Nextcloud introduces Virtual Drive in Desktop Client to simplify desktop integration

Tech Preview shows virtual drive in action, reducing need for users to manage storage manually

Stuttgart, January 28 2019 – Nextcloud GmbH, supplier of the most popular self-hosted content collaboration platform, introduces a Virtual Drive in the Nextcloud Desktop Client. The virtual drive, a standard technology in desktop synchronization clients, replaces the traditional files in a locally synchronized folder with a virtual view on all files the user has, available on demand and with a smart caching strategy.

The Desktop Client is a center piece of our synchronization strategy,

noted Frank Karlitschek, CEO of Nextcloud GmbH.

Thus it is important we keep pushing the boundaries and deliver on what customers ask for.

Rather than eating up all the space on the drive or forcing the user to manually handle syncing on a per-folder base, a virtual drive makes sure files are available when needed. The drive shows files as if they were available on the local system but when clicked, they are downloaded and kept available for a set time in a local cache. For users, this process is far simpler, allowing them to open files no matter what way they access them. “File open” dialogs, “Recent files” dialogs and of course the file manager like Finder or Explorer all properly handle the files.

The project has been in development for some time and we consider it ready for the wider community to get involved and provide feedback, testing and code contributions. The tech preview, while functional, is not recommended for daily usage. The tech preview released today works on Microsoft Windows and requires the installation of Dokan which is bundled with the installer. The Mac build will be available over the coming weeks and Linux follows after that.

Today Nextcloud GmbH also announced it more than doubled its customer base amid massive growth of website visits and interest in compliance solutions to secure and control data during the course of 2018. A new Customer Advisory Board was launched, with its kick-start taking place the evening before the upcoming Enterprise Day in Stuttgart, March 2019.

About Nextcloud
Nextcloud offers the industry-leading, fully open source, self-hosted Content Collaboration Platform, combining the easy user interface of consumer-grade cloud solutions with the security and compliance measures enterprises need. Nextcloud brings together universal access to data through mobile, desktop and web interfaces with next-generation, on-premise secure communication and collaboration features like real-time document editing, chat and video calls, putting them under direct control of IT and integrated with existing infrastructure.
Nextcloud’s easy and quick deployment, open, modular architecture and emphasis on security and advanced federation capabilities enable modern enterprises to leverage their existing file storage assets within and across the borders of their organization. For more information, visit nextcloud.com or follow @Nextclouders on Twitter.

Links:

• Announcement blog nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-introduces-virtual-drive-in-desktop-client-to-simplify-desktop-integration/
• More information about Nextcloud nextcloud.com/about
• Code in our Github branch github.com/nextcloud/desktop/tree/virtual-drive-techpreview
• Dokan dokan-dev.github.io/
• Nextcloud enterprise solutions nextcloud.com/enterprise
• Nextcloud Client information nextcloud.com/clients
• Nextcloud momentum continues with industry awareness of GDPR and data leak risks, doubles customer base in 2018: nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-momentum-continues-amid-industry-awareness-of-gdpr-and-data-leak-risks-doubles-customer-base-in-2018/
• Announcing the Nextcloud Customer Advisory Board: nextcloud.com/blog/nextcloud-launches-customer-advisory-board/
• Screenshots and graphics cloud.nextcloud.com/s/9E4M6qNGRsbknQD

Press contacts
Nextcloud GmbH
Jos Poortvliet
Hirschstrasse 26
D-70173 Stuttgart, Germany
e-mail: pr@nextcloud.com