How to back up your UGREEN NAS with Sync WebDAV

Sync WebDAV for Linux can be used with the built-in Sync & Backup app on a UGREEN NAS.

With this setup, the Sync WebDAV server runs directly on the UGREEN NAS. UGREEN's backup software connects to Sync WebDAV locally, while Sync WebDAV handles the connection to your Sync account and preserves  end-to-end encryption.

You can use this configuration to:

• Back up your UGREEN NAS to Sync for an off-site cloud backup.
• Back up your Sync account to your UGREEN NAS for a local copy of your Sync data.

Before you begin, you'll need:

• A UGREEN NAS with Sync & Backup installed.
• SSH access to the NAS.
• A Sync account with WebDAV Early Access enabled. Join the early access program.

Installing the Sync WebDAV server on the NAS

1. Enable SSH access on the NAS
   In UGOS Pro open Control Panel → Terminal, and enable SSH.
2. SSH to the NAS
   From a computer on the same network as the NAS, open a Terminal and connect to the NAS:
   ssh ugreen_username@nas_ip_address
   (you can find your NAS IP address from UGOS Pro → Control Panel → About → General → Network)
3. Install and run the Sync WebDAV on the NAS
   Follow these step-by-step instructions

The goal is to install Sync WebDAV directly on the NAS and run it in --headless mode. While testing, keep your Terminal window open. Once everything is working, run Sync WebDAV in --daemon mode so it continues running in the background and you can close Terminal and disable SSH.

Creating a UGREEN backup task

1. In UGOS Pro open Sync & Backup → Backup & Restore → Add
2. Choose either Backup This UGREEN NAS to back up your NAS data to Sync, or Backup Server to back up your Sync data to the NAS.
3. Select WebDAV and enter
   Server address: localhost
   Protocol: HTTP
   Port: 4918
   Root folder: /
   Username: Your Sync email
   Password: Sync password
4. Choose what to backup by selecting your Source and Destination.
5. Configure your backup schedule and version policy
6. Review the backup task and click Confirm.

Restoring a UGREEN backup

UGREEN stores NAS-to-remote backups in its own backup format. To restore them:

1. Make sure Sync WebDAV is running.
2. Open Sync & Backup → Backup & Restore.
3. Select the backup task.
4. Choose Restore.
5. Select the files or backup version to restore.

After restarting your NAS

If scheduled backups stop working after rebooting the NAS, make sure Sync WebDAV is running.

Troubleshooting

UGREEN cannot connect

Confirm Sync WebDAV is running and that the connection uses localhost, HTTP, and port 4918

sync-webdav: command not found

Reconnect your SSH session after installation.

If necessary: export PATH="$HOME/.sync-webdav/bin:$PATH"

Restart Sync WebDAV: sync-webdav --headless --daemon

Security notes

• Do not expose port 4918 to the Internet.
• Keep Sync WebDAV listening on localhost.
• Restrict SSH access to trusted devices/networks.
• Enable 2FA on your Sync account.
• Test restores before relying on the backup for critical data.