This guide details the Lite Sync option of the desktop app kDrive (desktop application on macOS).

Introduction

• The Lite Sync feature saves space by virtually storing your kDrive files on your computer, only downloading them when necessary.
• The files are always accessible from the Web app kDrive (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com) but locally they are present in a "dehydrated" way, requiring load time to be fully accessible.
• This allows you to view, complete, and sync kDrive content without overwhelming the hard drive.
• The Lite Sync option always applies:
  • on a specific kDrive (in case you are synchronizing several on the application).
  • and on the entire kDrive (or the entirety of an advanced synchronization).
  • and via a specific kDrive app (another user of the same kDrive can make a different Lite Sync choice).
• In case of any issues, refer to this other guide on the subject.

Enable the Lite Sync option

Prerequisites & scope of use for Lite Sync

• OS macOS version ≥ 10.15 — not available with Linux
• File system under NTFS / APFS

The Lite Sync option can be enabled during application installation (this is offered to you) or later:

1. Left-click on the app icon in your computer's notification area (top right on macOS).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to activate Lite Sync.

The cloud icon will appear to the far right of a sync name in the application, indicating that Lite Sync is activated. If the cloud icon with a strike through appears, this means that Lite Sync is not activated:

Always keep on this device

Once Lite Sync is activated, you can still make a folder and its subfolders, or only one or more subfolders, available locally:

1. From the macOS Finder, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click.
2. Select the option Always keep on this device under kDrive:
   

Free up space

On the other hand, once Lite Sync is activated, you can free up space in a folder and its subfolders or only in one or more subfolders.

1. From the macOS Finder, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click.
2. Select the option free up local space under kDrive:
   

Example of use (storage space required)

If you enable Lite Sync, the space used (900 GB for example) on the Infomaniak server will be freed up on your hard drive, but the opposite is also true (for example, 900 GB of free space required on your hard drive if the Lite Sync option is activated midway).

File "dehydration

As explained in the introduction, a dehydrated file is a kDrive file whose complete version is not present on the hard drive and instead a "shortcut" of 1 KB is displayed, normal behavior when Lite Sync is activated.

In some cases (for example, if you copy files from your hard drive while Lite Sync is activated, and then start a new synchronization to a new kDrive) the application will block the import of this type of file. To resolve these errors, you can download the complete file from the kDrive web app (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com).

To summarize, here are the status icons used:

Status icons	Files	Folders
= online	The file is only on kDrive "in the cloud", to view it locally you will need to download it	the folder contains at least one file or subfolder present on kDrive online
= always available	The file is always available locally and synchronized with the online version	The folder contains only local files or subfolders synchronized with their online version
= synchronization conflict	kDrive encounters a synchronization conflict with the file	kDrive encounters a synchronization conflict with the folder
= transfer error	an error occurred during the file transfer and it was interrupted	an error occurred during the transfer of the folder and it was interrupted
= download in progress	the progress circle indicates an ongoing download	the progress circle indicates an ongoing download

Disable the Lite Sync option

To do this:

1. Left-click on the app icon in your computer's notification area (top right on macOS).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to disable Lite Sync.
5. Two scenarios may occur:
   1. If there is enough space on your computer, a message confirming the deactivation will appear; simply click on Continue.
   2. If there is not enough space on your computer, a message will indicate the missing space to allow the deactivation of the Lite Sync; the synchronization of your kDrive will be paused until you select the files to synchronize on your computer.

This guide details the Lite Sync option of the desktop app kDrive (desktop application for Windows).

Introduction

• The Lite Sync feature saves space by virtually storing your kDrive files on your computer, only downloading them when needed.
• The files are always accessible from the kDrive web app (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com) but locally they are present in a "dehydrated" way, requiring load time to be fully accessible.
• This allows you to view, complete, and sync kDrive content without overwhelming your hard drive.
• The Lite Sync option always applies:
  • for a specific kDrive (in case you are synchronizing several on the application).
  • and on the entire kDrive (or the entirety of an advanced synchronization).
  • and via a specific kDrive app (another user of the same kDrive can make a different Lite Sync choice).

