Setting up your own free cloud server with features like voice and video calls, file sharing, and screen sharing is possible using Nextcloud. Nextcloud is an open-source platform that offers cloud storage and collaboration tools, making it an ideal choice for both office and home environments. Here’s an overview of how you can set it up:

1. What is Nextcloud?

Nextcloud is a self-hosted cloud platform that allows you to store files, share documents, and collaborate with others. It includes apps for productivity, communication, and team collaboration. Some of the key features include:

– File storage and sharing
– Collaboration tools (calendars, tasks, document editing)
– Communication tools (video and voice calls, chat)
– Screen sharing for meetings and remote support
– End-to-end encryption and strong security controls

2. Core Features for Office or Home Use

– File Sharing: Store your files securely and share them with your team or family members. You can set permissions and use password-protected links for sensitive documents.
– Voice and Video Calling: With the Nextcloud Talk app, you can host voice and video calls directly from your Nextcloud instance, eliminating the need for third-party services.
– Screen Sharing: Perfect for online meetings or remote support, you can share your screen with others during video calls using Nextcloud Talk.
– Collaborative Editing: You can edit documents collaboratively using integrated apps like OnlyOffice or Collabora Online.

3. How to Set It Up

Step 1: Choose Your Hosting Environment

– Self-hosted: You can set up Nextcloud on your own hardware, such as a server at home or in the office. This gives you full control but requires some technical know-how.
– Cloud VPS: If you prefer a managed solution, you can rent a VPS from providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, or Hetzner. Install Nextcloud on the VPS to make it accessible from anywhere.

Step 2: Install Nextcloud

– Linux Installation: Install Nextcloud on a Linux server (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, etc.). Follow the official installation guide, which includes setting up a web server (Apache or Nginx), database (MySQL or MariaDB), and securing it with HTTPS.
– Docker Installation: If you prefer containerized environments, you can use Docker to install and manage your Nextcloud instance.

Step 3: Configure Nextcloud

– Install Apps: After the basic installation, you can enhance Nextcloud by installing additional apps. For voice and video calls, install the Nextcloud Talk app. For document editing, install OnlyOffice or Collabora Online.
– Security Settings: Configure your security settings, including enabling SSL/TLS for encrypted connections, setting up a firewall, and using strong passwords.

Step 4: Set Up Communication Tools

– Nextcloud Talk: This app allows you to set up voice and video calls as well as screen sharing. You can create chat rooms, invite participants, and start video conferences directly within the Nextcloud interface. For additional functionality like STUN/TURN servers to improve connection reliability, you may need to configure a dedicated server.

Step 5: Customize for Office or Home

For Office Use: Set up group folders for department-specific file sharing, integrate calendars for scheduling, and use Nextcloud Talk for remote meetings and collaboration.
– For Home Use: Use Nextcloud to store family photos, share important documents, and stay connected with voice and video calls.

4. Why Choose Nextcloud?

– Free and Open Source: Nextcloud is free to use, with no licensing fees, and you can customize it according to your needs.
– Data Privacy: By hosting your own cloud, you retain full control over your data and privacy, unlike with third-party services.
– Extensibility: Nextcloud has a large app ecosystem that lets you add features like email integration, project management, password management, and more.

5. Conclusion

Nextcloud provides a powerful platform to create your own cloud service for both personal and business use. Whether you’re looking for a secure file sharing solution, a collaboration tool for your team, or a way to keep your family connected, Nextcloud can meet your needs.
By leveraging the built-in apps like Nextcloud Talk, OnlyOffice, and more, you can create a comprehensive communication and file-sharing platform that rivals commercial services, all while maintaining complete control over your data.

Step 1: Prepare Proxmox Nodes

1. Update and Upgrade Proxmox VE on all nodes:

apt update && apt full-upgrade -y

2. Ensure that all nodes have the same version of Proxmox VE:

pveversion

Step 2: Set Up the Proxmox Cluster

1. Create a new cluster on the first node:
   • pvecm create my-cluster
2. Add the other nodes to the cluster:
   • pvecm add <IP_of_first_node>
3. Verify the cluster status:
   • pvecm status

Step 3: Install Ceph on Proxmox Nodes

1. Install Ceph packages on all nodes:

install ceph ceph-mgr -y

Step 4: Create the Ceph Cluster

1. Initialize the Ceph cluster on the first node:
   • pveceph init --network <cluster_network>
2. Create the manager daemon on the first node:
   • pveceph createmgr

Step 5: Add OSDs (Object Storage Daemons)

1. Prepare disks on each node for Ceph OSDs:
   • pveceph createosd /dev/sdX
2. Repeat the process for each node and disk.

