Installing Google Drive client on Linux Mint
If you want to keep all your digital data synced across multiple devices, one why to do this is to use Insync which is a client tool for Google Drive file storage and sync service.
Google Drive Client For Linux Beta2 has been just released and this short how-to describes its installation and basic usage on Linux Mint. Although it should be also applicable for any decent Debian/Ubuntu like Linux systems.
1. Prerequisites
Here we assume that your already have a Gmail account with and some decent version of Linux system installed on your PC. for this tutorial we have use Linux Mint.
- Internet connection
- Gmail account
Installation of package prerequisites on Linux Mint.
$ sudo apt-get install xdotool python-nautilus gir1.2-nautilus nautilus libxdo2
Note that Insync Google drive client is integrated with Nautilus file manager. The above command should also resolve this requirement.
2. Installation of Insync Google drive client
Insync Google drive client comes pre-compiled for both DEB and RPM package management. Depending on your Linux system flavor and hardware architecture download appropriate package from:
Beta 1 release:
http://s.insynchq.com/builds/insync-linux-beta1-py27.tar.bz2
Beta 2 (64bits):
http://s.insynchq.com/builds/insync-beta_0.9.17_amd64.deb
http://s.insynchq.com/builds/insync-beta-0.9.17-1.x86_64.rpm
Beta2 (32bits):
http://s.insynchq.com/builds/insync-beta_0.9.17_i386.deb
http://s.insynchq.com/builds/insync-beta-0.9.17-1.i686.rpm
Here is how the Google Drive client installation will look like on Linux Mint 13. First use wget to get a DEB binary package:
$ wget http://s.insynchq.com/builds/insync-beta_0.9.18_amd64.deb --2012-08-12 10:24:22-- http://s.insynchq.com/builds/insync-beta_0.9.18_amd64.deb Resolving s.insynchq.com (s.insynchq.com)... 207.171.189.81 Connecting to s.insynchq.com (s.insynchq.com)|207.171.189.81|:80... connected. HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK Length: 6551730 (6.2M) [application/octet-stream] Saving to: 'insync-beta_0.9.18_amd64.deb' 100%[======================================>] 6,551,730 753K/s in 14s 2012-08-12 10:24:37 (459 KB/s) - 'insync-beta_0.9.18_amd64.deb' saved [6551730/6551730]
Once downloaded install package using dpkg tool:
$ sudo dpkg -i insync-beta_0.9.18_amd64.deb (Reading database ... 186121 files and directories currently installed.) Preparing to replace insync-beta 0.9.18 (using insync-beta_0.9.18_amd64.deb) ... Unpacking replacement insync-beta ... Setting up insync-beta (0.9.18) ... Processing triggers for bamfdaemon ... Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf.index... Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ... Processing triggers for gnome-menus ... Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme ...
3. Starting Google Drive Client
Once Google Drive client is installed your can start it by navigating to Menu / Start Button and searching for Insync application. On Linux Mint your are most likely to find in Other sub-menu.
By starting Insync application you will redirected using your default browser to insynchq.com website where your will need to input your gmail credentials and give provide Insync with permissions to access your information under your Google account.
4. Using Insync Client
Once you enable allow Insync to sync with you google.com account check your bottom panel for Insync icon allowing you to manage this application with simple navigation menu. Right click on the icon and select "Open Insync Folder" to open nautilus and view your Google Drive files.
5. Conclusion
As for a beta version this simple and easy to install Google Drive Linux client works quite well. Syncing of digital data got easier again. 5GB of free cloud disk space should be enough for any casual user knowing the difference between data and software. The only drawback is that our privacy suffers again as we need to disclose our private information to yet another 3rd party application.
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