Enable the Lite Sync option

Prerequisites & scope of use for Lite Sync

• Windows OS version ≥ 10 (21h2)
• not available with Linux
• 64-bit processor (ARM64 compatible)
• File storage system under NTFS / APFS

The Lite Sync option can be activated during the application installation (this is offered to you) or afterwards:

1. Left-click on the app icon in the notification area of your computer (bottom right on Windows).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to enable Lite Sync.

The cloud icon will appear to the far right of a sync name in the application, indicating that Lite Sync is enabled. If the cloud icon with a strikethrough appears, this means that Lite Sync is not enabled:

Always keep on this device

Once Lite Sync is activated, you can still make a folder and its subfolders or only one or more subfolders available locally:

1. From Windows Explorer, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click.
2. Select the option Always keep on this device under kDrive:
   

Free up space

On the other hand, once Lite Sync is activated, you can free up space in a folder and its subfolders or only in one or more subfolders.

1. From Windows Explorer, navigate to a folder synchronized with kDrive and right-click
2. Select the option Free up space under kDrive:
   

Example of use #1 (required storage space)

If you activate Lite Sync, the space used (e.g. 900 GB) on the Infomaniak server will be freed up on your hard drive, but the opposite is also true (e.g. 900 GB of free space required on your hard drive if the Lite Sync option is activated midway).

File "dehydration

As explained in the introduction, a dehydrated file is a kDrive file whose complete version is not present on the hard drive and instead a "shortcut" of 1 KB is displayed, which is normal behavior when Lite Sync is activated.

In some cases (e.g., if you copy files from your hard drive while Lite Sync is enabled, and then restart synchronization to a new kDrive), the application will block the import of this type of file. To resolve these errors, you can download the complete file from the kDrive web app (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com).

Example of use #2 (icon summary)

Files on your hard drive synchronized with the Lite Sync option, everything is in the cloud (on your remote kDrive online):

Deactivation of the LiteSync option, "physical" synchronization begins:

Synchronization complete, the files have been downloaded to your computer and then display the appropriate icon:

To summarize, here are the status icons used in your Windows Explorer:

Status icons	Files	Folders
= online	The file exists on kDrive online and is only virtually on your hard drive; to view it locally, you will need to download it	The folder contains at least one file or subfolder that is not physically present
= offline	Lite Sync is not working properly (contact support)	Lite Sync is not working properly (contact support)
= always available	The file exists on kDrive online and is also physically present on your hard drive	The folder contains only files and subfolders without Lite Sync
= available on this device	The file exists on kDrive online and is only virtually on your hard drive due to reasons decided by Windows (e.g. lack of space)	The folder contains local and temporary files and subfolders
= synchronizing	Synchronization is in progress or pending	Synchronization is in progress or pending
= download in progress	The progress bar indicates a download in progress	The progress bar indicates a download in progress

Disable the Lite Sync option

To do this:

1. Left-click on the app icon in your computer's notification area (bottom right on Windows).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the kDrive window.
3. Select kDrive Settings.
4. Click on the button in the Synchronization to disable Lite Sync.
5. Two scenarios may occur:
   1. If there is enough space on your computer, a message confirming the deactivation will appear; simply click on Continue.
   2. If there is not enough space on your computer, a message will indicate the missing space to allow the deactivation of the Lite Sync; the synchronization of your kDrive will be paused until you select the files to synchronize on your computer.

This guide explains how to resolve certain Lite Sync macOS errors that may occur with the desktop app kDrive (desktop application on macOS).

Synchronization block 1/10

Check that macOS permissions are enabled for kDrive and the Lite Sync extensions:

1. Open the macOS settings:
   
2. Under General, click on Open and extensions:
   
3. Scroll down to the Endpoint Security Extensions :: kDrive LiteSync Extension indication:
   
4. Make sure the permissions are enabled and confirm at the bottom:
   

Take this opportunity to check the other elements related to kDrive to ensure everything is activated.

