Cloudcycle is a small home server you plug into your router. It keeps your family’s files, photos, contacts, calendars, and notes on your local network — fast, private, and subscription‑free.

  • Local‑only by default (net‑gapped): not reachable from the public internet
  • Family‑ready apps and sensible defaults
  • Built on open source with transparent, portable data

Want the nitty‑gritty? Jump to the Technical details.

Important: Cloudcycle is configured local‑only by default (no public internet access). If you later expose your server to the internet, you assume the risks and support isn’t included unless we agree in writing. Hardware is customer‑supplied and not warranted by Cloudcycle. See our Terms for details.

What you do

1) Choose a refurbished Mac mini (or send us yours) 2) Plug it into your home router and power 3) Install the mobile/desktop sync apps we recommend 4) Create accounts for family members and start syncing

How it behaves on your network

  • Runs on your LAN and is visible only to devices on that network
  • Uses standard ports and protocols; no cloud account required
  • We provide an admin account and a quick guide to manage users

Phone and laptop sync (no cables)

  • iPhone and Android: wireless photo/video backup over your home Wi‑Fi using our recommended apps/presets
  • Laptops (Mac/Windows/Linux): auto‑sync folders to keep documents in step
  • Nothing leaves your home unless you turn on remote access (see below)

Remote access (optional)

  • Default: local‑only for privacy; most families just let phones sync when they get home
  • Optional add‑ons if you need away‑from‑home access:
    • Zero‑trust networking (e.g., Tailscale/ZeroTier) for simple, encrypted access
    • DNS proxy with strong authentication (advanced)
  • Remote access is off by default and only enabled on request

Data safety and redundancy options

Pick the protection level that matches your comfort and budget. All options support automated backups and health checks.

  • Starter (included): Primary SSD + nightly differential backups to SD card or external USB SSD; SD integrity check before first use
  • Plus (recommended): Add an external USB/NVMe RAID1 (mirrored) enclosure for live redundancy; nightly verification + SMART health monitoring
  • Family Duo (high protection): Two units that mirror each other (same house or second location). If one fails, the other continues serving
  • Pro (power users): Dual‑NVMe RAID1 enclosure or small external RAID array; optional encrypted off‑site sync

Longevity and maintenance

  • Light workload: syncing and serving files runs cool and is easy on hardware; typical lifespan 5–8+ years
  • We monitor drive health (SMART), temperature, and run weekly self‑tests; you’ll get an “all good” or “action needed” note if something requires attention
  • Security updates can auto‑apply on a schedule; reboots are scheduled for low‑usage windows. You can defer or run manually

Small glossary

  • RAID = two (or more) disks mirroring each other so one can fail without data loss
  • Differential backup = copies only changes since the last backup (reduces time and wear)
  • SMART = drive health information that can predict failures

Technical details

This section documents what’s inside Cloudcycle and the choices we make to keep it reliable and private. If you’re non‑technical, you can safely ignore this and just use it.

Stack overview

  • Base OS: Hardened Linux distribution
  • Application layer: Private family cloud suite providing files, photos, contacts, calendars, notes, and more
  • Hardware: Refurbished Mac mini with SSD and upgraded RAM where sensible

Security posture

  • Exposure: LAN‑only by default; we do not enable or support public internet exposure by default
  • OS hardening: Minimal services, firewall enabled, auto‑updates for security patches
  • Accounts: You get an admin account; we create user accounts on request during onboarding

Updates and maintenance

  • OS updates: Security updates applied during build; guidance provided for safe ongoing updates
  • App updates: Pinned to tested versions; we provide upgrade guidance in the admin guide
  • Monitoring: We avoid phoning home; optional local health checks only

Backups

  • We recommend simple local backup strategies (e.g., periodic external USB drive backup)
  • We can advise approaches; off‑site/cloud backup is not included by default

Networking

  • DHCP by default; static IP optional (documented in the guide)
  • Works with standard home routers and Wi‑Fi; wired Ethernet recommended

Data portability and licenses

  • Your data is stored in widely used, open formats where possible
  • Built on open source components; licenses are respected and available upon request

Support boundaries

  • Included: Onboarding call, initial user setup, local‑only configuration guidance
  • Not included: Public internet exposure, complex custom networking, or 24/7 SLA

Have a special requirement? Contact us and we’ll see what’s feasible.