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rclone setup

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OctavianTocan edited this page Oct 7, 2025 · 2 revisions

Installation

The script automatically installs rclone via WinGet if not found. Manual installation available from rclone.org/downloads.

Automatic Installation

winget install Rclone.Rclone --silent --accept-source-agreements

Location Detection

The script searches for rclone in:

  1. Windows PATH
  2. WinGet installation directory: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WinGet\Links\

Configuration

Service Account Authentication

  1. Create Service Account:

    • Google Cloud Console → IAM & Admin → Service Accounts
    • Create account with "Editor" role
    • Generate JSON key

  2. Place Credentials:

    • Save JSON as .rclone/service-account.json
    • Never commit this file (gitignored)

  3. Configure rclone.conf:

    [gdrive]
type = drive
scope = drive
service_account_file = .rclone/service-account.json

Why Service Accounts?

  • Server-to-server auth: No interactive login required
  • Shared credentials: All team members use same account
  • CI/CD friendly: Perfect for automated environments
  • Scoped access: Only accesses configured Drive folder

Security Considerations

  • Service account JSON contains private keys
  • Store securely, limit access to authorized personnel
  • Use Google Cloud IAM for permission control
  • Never share config files containing OAuth tokens

Verification

The script verifies:

  • rclone executable exists
  • Config file is present
  • Service account file accessible
  • Paths are valid

Troubleshooting

"rclone not found"

  • Restart PowerShell after WinGet installation
  • Add rclone to PATH manually
  • Check WinGet installation location

"Config not found"

  • Ensure .rclone/rclone.conf exists
  • Verify file path in .env

Authentication errors

  • Check service account JSON validity
  • Verify Google Drive sharing permissions
  • Confirm service account has Editor access

References

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