Error of type "Unable to start Lite Sync plugin"

To correct an error of type "Unable to start Lite Sync plugin" which usually occurs when the Lite Sync extension has disappeared or does not have the necessary permissions…

... check for the presence of the extension

From a terminal application (command line interface, CLI) on a macOS device:

% systemextensionsctl list

The result looks like this:

1 extension(s)
--- com.apple.system_extension.endpoint_security
enabled active teamID bundleID (version) name [state]
* * 864VDCS2QY com.infomaniak.drive.desktopclient.LiteSyncExt (3.5.0/1) kDrive LiteSync Extension [activated enabled]

If the command result does not mention "kDrive LiteSync Extension", the extension is not present:

• Delete the synchronization and add it again.

If the command result does not have the status [activated enabled]:

• Enable the extension in the System Settings / Privacy & Security.

... check the extension's permissions

In the System Settings / Privacy & Security / Full Disk Access of the macOS device:

... check the extension's operation

From a Terminal:

% ps -ef | grep LiteSyncExt

The result is similar to:

0  7434     1   0  1:02   ??         0:25.42 /Library/SystemExtensions/6035BDE4-B7D6-477E-A6AB-C2281E3C7752/com.infomaniak.drive.desktopclient.LiteSyncExt.systemextension/Contents/MacOS/com.infomaniak.drive.desktopclient.LiteSyncExt

If the extension does not appear to be working, try the following actions:

• Restart the app.
• Restart the Mac.
• Remove / add the sync.
• Uninstall / reinstall the app.

If that still doesn't work

• Request the kDrive logs (Debug level):
  
• Check in the Console if there is a blockage report on the date of the last app startup and if so, send them to Infomaniak:
  

Retrieve the kDrive messages in the Console:

• Quit the app.
• In the Console, select the Mac, filter by [KD], click on Start:
  
• Launch the app.
• Click in the list of messages, select them (Ctrl+A), copy them (Ctrl+C) and send them to Infomaniak.

Thank you for choosing kDrive the independent and privacy-respecting solution for collaborating, sharing and accessing your data from all your devices. Your data is encrypted, continuously backed up and exclusively hosted in Switzerland.

Collaborative storage on a 100% Swiss Made cloud

• Discover kDrive in video (the interface has evolved since)

Getting Started

• Synchronize kDrive across different devices
• Manage the kDrive Lite Sync option (macOS)
• Manage the Lite Sync option kDrive (Windows)
• Install kDrive on Linux
• kDrive Folders (personal, common, shared)
• Select the kDrive folders to sync
• Edit an Office file type on kDrive (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• kDrive subscription via Apple iOS
• Manage kDrive storage space
• Search for data on kDrive

Share your data

• Manage kDrive drop boxes
• Customize kDrive shares and deposits
• Share data from kDrive (web interface)
• Share data by email from kDrive (web interface)

Fill your kDrive

• Import external data to kDrive
• Import data to kDrive (iOS) or just the iPhone photos automatically
• Import photos to kDrive (Android)
• Import data to kDrive without the kDrive app
• Import data to kDrive via WebDAV
• Connect to kDrive via WebDAV
• Access kDrive files locally and online
• Scan documents with kDrive (iOS / Android)

For multiple users

• Manage a kDrive user's rights
• Manage folder and subfolder access permissions
• Manage kDrive users
• Manage multiple kDrive (iOS / Android)
• Manage multiple kDrive (macOS / Windows)
• Copy certain data between kDrive accounts you have access to

Go further with kDrive

• Modify an existing kDrive offer
• Manage kDrive categories to organize data
• Synchronize Joplin notes via WebDAV with kDrive
• Synchronize Qnap with kDrive
• Synchronize Synology with kDrive
• Record a kMeet meeting on kDrive
• Export the attachments of an email from Mail
• Export an email to kDrive
• Add an attachment to an event in Calendar

