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Mount, Sync, and Manage Remote File Systems Easily with RcloneView

· 6 min read
Tayson
Tayson
Senior Engineer

File-system remotes like SFTP, SMB, and WebDAV deserve the same comfort as cloud drives. RcloneView gives you a two-pane Explorer, Compare, Sync, and a mount manager so you can treat remote servers and NAS boxes like local disks—without memorizing rclone flags.

RcloneView app preview

Manage & Sync All Clouds in One Place

RcloneView is a cross-platform GUI for rclone. Compare folders, transfer or sync files, and automate multi-cloud workflows with a clean, visual interface.

  • One-click jobs: Copy · Sync · Compare
  • Schedulers & history for reliable automation
  • Works with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, S3, WebDAV, SFTP and more
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Free core features. Plus automations available.

RcloneView user interface overview

Local FS vs. Remote FS: why it matters​

  • Local FS: instant latency, native permissions, no network hops. Great for editing but not always redundant.
  • Remote FS (SFTP/SMB/WebDAV): adds network latency and auth, but enables central NAS, off-site servers, and collaboration.
  • Cloud object storage: cheap and durable, but not POSIX; mounting improves workflows for apps expecting a filesystem.
  • Goal: unify them in one UI so you can browse, mount, sync, and automate without switching tools.

Connect SFTP and WebDAV in minutes​

RcloneView wraps the rclone backend list (100+ providers) in a simple remote wizard. For most FS-style remotes, you just pick the provider and fill host/credentials.

Create remote from Remote Manager

SFTP remote​

  1. Open Remote → + New Remote (or the + in Explorer).
  2. Choose SFTP.
  3. Enter host, port, user, and either a password or key file.
  4. Save—your SFTP server appears in Remote Manager.

WebDAV remote​

  1. Select WebDAV in the provider list.
  2. Enter the WebDAV URL, username, and password/token.
  3. Save and test browsing in the two-pane Explorer.

SMB / NAS share​

  1. Choose SMB (Samba/CIFS).
  2. Provide the server address and share name; add domain if required.
  3. Save and open it like any other remote.

Cloud + FS together​

You can mix SFTP, SMB, WebDAV, and cloud remotes (Google Drive, Dropbox, Mega, S3) in the same Explorer session and copy between them directly.

Two-pane Explorer for fast housekeeping​

Remote file systems feel local when you can see them side-by-side.

Two-pane Explorer layout
  • Open the server (SFTP/SMB/WebDAV) on the left and a cloud/NAS destination on the right.
  • Drag & drop to copy; progress appears in Transfer.
  • Right-click for Copy → / ← Copy, Delete, or Mount actions.
  • Use filters to hide cache/temp folders before syncing.

Mount remote file systems like local drives​

Need your SFTP or WebDAV share as a drive letter or Finder mount? Use the built-in mount manager.

Mount from Remote Explorer Mount manager status view
  • Click Mount from the toolbar or remote card.
  • Pick mount type (drive letter/path) and set cache/buffer options.
  • Monitor status in Mount Manager; stop/restart without CLI.
  • Great for apps that only understand local paths (NLEs, DAWs, CAD tools).

Compare before syncing​

Remote FS copies should be deliberate. Use Compare to avoid overwriting newer edits.

Folder comparison results
  • Highlights missing, different size, and matching files.
  • Copy only what changed from NAS → cloud, or from cloud → NAS.
  • Ideal for staging edits from local SSD to remote SFTP without surprises.

Solve permission issues quickly​

  • SFTP: ensure correct UID/GID on the server; if writes fail, check directory ownership and chmod on the host.
  • SMB: match domain/workgroup; set “Allow guest/NTLMv2” as required on the server; verify share permissions separate from filesystem ACLs.
  • WebDAV: some hosts block MOVE/DELETE—use COPY then DELETE; watch for read-only mounts.
  • Local mounts: if apps can’t write, remount with the proper user or adjust mount options in the mount dialog.
  • Use Logs tab to see HTTP/SFTP errors (401/403/550) and adjust credentials or paths accordingly.
Log tab showing transfer details

Backup and automation examples​

Example 1: NAS → S3 (nightly)​

  1. Source: SMB share; Destination: S3 bucket.
  2. Click Sync and choose one-way (NAS → S3).
  3. Enable checksum (if supported) and exclude temp/cache folders.
  4. Save to Jobs (e.g., nas-to-s3-nightly).
  5. Open Job Manager → Add Job, schedule 02:00 daily.
Create job schedule

Example 2: SFTP editing share → Google Drive (work-in-progress)​

  1. Left pane: SFTP project folder; Right pane: Google Drive team space.
  2. Use Compare to sync only new renders.
  3. Save as a reusable Job for daily backups at 03:00.
  4. Keep a second job for EXPORT only, so review links stay current.

Example 3: WebDAV CMS → Local SSD (mount + copy)​

  1. Mount the WebDAV site via Mount Manager for app compatibility.
  2. Copy site assets to a local SSD folder; run Compare weekly to fetch deltas.
  3. If deletes are blocked, use copy-only and prune manually after verifying.

Speed and stability tips for remote FS​

  • Use bandwidth limits during office hours; raise concurrency after-hours.
  • Prefer resume for large uploads; RcloneView handles retries automatically.
  • For long-haul SFTP, enable compression only if CPU headroom exists.
  • On SMB, avoid double-mounting the same share on unstable networks—keep one mount alive.
  • For WebDAV hosts with rate limits, reduce parallel transfers in the sync dialog.

Organize NAS ↔ Cloud folders cleanly​

  • Keep a shared folder template (e.g., Project/RAW, EDIT, EXPORT, ARCHIVE) stored on both NAS and cloud; copy it before each project.
  • Use Compare weekly: NAS vs. cloud archive to ensure cold storage is current.
  • Maintain one-way copy for archives (avoid delete propagation).
  • Store proxies on cloud for collaboration; keep RAW on NAS/S3 for safety.

When to mount vs. when to sync​

  • Mount when applications need file handles (NLEs, asset browsers).
  • Sync/Copy for bulk moves, off-site backups, or when network links are lossy.
  • Combine both: mount for daily edits, then run a scheduled sync to archive.

Logging and recovery​

  • Use Job History to see which files failed and why; rerun to pick up only missing items.
  • For permission errors, re-authenticate the remote or adjust server ACLs before retrying.
  • Keep Log tab open during first runs to spot 401/403/550/429 codes early.
  • If a mount stalls, stop/restart from Mount Manager instead of rebooting.

Quick start checklist​

  1. Add SFTP/SMB/WebDAV remotes in Remote Manager.
  2. Open two-pane Explorer and verify listing.
  3. Run Compare on a small folder; confirm copy directions.
  4. Mount if your app needs a drive letter/path.
  5. Save Sync/Copy as Jobs; schedule off-hours.
  6. Review logs after the first full run; enable checksum where supported.

Summary​

RcloneView turns remote file systems into first-class citizens. Connect SFTP, SMB, WebDAV, NAS, and cloud remotes, mount them like local drives, compare before syncing, and automate backups with Jobs and schedules—all from a GUI built on rclone’s engine. Treat every storage endpoint the same way: visible, verifiable, and automated.