Best cloud storage services with CLI for Gentoo Linux: (Tutorial)

Introduction

Choosing the right cloud storage provider with a reliable command-line interface (CLI) is critical for Gentoo Linux users who value performance, security, and flexibility. This article explores the top options—including pCloud, MEGA, Proton Drive, Filen, Tresorit, Icedrive, and a few additional picks—providing a comprehensive comparison, installation and usage guide for each, and troubleshooting tips for common issues.

Top Recommendations for Gentoo Linux

pCloud – Excellent performance, native encryption (pCloud Crypto), and a well-maintained official CLI.
MEGA – Generous free tier (20 GB), end-to-end encryption, and an actively developed CLI client.
Proton Drive – Privacy-first approach with zero-knowledge encryption CLI in beta but improving.
Filen – European-hosted, strong privacy claims, official CLI available.
Tresorit – Enterprise-grade security, zero-knowledge, CLI tailored for power users.
Icedrive – Modern interface, Twofish encryption, official CLI client.
Dropbox – Mature ecosystem, unofficial community CLI clients, wide integration support.
Nextcloud – Self-hosted option, fully open-source, nextcloud-client ebuild on Gentoo.

Comparison Table

Service	Free Tier	Encryption	Official CLI	Gentoo Package
pCloud	10 GB (expandable to 20 GB)	Client-side (pCloud Crypto)	Yes (`pcloudcc`)	net-p2p/pcloudcc
MEGA	20 GB	End-to-end	Yes (`megacmd`)	net-misc/megacmd
Proton Drive	1 GB	Zero-knowledge	Beta (`proton-cli`)	custom overlay
Filen	10 GB	Zero-knowledge	Yes (`filen-cli`)	custom overlay
Tresorit	3 GB	Zero-knowledge	Yes (`tresorit-cli`)	community overlay
Icedrive	10 GB	Twofish client-side	Yes (`icedrive-cli`)	custom overlay
Dropbox	2 GB	In-transit amp at rest	No (community clients)	net-libs/libdropbox, net-fs/dropbox
Nextcloud	Self-hosted	Server-side or end-to-end	Yes (`nextcloudcmd`)	net-misc/nextcloud-client

Which One to Choose?

Select based on your priorities:

Security amp Privacy: Proton Drive, Tresorit, Filen, Icedrive or pCloud Crypto if zero-knowledge is key.
Generous Free Storage: MEGA or pCloud.
Self-Hosting: Nextcloud for full control.
Enterprise Use: Tresorit or Proton Drive with business plans.
Community amp Integration: Dropbox with wide third-party support via rclone or community CLI tools.

Installing amp Using Each CLI on Gentoo

pCloud CLI

Gentoo ebuild available via net-p2p/pcloudcc:

emerge --ask net-p2p/pcloudcc

Usage example:

pcloudcc --mountpoint ~/pcloud 
pcloudcc --login your@email.com --password YourPassword

MEGA CMD

Install from portage:

emerge --ask net-misc/megacmd

Basic sync:

mega-login you@domain.com
mega-sync ~/local_folder /RemoteFolder

Proton Drive CLI (Beta)

No official ebuild yet use a custom overlay or download binary:

# Clone overlay
layman -a protoncli
emerge --ask app-admin/proton-cli

proton login
proton upload myfile.txt /

Filen CLI

Install via custom overlay:

layman -a filen
emerge --ask net-fs/filen-cli

Usage:

filen-cli login
filen-cli upload ~/doc.pdf /Documents

Tresorit CLI

Community overlay required:

layman -a tresorit
emerge --ask net-misc/tresorit-cli

Example:

tresorit login
tresorit sync ~/TresorLocal /TresorRemote

Icedrive CLI

Install from custom overlay:

layman -a icedrive
emerge --ask net-misc/icedrive-cli

Mount or transfer:

icedrive-cli mount ~/Icedrive
icedrive-cli upload myphoto.jpg /Pictures

Dropbox CLI

Use dropbox Python script or community packages:

emerge --ask net-fs/dropbox
dropbox start -i

Or use Dropbox-Uploader for advanced scripts.

Nextcloud CLI

Official client via portage:

emerge --ask net-misc/nextcloud-client

Sync a folder:

nextcloudcmd ~/LocalSync https://your.nextcloud.server/remote.php/webdav

Typical Problems amp Troubleshooting

Authentication Failures: Double-check email/password, 2FA settings, and token validity.
Mount Point Issues: Ensure FUSE is installed (sys-fs/fuse) and user in fuse group.
Permission Denied: Correct file system permissions or run CLI with --allow-root if necessary (not recommended).
Sync Conflicts: Use conflict-resolution flags (e.g., --sync-check or --auto-resolve where supported).
Network Timeouts: Increase timeout parameters or use a stable connection proxy settings may be needed.
Overlay Maintenance: Keep custom overlays updated with layman -S or eselect repository update.

Conclusion

For Gentoo Linux, selecting a cloud storage provider with robust CLI support comes down to balancing storage quotas, encryption needs, and integration ease. pCloud and MEGA offer mature, well-packaged solutions, while Proton Drive, Tresorit, Filen, and Icedrive appeal to privacy-centric users. Self-hosting with Nextcloud delivers maximum control. Evaluate your workflow, storage requirements, and security standards to make the best choice.