For advanced users

• Move the local kDrive location
• Rename a kDrive
• Display kDrive statistics and activity report

In case of issue

• Resolve a kDrive block (antivirus, firewall, etc.)
• Resolve a kDrive sync conflict
• Resolve a kDrive synchronization issue
• Fix a kDrive issue on Android device (don't kill my app)
• Fix an error with the Lite Sync plugin on macOS
• Clear the browser cache
• Clear the cache of the kDrive mobile app
• kDrive application version (macOS / Windows / Linux)
• Restore a kDrive file to a previous version
• Restore a deleted kDrive file
• Force kDrive to sync hidden and excluded files
• Allow access to your products / Complete a support request
• Display kDrive debugging information

Learn more about kDrive

• kDrive data security
• kDrive data analysis

A question or feedback?

• Contact Infomaniak support
• Click here to share a review or suggestion about an Infomaniak product

This guide contains essential resources to help you get started with your VPS Cloud or VPS Lite offered by Infomaniak.

Preamble

• It is not planned to support UEFI and Secure boot in the VPS Cloud / VPS Lite offer.
• It is not possible to migrate a vmdk file to work on OpenStack because KVM is used for virtualization.
• Regarding port opening, refer to this other guide.

Which VPS version to choose?

• The configurations (vCPU / RAM / disk space) vary depending on the VPS offers, starting at 1 vCPU with very competitive prices - make your choice according to your needs; the evolution from a VPS Lite to a VPS Cloud is not yet feasible automatically and it is not possible to reduce a subscribed offer.
• The same Linux distributions and Windows versions are offered (Windows is not available on the smallest configurations).
• On VPS Lite, bandwidth is limited to 500 mbit/s and guaranteed SLA + snapshots are not available.
• Refer to this other guide if you wish to migrate from VPS Lite to VPS Cloud (the migration is irreversible).

VPS Cloud / VPS Lite Linux

• How to connect to your server via an SSH key?
• Which Linux distributions are supported?
• Format and mount the data volume of the Cloud Server (important)

VPS Cloud / VPS Lite Windows

• How to connect to your Windows server?
• Which Windows versions are supported?

This guide explains how to sync files stored in kDrive to access them easily on all your devices macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.

Preamble

• For any changes made to your files & folders on your computer (Finder / Explorer) to be automatically synchronized…
  • on the kDrive Web app Infomaniak (online service kdrive.infomaniak.com),
  • on the **kDrive mobile app** (app for iOS/Android smartphone or tablet),
  • this for all collaborators who access the data,
  • and this in both directions,
• … you need to install the kDrive desktop app (desktop application for macOS / Windows / Linux).
• You have the possibility to customize the kDrive folders that need to be synchronized on your computer.
• You can also automatically back up photos from your mobile device:
  • Refer to this other guide for iOS and for Android.
  • Note that there is no automatic synchronization between the rest of the content on your mobile device and kDrive; this behavior is identical to competing apps that do not offer it either, as the restrictions of mobile operating systems are too significant to allow it (alternative solutions generally paid for exist via third-party apps using the WebDAV protocol).

Download the kDrive desktop app…

… on macOS

Open the kDrive download page to download kDrive (other versions and apps can be downloaded from the kSuite unified settings).

… on Windows

Open the kDrive download page to download kDrive (other versions and apps can be downloaded from the kSuite unified settings).

... on Linux

The kDrive application is officially supported by Infomaniak only on the following systems:

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Desktop environments: GNOME or KDE

Refer to this other guide for installing kDrive on Linux.

... on mobile

The download page offers the mobile versions of kDrive, including an iOS version optimized for iPad, adapted to the screens of these tablets, and the version for Android.

