Setting up big-tech independent data storage in less than an hour
Originally published in LinkedIn on 22.03.2026. Source: opencloud.eu.
Massive shout-out to OpenCloud.
I wanted to find out how much work it actually takes to set up your own big-tech independent data storage, with proper integration to both a personal computer and a phone. I did not know the answer, so I set up a small weekend project to test it for myself.
My plan was simple: an Ubuntu server in Europe, OpenCloud as the platform, and a custom domain.
The short version is that the whole operation took less than one hour.
That included setting up an updated Ubuntu server in Helsinki with Hetzner, installing Docker, deploying OpenCloud in a container, and connecting the setup to my own domain. Since the server came with a dedicated IP address, getting it online under a custom domain was straightforward.
What surprised me most was not just that it worked, but how easy it was. My own experience with Ubuntu and Docker is fairly limited, so I am not coming at this as an expert. Still, the installation was smooth and the interface felt polished from the start.
OpenCloud also comes with native apps for Mac and iPhone, which means sync worked out of the box across devices. That matters. It is one thing to self-host storage in theory. It is something else entirely when the result is simple enough to use in everyday life.
For anyone who wants more control over where data is stored, and who wants a realistic alternative to the large platform companies, this was a genuinely encouraging experience.
So once again: massive shout-out to OpenCloud for a user-friendly interface and a setup process that was far easier than expected.