Hardware Requirements

Cloud storage services often charge monthly fees and keep your data on servers you don’t control. As one speaker put it, “Are you tired of running out of storage in the cloud and then having to pay a monthly fee just to keep accessing your own files?” The solution presented here is a DIY private cloud built from a Raspberry Pi 5, Nextcloud, and Tailscale. This combination eliminates subscriptions, gives you full ownership of your files, and lets you access the storage from any device as if it were a local drive.

Hardware Requirements

To create the private cloud you’ll need the following components:

• Raspberry Pi 5 – the 4 GB model is recommended.
• Active cooling fan – ensures optimal performance under load.
• Micro SD card – used only for the initial operating system installation.
• M.2 NVMe SSD – serves as the primary storage volume.
• Pi 5 NVMe hat – connects the SSD to the Pi.
• 27 W USB‑C power supply – provides reliable power.
• Bumper case (optional) for protection, or the integrated Argon Neo5 case that includes fan and NVMe slot.

Assembling the Hardware

Start by attaching the cooling fan to the Pi’s plastic pins. Mount the NVMe hat on the board using standoffs and screws, then connect the ribbon cable. Slide the NVMe SSD into the hat and secure it with the provided screw. If you prefer a protective enclosure, install the bumper case or the Argon Neo5 case at this stage.

Imaging the Raspberry Pi OS

Download the Raspberry Pi Imager, select the Raspberry Pi 5 target, and choose the latest 64‑bit OS. Configure the following settings before writing the image to the micro SD card:

• Hostname (e.g., PCloud)
• Capital city and time zone
• Username and a secure password
• Enable SSH for remote access

Write the image, then insert the SD card into the Pi and power it on.

Initial Boot and SSH Connection

After the Pi boots, connect from another computer using SSH:

ssh [email protected]

Once logged in, run the command that adjusts the memory setting for Nextcloud compatibility.

Cloning to NVMe and Boot Configuration

Install Jeff Gearling’s rpi-clone tool and execute:

sudo rpi-clone nvme0n1

This copies the entire system from the SD card to the NVMe SSD. Next, change the boot order with raspi-config: go to Advanced Options → Boot Order → Prefer NVMe. Remove the SD card, reboot, and reconnect via SSH to confirm the Pi now boots from the NVMe drive.

Installing Nextcloud

Nextcloud is installed via Snap, which isolates the application and handles dependencies automatically:

sudo apt install snapd -y
sudo snap install nextcloud
sudo snap services   # verify the service is running

Find the Pi’s IP address with ifconfig, then open a web browser and navigate to that address. Create an administrator account with a strong password and wait for the initialization to finish.

Setting Up Tailscale

Download the Linux Tailscale client on the Pi, paste the installation command from the Tailscale website, and run:

sudo tailscale up

Authenticate using the provided link (e.g., via GitHub). The Pi will appear in your Tailscale console, giving it a stable .ts.net DNS name.

Integrating Nextcloud and Tailscale

Run the integration commands supplied in the guide, replacing the placeholder with the actual Tailscale DNS name shown in the dashboard. This bridges Nextcloud to the private Tailscale network, allowing secure remote access without exposing ports to the public internet.

Client Device Setup and Syncing

On a Mac (or any other device), install the Tailscale application, sign in, and connect. Then install the Nextcloud client—choose the “virtual files” option for macOS. Log in using the Pi’s Tailscale address (e.g., pcloud.ts.net). The Nextcloud client mounts the remote storage as a local drive, so you can open, edit, upload, or delete files directly from Finder.

A quick demonstration: upload a file from the Mac to Nextcloud, then open the Nextcloud app on a phone that also runs Tailscale. The file appears instantly, confirming that changes sync across all devices.

Benefits of Owning Your Data

The setup delivers the convenience of commercial cloud services while keeping your data under your control. As one user exclaimed, “The best part is with this setup, you can access your files anywhere you go with zero subscriptions.” Another summed it up: “It feels good to actually own my data with no subscriptions and still have all the cloud storage functionality.” By combining a low‑cost single‑board computer, open‑source software, and a modern VPN, you get a fully functional private cloud without ongoing fees.