Install the kDrive app

To do this:

1. Open the downloaded application.
2. During installation, pay attention to the permissions that may be requested by the assistant (especially on macOS) and that must be granted for the proper functioning of the application:
   
3. At the end of the installation, the application should open (if not, launch the kDrive application manually from the device).
4. A form asks you to log in to your Infomaniak account (need help?):
   
5. Then select your kDrive offer from the list (if your account allows access to multiple kDrive):
   
6. Enable or disable the Lite Sync option (a feature of the app for Windows and macOS that saves space by virtually storing your kDrive files on your computer, downloading them only when necessary):
   
7. A kDrive folder is created on your hard drive at the indicated location (a location that can be changed by clicking on the pencil icon ✎) and will contain files that may already exist on your kDrive (some folders may be ignored - read below) and will send to the kDrive server all files that you place there in the future:
   

Synchronize files with kDrive

Once the application is installed and connected to your account, you have the kDrive application on your device:

• On a computer, the app icon appears in the notification area of your computer (top right on macOS, bottom right on Windows and a left double click in the taskbar on Linux) and a kDrive folder is automatically created in your personal documents.
  

This guide explains how to migrate from a VPS Lite to a VPS Cloud while keeping all your data and without having to reconfigure your installation.

Perform a migration from VPS Lite to VPS Cloud

To begin the operation, access the VPS Lite:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the relevant product.
3. Click on Upgrade my offer:
   
4. Click on the Upgrade button on the modal that appears.
5. Complete the order to upgrade your VPS Lite.
6. Wait during the migration, a service interruption will be felt during the process.

This guide explains how to modify the configuration of a VPS Cloud / VPS Lite.

Change the storage size on VPS Cloud / VPS Lite

To access the VPS Cloud / VPS Lite:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click on the action menu ⋮ to the right of the relevant item in the displayed table.
3. Click on Modify the offer:
   
4. Make the desired adjustments and complete the procedure below:
   
5. It is necessary to extend the volume after increasing the storage volume.

This guide explains how to allow certain incoming and/or outgoing ports in the firewall of a VPS Cloud / VPS Lite server.

Access the management tool

To manage the VPS Cloud / VPS Lite firewall:

1. Click here to access the management of your product on the Infomaniak Manager (need help?).
2. Click directly on the name assigned to the relevant product.
3. Click on Firewall in the left sidebar:
   

Rule to allow ping on VPS Cloud / VPS Lite

To add a rule to the firewall:

1. Click the blue button to Add a rule.
2. Click on Manual Selection.
3. Select ICMP:
   
4. Validate at the bottom of the page.

Open the outgoing port 25 globally

The outgoing port 25 (SMTP Mail port) is blocked by default.

It is recommended to use an authenticated mail sending solution.

To open this port, contact Infomaniak support and justify your request.

This guide explains how to create a PTR record on the dedicated IPs of VPS Cloud / VPS Lite.

Preamble

• A PTR (Pointer Record) is a type of DNS record used to resolve IP addresses into domain names.
• The PTR record is used to associate an IP address with a domain name or subdomain.
• This is the opposite of the A record which is used to resolve domain names into IP addresses.

Create a PTR on the VPS Cloud / VPS Lite IP

If you have a VPS Cloud / VPS Lite and you want to create a PTR record for your dedicated IP address, here are the steps to follow:

1. Make sure your domain or subdomain points to the IP address (v4 or v6) of your VPS Cloud / VPS Lite server.
   • You can do this by creating an A record for your domain or by modifying the existing record to point to the IP address of your VPS Cloud / VPS Lite.
2. Check that your domain is correctly pointing to the IP address of your VPS Cloud / VPS Lite (see 1).
3. Contact Infomaniak support to request the creation of a PTR record for your dedicated IP address.
   • Mention the IP address of your VPS Cloud / VPS Lite server (you can find this IP address in your server management dashboard or by using a command line command like "ifconfig" or "ipconfig" depending on the operating system you are using).
4. Once the PTR record is created, use an online verification tool to ensure that the PTR record points to your domain or subdomain.