Install OwnCloud Windows Complete Step By Step Tutorial For Beginners

Setting Up OwnCloud on Windows: A Comprehensive Guide

OwnCloud is an open-source cloud storage solution that allows you to host your own cloud server, providing a secure and customizable alternative to commercial cloud services. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing and configuring OwnCloud on Windows using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Step 1: Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

To start, you need to enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature on your Windows system. Here’s how:

1. Open the Search Box: Type "Turn Windows features on or off" in the search box and select the result.
2. Enable WSL: In the "Windows Features" window, scroll down and check the box next to "Windows Subsystem for Linux" or "Windows Subsystem for Linux 2" if available.
3. Restart Your Computer: After enabling WSL, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Step 2: Install Ubuntu on WSL

Next, you need to install the Ubuntu Linux distribution on WSL:

1. Open the Microsoft Store: Search for "Ubuntu" in the Microsoft Store.
2. Download and Install: Select the desired version of Ubuntu (e.g., Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04) and click "Install."
3. Launch Ubuntu: Once installed, click the "Launch" button to open the Ubuntu terminal.

Step 3: Install Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, and PHP

Before installing OwnCloud, you need to set up a web server environment with Apache, a database server with MariaDB, and PHP:

1. Update Ubuntu: Open the Ubuntu terminal and run sudo apt update to update the package list.
2. Install Apache: Run sudo apt-get install apache2 to install Apache.
3. Install MariaDB: Run sudo apt-get install mariadb-server to install MariaDB.
4. Install PHP and Required Extensions: Run the following commands to install PHP and necessary extensions:

   sudo apt-get install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-gd php-json php-curl php-xml php-zip php-mbstring
   sudo apt-get install php-intl
   

5. Secure MariaDB: Run sudo mysql_secure_installation and follow the prompts to set a root password and secure the database.

Step 4: Create a Database for OwnCloud

Create a new database for OwnCloud:

1. Log in to MariaDB: Run sudo mysql -u root -p and enter your root password.
2. Create the Database: Execute the following SQL commands:

   CREATE DATABASE owncloud;
   GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON owncloud.* TO 'ownclouduser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'yourpassword';
   FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
   EXIT;
   

3. Replace 'yourpassword' with a secure password of your choice.

Step 5: Download and Install OwnCloud

Download the latest version of OwnCloud and set it up:

1. Download OwnCloud: Go to the OwnCloud download page and download the latest version.
2. Extract the Archive: Extract the downloaded archive to a directory, typically /var/www/owncloud.
3. Set Permissions: Run sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/owncloud to set the correct permissions.
4. Configure Apache: Create a new Apache configuration file for OwnCloud. You can do this by creating a file named owncloud.conf in the /etc/apache2/sites-available/ directory with the following content:

   <VirtualHost *:80>
       ServerName localhost
       DocumentRoot /var/www/owncloud
   
       <Directory /var/www/owncloud>
           Options +FollowSymlinks
           AllowOverride All
   
           <IfModule mod_dav.c>
               Dav off
           </IfModule>
   
           SetEnv HOME /var/www/owncloud
           SetEnv HTTP_HOME /var/www/owncloud
   
       </Directory>
   
       ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/owncloud_error.log
       CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/owncloud_access.log combined
   </VirtualHost>
   

5. Enable the Configuration: Run sudo a2ensite owncloud.conf and then sudo service apache2 restart to enable the new configuration.

Step 6: Access and Configure OwnCloud

Access OwnCloud through your web browser and complete the initial setup:

1. Open Your Browser: Navigate to http://localhost/owncloud or http://127.0.0.1/owncloud.
2. Follow the Setup Wizard: Enter the database details you created earlier (database name, username, and password) and set up the admin account.
3. Complete the Setup: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.

Step 7: Configure Firewall Settings

Ensure that your firewall settings allow access to the Apache server:

1. Open Windows Defender Firewall: Go to "Control Panel" > "System and Security" > "Windows Defender Firewall."
2. Allow Apache Through Firewall: Create a new rule to allow incoming connections on port 80 (or the port you specified in your Apache configuration).

Step 8: Install OwnCloud Desktop Client (Optional)

If you want to sync files between your local machine and the OwnCloud server, you can install the OwnCloud desktop client:

1. Download the Client: Go to the OwnCloud desktop client download page and download the client for Windows.
2. Install the Client: Follow the installation instructions to install the client.
3. Configure the Client: Launch the client and follow the connection wizard to connect to your OwnCloud server.

By following these steps, you can successfully install and configure OwnCloud on your Windows system using WSL, providing you with a robust and secure cloud storage solution.