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Cloud based storage options for PowerPC

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The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.
G

G4fanboy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 9, 2013
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Andalucia Spain
What options do we have? This post didn't helped https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/cloud-and-sync-options-for-ppc.1959848/

Found some articles on a quick google search

https://www.thebalance.com/free-cloud-storage-1356638

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2932962/cloud-storage/19-free-cloud-storage-options.html

http://www.1mtb.com/top-10-best-free-online-cloud-storage-services/

http://www.backupreview.com/best-free-cloud-storage/

https://www.cloudwards.net/the-top-5-cloud-companies-with-large-free-service-plans/


So we can discard those not working via client and those not working via web browsers. Also it is important to notice all those that have free user account

PS: This is made as a wiki, for others to edit.

PPS: Found https://macpowerpc.com/2012/06/02/cloud-for-mac-powerpc-online-storage/

PPPS: Found This on our F.A.Q.
What Cloud services have clients that will run on my powerpc mac?

1) Dropbox - 10.4+
2) Sugarsync - you have to use version 1.9.42 for powerpc 10.4+.
3) CXSync - 10.5 only,using a legacy version.
4) Spideroak - from my searches I've found that there is an old version that works on 10.4+ powerpcs, but I mailed them.
 
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To deal with some uploads limits using free accounts is not a trouble for me. Big files would be "sliced up".

From your post it Beavix said that :

If you're looking for a cloud storage service easily accessible from any Mac, try Box.com. It allows WebDAV access which works all the way down to Mac OS 9 (using Goliath) and possibly below that.

Also, Adrive it is used by Mac OS 9 Lives! forum, so it should be compatible all the way down to Mac OS 9 too.

I am trying to backup a 40 Gb drive using Leopard and 10 free accounts on every free service we found to be Leo. Maybe with Automator or AppleScripts and TFF/TFB/Safari we can get even Terabytes using these guides:

http://www.1mtb.com/how-to-get-36-tb-free-cloud-storage-from-qihoo-360-yunpan-cloud-drive/

http://www.1mtb.com/how-to-get-10-tb-free-online-cloud-storage-from-tencent-weiyun/
 
Why not back up to a sparse disk image and then just upload the disk image to one cloud service?

I access one of these via file sharing from the MacPro at work (which can run the Box desktop app).
 
Does it have to be an applicaton? Many web-based cloud storage services will work in TenFourFox, like OneDrive, Google Drive, and I think even iCloud Drive. Plus many more, I'm sure.
 
G4fanboy said:
What options do we have? This post didn't helped https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/cloud-and-sync-options-for-ppc.1959848/
Click to expand...
What are you looking for?
- there's (still) Dropbox for automatic synchronization; that SugarSync unfortunately didn't work for me...
- there are browser based solutions (best with TFFBox)
- there's WebDAV which is kind of an universal solution from macOS9, OS X, Win2k and later
- and home-based server solutions

webDAV finally will be the last Cloud standing...
 
HFTaylor12 said:
I think he's talking about the web-based version that can be accessed through a web browser. Also, you can foxbox Google Drive and then you have a pretty good app.
Click to expand...

Done that. Using FoxBox I could create new Gmail accounts (Is there any limit of accounts for an individual?) and upload files to Google Drive. There is a 15Gb free for every Gmail account using its Google Drive. This thread/wiki is about all free cloud storage options working for Leopard or Mac OS 9.

Most of the apps that do the automatic sync are Intel only, but you can upload the files using a FoxBox / Safari / Classilla. So, let's list all of them that works.
[doublepost=1479215248][/doublepost]Sugarsync and SpiderOak doesn't have a free account...AFAIK
 
barracuda156 said:
What is the status in 2023?
Click to expand...
If anything, the status is worse. Any hacked support there was for Dropbox has long since died. Maybe Google still has browser support but I moved on from PowerPC Macs in 2020 so I wouldn't know.

I cannot imagine that any of these services would suddenly turn around and start supporting Macs they stopped supporting years ago.

Get a Mac or PC that supports the service you want natively. Share the folder you use for that computer. Connect to it with your PowerPC Mac(s) and access files that way.
 
