Best cloud storage services with CLI for Debian Edu/Skolelinux: (Tutorial)

Introduction

Debian Edu/Skolelinux environments demand reliable, secure and easy-to-manage cloud storage solutions with solid Command-Line Interface (CLI) support. Whether you need to backup student data, share coursework or integrate storage into scripts, a robust CLI tool is essential.

Top Recommended Cloud Storage Providers with CLI for Debian Edu/Skolelinux

Comparison Table

Provider	Free Tier	Storage	Encryption	CLI Tool	Link
pCloud	10 GB	Up to 2 TB (paid)	Client-side (optional)	pcloudcc	pcloud.com
MEGA	20 GB	Up to 16 TB	End-to-end	megacmd	mega.nz
Proton Drive	1 GB	Up to 500 GB	End-to-end	proton-drive-cli	proton.me/drive
Filen	10 GB	Up to 2 TB	End-to-end	filen-cli	filen.io
Tresorit	3 GB	Up to 2 TB	Zero-knowledge	t3 CLI	tresorit.com
Icedrive	10 GB	Up to 1 TB	Client-side	icedrive-cli	icedrive.net
Google Drive	15 GB	Shared with Gmail	TLS in transit	rclone	google.com/drive
Dropbox	2 GB	Up to 3 TB	TLS AES-256	dropbox-uploader	dropbox.com
Amazon S3	5 GB (free tier)	Unlimited	Server-side TLS	AWS CLI	aws.amazon.com/s3
Backblaze B2	10 GB	Unlimited	TLS optional client	rclone or b2 CLI	backblaze.com/b2

Which One to Choose?

Small classrooms / budget-cropped courses: MEGA or pCloud provide generous free tiers and easy setup.
Privacy-focused schools: Proton Drive, Tresorit or Filen for end-to-end / zero-knowledge security.
Scripting automation: AWS S3 or Backblaze B2 via rclone/AWS CLI for robust API and large-scale usage.
Google-integrated curricula: Google Drive via rclone.
Lightweight local mount: Icedrive’s WebDAV or pCloud’s FUSE support.

How to Use Each with CLI

1. pCloud (pcloudcc)

# Install
sudo apt install pcloudcc
# Authenticate
pcloudcc -u your-email@example.com -p your-password
# Mount remote folder
mkdir ~/pcloud
pcloudcc -r -m ~/pcloud
# List files
ls ~/pcloud

2. MEGA (megacmd)

# Download  install
sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd
sudo snap install mega-cmd
# Login
mega-login your-email@example.com your-password
# Upload file
mega-put localfile.txt /Root/Backup/
# Download file
mega-get /Root/Backup/localfile.txt ~/Downloads/

3. Proton Drive (proton-drive-cli)

# Prerequisite: Python3  pip
pip3 install proton-drive-cli
# Login
proton-drive login
# List items
proton-drive ls
# Upload a file
proton-drive upload mydoc.pdf /Drive/

4. Filen (filen-cli)

# Install via pip
pip3 install filen-cli
# Authenticate
filen login
# Sync local folder
filen sync up ~/ClassNotes /filen/ClassNotes
# Download folder
filen sync down /filen/ClassNotes ~/ClassNotes

5. Tresorit (t3 CLI)

# Download from Tresorit website, unpack and move binary
# Example: t3-linux.tar.gz -> /usr/local/bin/t3
t3 login
# List tresors
t3 list
# Download a tresor
t3 sync my-tresor ~/Tresorit

6. Icedrive (icedrive-cli)

# Download icedrive-cli from official site and unpack
./icedrive login
# Mount via FUSE
mkdir ~/icedrive
./icedrive mount ~/icedrive
# Unmount
fusermount -u ~/icedrive

7. Google Drive (rclone)

# Install rclone
sudo apt install rclone
# Configure remote
rclone config
# Choose drive, follow auth URL
# List files
rclone ls gdrive:
# Sync folder
rclone sync ~/Work gdrive:School/Work

8. Dropbox (dropbox-uploader)

# Install dependencies
sudo apt install curl git
git clone https://github.com/andreafabrizi/Dropbox-Uploader.git
cd Dropbox-Uploader
chmod  x dropbox_uploader.sh
# First run for token
./dropbox_uploader.sh
# Upload
./dropbox_uploader.sh upload homework.docx /

9. Amazon S3 (AWS CLI)

sudo apt install awscli
aws configure            # Add Access Key, Secret, region
# List buckets
aws s3 ls
# Sync directory
aws s3 sync ~/Data s3://my-edu-bucket/Data

10. Backblaze B2 (rclone)

# Use rclone
sudo apt install rclone
rclone config            # Choose b2
# Sync up
rclone sync ~/Backups b2:edu-backups

Typical Problems and Troubleshooting

Authentication failures: Ensure correct credentials and 2FA tokens. Use recent CLI versions.
Mount errors: Check FUSE support: sudo modprobe fuse and ensure your user is in fuse group.
Permission denied: Verify local folder ownership and chmod accordingly.
Network timeouts: Increase timeouts or use smaller batch uploads, e.g. rclone --timeout=1m sync ….
Rate limits: Some providers throttle heavy scripts. Introduce --bwlimit or pauses between calls.
Missing dependencies: Consult each provider’s README and install curl, python3, fuse, etc.

Conclusion

Choosing the right cloud storage with CLI for Debian Edu/Skolelinux depends on your priorities—whether it’s zero-knowledge encryption, generous free storage, integration with existing services or enterprise-grade scripting. The solutions listed here cover a wide spectrum, ensuring that every educational environment can find a match for secure, automated and scalable cloud file management.