Best cloud storage services with CLI for 4MLinux: (Guide)

Introduction

Linux enthusiasts and sysadmins often seek a reliable, scriptable way to back up and access data in the cloud. For lightweight distributions such as
4MLinux, command‐line interfaces (CLI) are especially appealing because they impose minimal overhead. This article examines top cloud‐storage providers
offering native or well‐supported CLI tools, compares their features, and shows how to install and use each on 4MLinux. We cover pCloud, MEGA, Proton Drive,
Filen, Tresorit, Icedrive, plus two extra options (Dropbox and Backblaze B2), complete with links, code examples, and troubleshooting tips.

Top Cloud Storage Solutions with CLI Support

• pCloud – strong free tier, optional client‐side encryption (pCloud Crypto), FUSE mount.
• MEGA – end-to-end encryption, generous free storage, rich CLI via MEGA-CMD.
• Proton Drive – privacy-focused, end-to-end encryption, unofficial Proton Drive CLI.
• Filen – unlimited freeware tier, client-side encryption, Python-based CLI.
• Tresorit – enterprise-grade encryption, paid only, Node-based CLI.
• Icedrive – modern UI, twofish encryption, official CLI and FUSE driver.
• Dropbox – well-known, basic CLI support via Dropbox daemon.
• Backblaze B2 – S3-compatible, metered pay-as-you-go, official b2 CLI.

Comparison Table

How to Use Each Cloud Storage with CLI on 4MLinux

1. pCloud (pcloudcc)

Installation and mounting with FUSE:

# Install dependencies (FUSE, wget, unzip)
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install fuse libfuse2 wget unzip

# Fetch and install pcloudcc binary
wget https://downloads.pcloud.com/cli/pcloudcc.zip
unzip pcloudcc.zip
sudo mv pcloudcc /usr/local/bin/
sudo chmod  x /usr/local/bin/pcloudcc

# Authenticate and mount
pcloudcc -u you@example.com -p YOUR_PASSWORD --mountpoint ~/pcloud
  

Example backup command:

rsync -av --progress ~/Documents ~/pcloud/Backup
  

Common issues: FUSE kernel module not loaded stale config in ~/.config/pcloudcc – delete and re-login.

2. MEGA (MEGA-CMD)

Installation and basic sync:

# Add MEGA repository and install
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 0xA6B31C57
echo deb http://mega.nz/linux/repo/debian/ buster main  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mega.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mega-cmd

# Login and start shell
mega-login you@provider.com YOUR_PASSWORD
mega-cmd

# From within the MEGA shell:
mega-sync ~/local_folder /Root/remote_folder
  

Common issues: rate limiting if too many parallel transfers incorrect remote path syntax.

3. Proton Drive (proton-drive-cli)

Python-based CLI (unofficial, community-maintained):

# Ensure pip and Python3 present
sudo apt-get install python3-pip

# Install the CLI
pip3 install --user proton-drive-cli

# Login
~/.local/bin/proton-drive-cli login

# Upload a file
~/.local/bin/proton-drive-cli upload /path/to/file.txt
  

Common issues: OAuth 2.0 errors – ensure browser login completes token refresh failures.

4. Filen (filencli)

Official Python CLI:

# Install
pip3 install --user filencli

# Configure
~/.local/bin/filencli login

# Sync local to remote
~/.local/bin/filencli sync ~/backup filen:/Backup
  

Common issues: stale session tokens – use filencli logout then re-login.

5. Tresorit (tresorit-cli)

Node.js-based CLI:

# Install Node.js if missing
sudo apt-get install nodejs npm

# Install tresorit-cli
npm install -g tresorit-cli

# Login
tresorit-cli login

# Sync a folder
tresorit-cli sync ~/Project tresor://MyTresor
  

Common issues: long auth flow – generate token via tresorit-cli token if login hangs.

6. Icedrive (icedrive-cli)

Official CLI and FUSE integration:

# Download binary
wget https://download.icedrive.net/linux/icedrive-cli-linux.zip
unzip icedrive-cli-linux.zip
sudo mv icedrive /usr/local/bin/

# Login  mount
icedrive login you@domain.com YOUR_PASSWORD
icedrive mount ~/icedrive
  

Common issues: FUSE mount failures if /etc/fuse.conf disallows user mounts add your user to fuse group.

7. Dropbox (dropbox.py)

Official Dropbox daemon Python script:

# Install
sudo apt-get install python3-gpg dropbox

# Start and link account
dropbox start -i

# Check status
dropbox status

# Use CLI commands
dropbox filestatus ~/Dropbox/somefile
  

Common issues: headless install – copy/paste OAuth link to activate missing python3-gpg.

8. Backblaze B2 (b2 CLI)

Official SDK and CLI:

# Install
pip3 install --user b2sdk

# Authorize
~/.local/bin/b2 authorize-account YOUR_KEY_ID YOUR_APP_KEY

# Sync
~/.local/bin/b2 sync ~/local_folder b2://my-bucket
  

Common issues: bucket permissions clock skew errors – ensure system time is correct.

Typical Problems and Troubleshooting

• Permissions and FUSE: Always verify /etc/fuse.conf and user group memberships.
• Stale Credentials: Remove or reset hidden folders (~/.config/…, ~/.dropbox).
• Rate Limits: Avoid excessive parallel transfers introduce --max-connections flags.
• Dependency Conflicts: Use virtual environments for Python CLIs or containerize with Docker.
• Time Sync: Cloud services reject requests if local clock drifts run ntpdate regularly.

Which One to Choose?

• For maximum free storage: MEGA (20 GB) or Filen (unlimited).
• For strict privacy: Tresorit or Proton Drive (E2EE by default).
• For enterprise or team collaboration: Dropbox or Tresorit.
• For cost-effective archival: Backblaze B2 pay-as-you-go.
• For seamless mounts with minimal deps: pCloud or Icedrive.

Conclusion

4MLinux users can leverage powerful CLI tools to integrate cloud storage into scripts and backups without the overhead of full GUI clients. Each provider
has strengths—free storage, encryption, pricing—and its own CLI quirks. By following the installation and troubleshooting tips above, you can pick
the solution that best fits your workflow and ensure reliable, automated cloud synchronization on your Linux system.