personal settings page and
the ability to log out of your ownCloud user session.

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Upload File
We can upload file to OwnCloud, and this images show the steps:

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Conclusion

ownCloud is open by nature and designed to integrate with existing infrastructure,

management and security tools. A compre- hensive set of APIs and native
integrations enable anytime, anywhere access to all your data, wherever it resides.

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References

[1] “ownCloud - share files and folders, easy and secure.” https://owncloud.com/
(accessed May. 16, 2023).
[2] “Practical 3 Introduction To Owncloud: Owncloud Is A Suite of | PDF |
Computer Science | Computing,” Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/document/513379499/MP3 (accessed May. 16, 2023).
[3] “How to install ownCloud server on Ubuntu 20.04 | Lulu’s blog.”
https://lucidar.me/en/owncloud/install-owncloud-server-on-ubuntu-20-04/
(accessed May. 16, 2023).

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