# Storage Share quick start

Create a managed Nextcloud instance and start storing and sharing files.

## Prerequisites

- A DanubeData account with a valid payment method
- The Nextcloud mobile app (optional, for phone/tablet access)

## Step 1: Create an instance

### Via dashboard

1. Navigate to **Storage Share** in the sidebar
2. Click **Create Instance**
3. Enter your instance configuration:
   - **Name**: A friendly name for your instance (e.g., `my-files`)
   - **Subdomain**: Your instance URL will be `{subdomain}.storage.danubedata.ro`
   - **Plan**: Choose a resource profile (see below)
   - **Datacenter**: FSN1 (Falkenstein, Germany)
   - **Admin Username**: `admin` (or choose a custom username)
4. Click **Create Instance**

### Choosing a plan

| Plan              | Storage | Subdomains | Connections | Price         |
|-------------------|---------|------------|-------------|---------------|
| **Sulina**        | 1 TB    | 3          | 50          | EUR 4.99/mo   |
| **Sf. Gheorghe**  | 5 TB    | 7          | 100         | EUR 14.99/mo  |
| **Chilia**        | 10 TB   | 10         | 200         | EUR 29.99/mo  |

**Tip:** Start with Sulina for personal use or small teams. Sf. Gheorghe suits most organizations.

## Step 2: Wait for deployment

After clicking **Create**, your instance will go through these states:

1. **Pending** — Queued for deployment
2. **Provisioning** — Kubernetes resources being created
3. **Running** — Ready to use

The dashboard updates in real time. Deployment typically completes within a few minutes. If deployment fails, an error banner will appear with a **Re-deploy** button.

## Step 3: Access your instance

Once the status shows **Running**:

1. Click the **Access URL** link on the instance detail page, or go to:
   ```
   https://{subdomain}.storage.danubedata.ro
   ```
2. Log in with the admin credentials shown on the instance detail page
3. Click the **eye icon** next to the password field to reveal it

## Step 4: Upload files

### Via Nextcloud web interface

1. Log in to your Nextcloud instance
2. Click the **+** button in the file list
3. Select **Upload file** and choose your files

### Via WebDAV (desktop sync)

Install the [Nextcloud Desktop Client](https://nextcloud.com/install/#install-clients) and configure it:

- **Server** — `https://{subdomain}.storage.danubedata.ro`
- **Username** — Your admin username
- **Password** — Your admin password

The desktop client will sync files automatically between your computer and your instance.

### Via command line (curl)

```bash
# Upload a file via WebDAV
curl -u admin:YOUR_PASSWORD \
  -T myfile.txt \
  "https://{subdomain}.storage.danubedata.ro/remote.php/dav/files/admin/myfile.txt"
```

```bash
# Download a file via WebDAV
curl -u admin:YOUR_PASSWORD \
  -o myfile.txt \
  "https://{subdomain}.storage.danubedata.ro/remote.php/dav/files/admin/myfile.txt"
```

```bash
# List files in a directory
curl -u admin:YOUR_PASSWORD \
  -X PROPFIND \
  "https://{subdomain}.storage.danubedata.ro/remote.php/dav/files/admin/"
```

## Step 5: Connect the mobile app

1. Open your instance in the DanubeData dashboard
2. Click **Actions** > **Connect mobile app**
3. A QR code will appear
4. On your phone, open the Nextcloud app and tap the **QR code scanner** on the login screen
5. Scan the code — the app connects automatically

For detailed instructions per platform, see the [mobile app connection](#mobile-app-connection) section below.

## Step 6: Add subdomains (optional)

Add extra subdomains for different use cases (e.g., `photos.storage.danubedata.ro`, `team.storage.danubedata.ro`):

1. Go to the instance detail page
2. Scroll to the **Subdomains** section
3. Enter a subdomain name and click **Add**

All subdomains point to the same Nextcloud instance and share the same storage.

## Mobile app connection

### iOS

1. Install [Nextcloud Files](https://apps.apple.com/app/nextcloud/id1125420102) from the App Store
2. Open the app and tap **Log in**
3. Tap the QR code scan icon
4. In the DanubeData dashboard, click **Actions** > **Connect mobile app**
5. Scan the QR code with the Nextcloud app

### Android

1. Install [Nextcloud](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nextcloud.client) from Google Play
2. Open the app and tap **Log in**
3. Tap the QR code scan icon
4. In the DanubeData dashboard, click **Actions** > **Connect mobile app**
5. Scan the QR code with the Nextcloud app

Each QR code scan creates a dedicated app password for that device.

## Common operations

| Operation          | How                                                                            |
|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Upload files       | Nextcloud web UI, desktop client, or WebDAV                                    |
| Share a file       | Right-click file in Nextcloud > **Share**                                      |
| Create a user      | Nextcloud admin panel > **Users**                                              |
| Install an app     | Nextcloud admin panel > **Apps**                                               |
| View storage usage | Nextcloud admin panel > **Settings** > **System**                              |
| Add a subdomain    | DanubeData dashboard > instance > **Subdomains**                               |
| Connect mobile app | DanubeData dashboard > instance > **Actions** > **Connect mobile app**         |
| Re-deploy on error | DanubeData dashboard > instance > **Re-deploy**                                |
| Delete instance    | DanubeData dashboard > instance > **Actions** > **Delete**                     |

## Troubleshooting

### Instance stuck in "Provisioning"

- Wait a few minutes. Initial Nextcloud deployments can take some time as the container downloads and configures itself.
- If the status does not change after 10 minutes, try re-deploying from the instance detail page.

### "Error" status after deployment

- Click the **Re-deploy** button in the error banner
- Re-deploying preserves your configuration and attempts a fresh deployment
- If the error persists after multiple attempts, contact support

### Cannot log in to Nextcloud

- Verify you are using the correct admin username (shown on the instance detail page)
- Click the eye icon to reveal the password and copy it (do not type it manually)
- Ensure you are accessing the correct URL: `https://{subdomain}.storage.danubedata.ro`

### Mobile app shows "Unsupported URL"

- Make sure you are scanning the QR code from **within the Nextcloud app** (not the phone camera)
- On the Nextcloud app login screen, use the QR code scan button
- Ensure you are using the latest version of the Nextcloud app

### Subdomain not working

- Subdomains are provisioned automatically but may take a minute to become active
- Ensure the subdomain does not start or end with a hyphen
- The instance must be in **Running** state to manage subdomains

## Next steps

- [Managing Storage Share instances](https://docs.danubedata.ro/storage-share-management) — Dashboard walkthrough, credentials, subdomains, and error handling
- [Storage Share product documentation](https://docs.danubedata.ro/storage-share) — Full feature reference
- [Products & pricing](https://danubedata.ro/pricing) — Compare all DanubeData products

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**Questions?** Contact support at support@danubedata.ro