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Bear in mind that if you're Tiger or earlier OS X, sharing over SMB may be finicky and might require Terminal assistance to work at all, at least from my experience. OS 8/9 can get around with DAVE, and Leopard doesn't have these SMB issues (I think it may have to do with SMB2 support in Leopard's Finder which afaik Tiger and before lack).

AFP, of course, has no issues.

I can share my scriptlet to do manual mounting if you end up struggling with it.
 
barracuda156 said:
What is the status in 2023?
Click to expand...
At home you may connect to a more capable machine via FileSharing (AFP/SMP/(S)FTP) to gain access to any Cloud-Service.
You may connect to webDAV directly, either running on a local own webDAV-server or any Cloud-services, that allow webDAV-access.
On the go you may get connected to Cloud-space through an iPhone, direct Wifi-connection and any App, that supports FTP/AFP/SMB connectivity, e.g. GMX, MagentaCloud, #21 etc. ... (more suggestions welcome)
 
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USB stick in my router that has a USB port.

If your main internet router doesn't have a USB port (or it doesn't work because it's not meant for mass media), you can get one just for that purpose, and set it to bridging mode so it gets its internet from your main router, and your main router also works as the gatekeeper so you're not actually using a possibly outdated router directly to access the internet. That router with the USB port can be connected to your computer either with ethernet, or it can have its own WiFi network, via which you can then log in to the USB memory medium using SMB.

The good thing is that your data is never in the internet, but because it is a router, be aware of the security of your overall setup, and make a conscious decision about how sensitive data you're willing to store on a USB stick in your router.
I mainly use mine for quick file exchanges between my computers because the transfer is super fast compared to the USB 1 ports on my old Macs, which takes ages. Also, exchanging the files that way spares you from having to plug and unplug stuff, and run to and fro between the computers.

While I mostly use it for exchange, I am storing some files there too, but mostly because that data isn't sensitive, and because they're something I need to access or edit every once in a while. Stuff such as guides and instructions, technical or creative stuff, stuff that's completely useless for committing identity theft or blackmailing.
I do back up the stored files elsewhere sometimes so they're never just on that USB stick, although it's been working for many years and I haven't had any odd behavior with it so far. It just works very well.

I'm successfully using this system between a macOS, a PPC Mac running 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard), as well as a PPC Mac running Mac OS 9, and it's all nice and seamless. I can't say anything about compatibility for systems older than Mac OS 9, or if current Macs continue to play nice with SMB, but I think it's a pretty impressive range of generations to be able to share the same technology nevertheless. Windows and Linux machines should also be able to access it because the protocol has nothing to do with Macs, but I can't test or provide any guidance on those.

Core points: turning a router into your personal file exchange/storage cloud
  • The USB port on the router must support mass media, so one just for printers probably won't work.
  • The USB port most likely will not provide power, so USB hard drives probably won't work, but flash memory (such as a USB stick) will.
  • The USB stick must be formatted to FAT, unless the router manufacturer states otherwise. (take note of size limitations for FAT format)
  • The storage media is most likely configured in the router's admin panel, and you should give a (separate) password to the mass media, as well as to the WiFi network there. Once configured, you should find the storage medium's assigned SMB address from the router's admin panel as well, so you know where to connect.
  • On Mac OS X and macOS, SMB login is built into Finder, and is found in the menu Go > Connect to server...
  • On Mac OS 9, you need software called Dave to access SMB. As in later Mac OS, you get to browse the media just like you would do with any internal drive or folder.
This method isn't exactly the same thing as cloud services online, which is why I didn't edit the Wiki post to add this. Feel free to do so though, if you feel like this option constitutes as such. I suppose it depends what purpose people are looking for the storage for: to actually have completely external storage so they don't have to own the hardware, and potentially share files with people who aren't in your home network, or, to have a cloud just so you can exchange files between your own computers without having to run around plugging storage devices in and out, and waiting for the slow file transfers. This option is quite perfect for the latter.

I know there's ways to use things like network disks, old Mac Minis (or even Apple TVs!?) as your home servers, but I haven't explored that route. They draw power constantly, which costs, generates heat, and possibly sound, and you'll have to watch the hardware as it ages.
 
