OpenCloud 2.0 aims to simplify the backup of large amounts of data

Two months after the company was founded, the open source file sharing platform OpenCloud is presenting its first commercially oriented offering. Version 2.0 of OpenCloud is intended to offer public authorities and companies an efficient and secure service for file management, file sharing and collaboration – accompanied by professional support and service level packages.

Version 2.0 of the ownCloud fork promises in particular the simple backup and restoration of large amounts of data. This is ensured by the new "File Native Backup". In contrast to database-supported solutions, a simple backup of the file system using a snapshot or file copy is sufficient for completely consistent backups with OpenCloud. The fact that no database is required to store the metadata should also reduce operating costs as well as the risk of failure and malfunctions and save administrators a considerable amount of time. OpenCloud also aims to score points with a powerful full-text search and high scalability.

Service packages and migration tool

With the new version, OpenCloud is also introducing service packages for professional use. Customers can obtain long-term software support, fast security updates, checks when distributing updates, personal support and similar services directly from the manufacturer. In the second quarter of the year, the provider plans to add tools and support for migrating from other data exchange platforms to ownCloud so that customers can easily transfer their data and structures.

Customers can operate OpenCloud both in their own data center and via selected partners; the first SaaS offers will be available from May. The community version is available to download free of charge, and there is also a demo instance available for testing, which is reset every hour and deletes all stored data.

The first version of OpenCloud was presented by the company at the end of February –, but as a test version for the community. Version 1.0 provided the basic range of functions such as storing, managing and sharing files in the cloud as well as granular user and rights management. The integration of the open source Collabora Online suite is used for editing Office files.

ownCloud owner wants to sue

OpenCloud was founded at the end of January as a subsidiary of the Heinlein Group, which most people will be familiar with as the operator of the email provider mailbox.org. The open source video conferencing solution OpenTalk is also part of the Heinlein portfolio. Company founder Peer Heinlein wishes to market both OpenTalk and OpenCloud to companies, the education sector and public authorities as a secure and independent alternative to standard US services.

The founding of OpenCloud has been accompanied by controversy, as it is a fork of the ownCloud Infinite Scale (oCIS) data exchange platform. More than a dozen developers have probably also switched from oCIS to OpenCloud. The security provider Kiteworks, which took over the ownCloud project in 2023 and markets it as oCIS, was annoyed and threatened legal action as a result. In an interview with heise online, Kiteworks CEO Jonathan Yaron stated that he intended to sue Peer Heinlein under German and US law.

(axk)