Step 6: Create Ceph Pools

1. Create a Ceph pool for VM storage:
   • pveceph pool create mypool 128

Step 7: Configure Proxmox to Use Ceph Storage

1. Add the Ceph storage to Proxmox:
   • Navigate to Datacenter > Storage > Add > RBD.
   • Enter the required details like ID, Pool, and Monitor hosts.
   • Save the configuration.

Step 8: Enable HA (High Availability)

1. Configure HA on Proxmox:
   • Navigate to Datacenter > HA.
   • Add resources (VMs or containers) to the HA manager.
   • Configure the HA policy and set desired node priorities.

Step 9: Testing High Availability

1. Simulate node failure: Power off one of the nodes and observe how the VMs or containers are automatically migrated to other nodes.

Step 10: Monitoring and Maintenance

1. Use the Proxmox and Ceph dashboards to monitor the health of your cluster.
2. Regularly update all nodes to ensure stability and security.

Optional: Additional Ceph Configuration

1. Add Ceph Monitors for redundancy:bashKodu kopyalapveceph createmon
2. Add more Ceph MDS (Metadata Servers) if using CephFS:bashKodu kopyalapveceph createmds
3. Tune Ceph settings for performance and reliability based on your specific needs.

By following these steps, you will have a robust Proxmox VE and Ceph high availability setup, ensuring that your VMs and containers remain highly available even in the event of hardware failures.

1. Downloading Free FortiGate VM

Fortinet offers a free version of FortiGate VM for various hypervisors including VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, and more. Follow these steps to download it:

1. Visit the Fortinet Support Portal:
   • Go to Fortinet Support.
   • Log in or create a new account if you don’t have one.
2. Download the FortiGate VM:
   • Navigate to the “Download” section.
   • Select “VM Images” and choose the appropriate hypervisor (e.g., VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, etc.).
   • Download the FortiGate VM package.

2. Deploying FortiGate VM on Your Hypervisor

The deployment process may vary slightly depending on your hypervisor. Below are steps for VMware ESXi:

1. Deploy OVF Template:
   • Open your VMware vSphere Client.
   • Right-click on your desired host or cluster and select “Deploy OVF Template.”
   • Follow the wizard, selecting the downloaded FortiGate VM OVF file.
   • Configure the VM settings (name, datastore, network mapping, etc.).
   • Finish the deployment process.
2. Power On the VM:
   • Once the deployment is complete, power on the FortiGate VM.

3. Initial Configuration

1. Access the FortiGate Console:
   • Use the vSphere Client to open the console of the FortiGate VM.
   • The initial login credentials are usually admin for the username and a blank password.
2. Set the Password:
   • You will be prompted to set a new password for the admin user.
3. Configure the Management Interface:
   • Assign an IP address to the management interface.
   • Example commands:

config system interface
edit port1
set ip 192.168.1.99/24
set allowaccess http https ping ssh
next
end

1. Access the Web Interface:
   • Open a web browser and navigate to https://<management-ip>.
   • Log in with the admin credentials.

4. Basic Setup via Web Interface

1. System Settings:
   • Navigate to System > Settings.
   • Set the hostname, time zone, and DNS servers.
2. Network Configuration:
   • Configure additional interfaces if needed under Network > Interfaces.
   • Create VLANs, set up DHCP, etc.
3. Security Policies:
   • Define security policies to control traffic flow under Policy & Objects > IPv4 Policy.
   • Set source and destination interfaces, addresses, and services.
4. Enable Features:
   • Enable and configure additional features like IPS, Antivirus, Web Filtering, etc., under Security Profiles.

5. Connecting to the Internet

1. WAN Interface Configuration:
   • Configure the WAN interface with the appropriate settings (static IP, DHCP, PPPoE, etc.).
2. Routing:
   • Set up a default route under Network > Static Routes pointing to the WAN gateway.
3. NAT Configuration:
   • Configure NAT settings under Policy & Objects > NAT.

6. Licensing

• The free version of FortiGate VM comes with limited features. For full functionality, you may need to purchase a license and activate it under System > FortiGuard.