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Riku7 said:
USB stick in my router that has a USB port.

If your main internet router doesn't have a USB port (or it doesn't work because it's not meant for mass media), you can get one just for that purpose, and set it to bridging mode so it gets its internet from your main router, and your main router also works as the gatekeeper so you're not actually using a possibly outdated router directly to access the internet. That router with the USB port can be connected to your computer either with ethernet, or it can have its own WiFi network, via which you can then log in to the USB memory medium using SMB.

The good thing is that your data is never in the internet, but because it is a router, be aware of the security of your overall setup, and make a conscious decision about how sensitive data you're willing to store on a USB stick in your router.
I mainly use mine for quick file exchanges between my computers because the transfer is super fast compared to the USB 1 ports on my old Macs, which takes ages. Also, exchanging the files that way spares you from having to plug and unplug stuff, and run to and fro between the computers.

While I mostly use it for exchange, I am storing some files there too, but mostly because that data isn't sensitive, and because they're something I need to access or edit every once in a while. Stuff such as guides and instructions, technical or creative stuff, stuff that's completely useless for committing identity theft or blackmailing.
I do back up the stored files elsewhere sometimes so they're never just on that USB stick, although it's been working for many years and I haven't had any odd behavior with it so far. It just works very well.

I'm successfully using this system between a macOS, a PPC Mac running 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard), as well as a PPC Mac running Mac OS 9, and it's all nice and seamless. I can't say anything about compatibility for systems older than Mac OS 9, or if current Macs continue to play nice with SMB, but I think it's a pretty impressive range of generations to be able to share the same technology nevertheless. Windows and Linux machines should also be able to access it because the protocol has nothing to do with Macs, but I can't test or provide any guidance on those.

Core points: turning a router into your personal file exchange/storage cloud
  • The USB port on the router must support mass media, so one just for printers probably won't work.
  • The USB port most likely will not provide power, so USB hard drives probably won't work, but flash memory (such as a USB stick) will.
  • The USB stick must be formatted to FAT, unless the router manufacturer states otherwise. (take note of size limitations for FAT format)
  • The storage media is most likely configured in the router's admin panel, and you should give a (separate) password to the mass media, as well as to the WiFi network there. Once configured, you should find the storage medium's assigned SMB address from the router's admin panel as well, so you know where to connect.
  • On Mac OS X and macOS, SMB login is built into Finder, and is found in the menu Go > Connect to server...
  • On Mac OS 9, you need software called Dave to access SMB. As in later Mac OS, you get to browse the media just like you would do with any internal drive or folder.
This method isn't exactly the same thing as cloud services online, which is why I didn't edit the Wiki post to add this. Feel free to do so though, if you feel like this option constitutes as such. I suppose it depends what purpose people are looking for the storage for: to actually have completely external storage so they don't have to own the hardware, and potentially share files with people who aren't in your home network, or, to have a cloud just so you can exchange files between your own computers without having to run around plugging storage devices in and out, and waiting for the slow file transfers. This option is quite perfect for the latter.

I know there's ways to use things like network disks, old Mac Minis (or even Apple TVs!?) as your home servers, but I haven't explored that route. They draw power constantly, which costs, generates heat, and possibly sound, and you'll have to watch the hardware as it ages.
Click to expand...
If you're going to do something like this, why not just use a NAS? I have three and they all support AFP directly. Nothing I have uses anything less than Tiger so, access is fine for all my Macs/PCs.

I get the idea that you're just trying to facilitate transfers between computers on your network, but I've always felt that all my Macs/PCs should be able to access everything I share via either AFP or SMB (I hate FTP for file sharing).
 
eyoungren said:
If you're going to do something like this, why not just use a NAS?
Click to expand...
Because the price and maintenance are in a whole different order of magnitude. And if they're unique files, you can add backup storage media on top of that price.
The USB stick there now is just 16 gigabytes, which is plenty for sharing files.

eyoungren said:
(I hate FTP for file sharing)
Click to expand...
Why's that? I don't think I've used AFP or FTP, at least not by setting them up for myself.
 
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