Best cloud storage services with CLI for KNOPPIX: (Tutorial)

Introduction

Linux KNOPPIX is a versatile live distribution favored by system administrators, security professionals and enthusiasts for on-the-fly troubleshooting and portable environments. Integrating cloud storage via command-line interfaces (CLI) enhances KNOPPIX’s flexibility—allowing you to upload, download, sync and share files without a graphical desktop. This article examines the best cloud storage services offering robust CLI tools, provides a detailed comparison, guidance on selecting the right solution, step-by-step usage examples and common pitfalls to watch for.

Top Recommended Cloud Services with CLI Support

• pCloud
• MEGA
• Proton Drive
• Filen
• Tresorit
• Icedrive
• rclone (universal)
• Dropbox (via rclone)
• Amazon S3 (via AWS CLI or rclone)
• Google Cloud Storage (via gsutil or rclone)

Comparison Table

Service	Free Tier	Client-Side Encryption	Native CLI Tool	Link
pCloud	10 GB (can expand)	Optional (pCloud Crypto)	pcloudcc	pcloud.com
MEGA	20 GB	Yes (end-to-end)	megacmd	mega.nz
Proton Drive	1 GB	Yes (end-to-end)	proton-drive-cli	proton.me/drive
Filen	10 GB	Yes (zero-knowledge)	filen-cli	filen.io
Tresorit	3 GB	Yes (zero-knowledge)	tresorit-cli	tresorit.com
Icedrive	10 GB	Optional (Drive encrypted)	icedrive-cli	icedrive.net
rclone	Varies by backend	Supports client-side	rclone	rclone.org

Which Service Should You Choose?

• Security Privacy: MEGA, Proton Drive, Filen and Tresorit offer end-to-end encryption. If zero-knowledge is critical, pick one of these.
• Ease of Use: pCloud and MEGA have polished CLIs and generous free tiers.
• Integration Versatility: rclone supports dozens of providers—ideal for multi-cloud setups or advanced scripting.
• Enterprise Features: Tresorit and Filen include team-management, compliance and advanced sharing controls.
• Budget: Many services offer affordable paid plans pCloud’s lifetime option can be cost-effective for long-term use.

Using pCloud CLI on KNOPPIX

Installation

# Download and extract
wget https://www.pcloud.com/download-free-linux-cli-client.html -O pcloud.tar.gz
tar -xzf pcloud.tar.gz
cd pcloud
# Run the daemon
./pcloudcc

Authentication

# Link your account
./pcloudcc -u your-email@example.com -p YourPassword

Common Commands

# List remote files
./pcloudcc ls /
# Upload a file
./pcloudcc upload localfile.txt /remote/path/
# Download a folder
./pcloudcc download /remote/folder/ ./localcopy/

Typical Issues

• Daemon not running: ensure ./pcloudcc stays active.
• Permission denied: run under a directory where you have write rights.
• Rate limits: pCloud may throttle heavy transfers consider chunked uploads.

Using MEGA CMD on KNOPPIX

Installation

apt-get update
apt-get install megacmd

Authentication

mega-login your-email@example.com YourPassword

Common Commands

# List
mega-ls /
# Upload
mega-put file.txt /MyDrive/
# Sync local-to-remote
mega-sync /local/folder /MyDrive/remoteFolder

Typical Issues

• “Over quota” error: check if free space or bandwidth is exceeded.
• 2FA accounts: use mega-export or generate an app-specific password.

Using Proton Drive CLI

Installation

pip3 install proton-drive-cli

Configuration

proton-drive-cli login
# Follow prompts for email, password and 2FA

Commands

# Upload
proton-drive-cli upload ./file.pdf /Documents/
# Download
proton-drive-cli download /Documents/file.pdf ./file.pdf
# List
proton-drive-cli ls /

Typical Issues

• Network timeouts: Proton’s EU servers may be slower—retry with --retries.
• 2FA lockouts: ensure OTP codes are correct remove and re-login if persistent.

Using Filen CLI

Installation

curl -s https://install.filen.io/cli.sh  bash

Authentication

filen login
# Enter credentials and encryption passphrase

Commands

# List files
filen ls
# Upload
filen upload ./confidential.zip my-vault/
# Download
filen download my-vault/confidential.zip .

Typical Issues

• Passphrase mismatch: ensure the zero-knowledge passphrase matches your setup.
• Dependency errors: Filen CLI requires OpenSSL install via apt-get install openssl.

Using Tresorit CLI

Installation

wget https://download.tresorit.com/cli/linux/tresorit-cli-latest.tar.gz
tar -xzf tresorit-cli-latest.tar.gz
sudo mv tresorit /usr/local/bin/

Authentication

tresorit login

Commands

# Sync folder
tresorit sync ~/MyTresors ~/LocalTresors
# Share link
tresorit share ~/LocalTresors/report.docx

Typical Issues

• “Daemon not found”: confirm /usr/local/bin/tresorit is executable.
• Sync conflicts: adjust sync policies in Tresorit web settings.

Using Icedrive CLI

Installation

curl -s https://icedrive.net/download/cli/linux  bash

Authentication

icedrive-cli login your-email@example.com
# Enter password when prompted

Commands

# Upload local.txt to root
icedrive-cli upload local.txt /
# List root directory
icedrive-cli ls /
# Download remote file
icedrive-cli download /report.pdf ./report.pdf

Typical Issues

• “Invalid credentials”: verify email spelling and password.
• Encrypted drive not accessible: use --crypto-key option if Drive selected.

Using rclone for Multiple Backends

rclone is a Swiss army knife for cloud. It supports pCloud, MEGA, Dropbox, Google Drive, S3, and many more via one unified CLI.

Installation

curl https://rclone.org/install.sh  sudo bash

Configuration

rclone config
# Follow guided prompts: create new “remote”, select provider, enter credentials.

Example Commands

# List remote “pcloud” root
rclone ls pcloud:
# Sync local to MEGA
rclone sync ~/backup mega:BackupFolder
# Mount Google Drive read-only
rclone mount gdrive: ~/mnt/gdrive --ro

Typical Issues

• Authentication loops: delete ~/.config/rclone/rclone.conf and reconfigure.
• Rate limit: use flags --tpslimit or --bwlimit to throttle.

Conclusion

KNOPPIX users gain significant power by integrating cloud storage directly via CLI. Whether you choose a specialized zero-knowledge provider like Tresorit or Filen, a mainstream service with a polished CLI like pCloud or MEGA, or the universal flexibility of rclone, each solution has unique strengths. Evaluate based on security needs, storage capacity, ease of installation and typical network constraints. Armed with these tools and troubleshooting tips, you can build reliable, scriptable and portable cloud workflows directly from your KNOPPIX environment.