Summary of "The Ultimate Self-Hosted Obsidian Sync Setup (PC & iOS)"
Summary of "The Ultimate Self-Hosted Obsidian Sync Setup (PC & iOS)"
This video provides a comprehensive tutorial on how to set up a private, secure, and self-hosted synchronization system for Obsidian notes across Windows PCs and iOS devices, without relying on third-party cloud services like Google Drive, iCloud, or Obsidian Sync.
Key Technological Concepts & Tools:
- SyncThing: An open-source, peer-to-peer file synchronization tool that allows direct device-to-device syncing without centralized cloud storage. It supports encrypted transfers, cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, iOS, Android), and can be self-hosted on a home server or PC.
- Tailscale: A mesh VPN service built on WireGuard, enabling secure, private, and seamless connections between devices across different networks. It facilitates NAT traversal, firewall circumvention, and creates a zero-trust private network ("tailnet") for SyncThing devices.
- Proxmox: Used to run a Linux container (LXC) hosting SyncThing, providing a virtualized environment on a home server (e.g., mini PC).
- Mobius Sync Pro (iOS app): A paid, one-time purchase app for iOS that integrates with SyncThing to sync files securely on iPhones and iPads, avoiding subscription fees and cloud reliance.
- WinSCP: Recommended for accessing SyncThing server files via SFTP for manual inspection or backup.
- WinMerge: Suggested for resolving sync conflicts in Obsidian configuration JSON files by comparing and merging changes.
Problem with Existing Sync Solutions:
- iCloud and Obsidian Sync: Limited free storage, paid subscriptions, and data stored on third-party servers.
- Google Drive: Does not sync directly with Obsidian on iOS, has privacy concerns, and limited free storage.
- Cloudflare Tunnel: While it can encrypt traffic, it exposes some data to Cloudflare, which might not be ideal for privacy-sensitive data.
Benefits of the Self-Hosted SyncThing + Tailscale Setup:
- End-to-end encrypted file synchronization.
- No cloud storage middleman — full data ownership and privacy.
- Works across networks without port forwarding or firewall issues.
- Zero-trust security model.
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, iOS, Android).
- Free for personal use (except Mobius Sync Pro one-time purchase on iOS).
- Control over where and how data is stored and transmitted.
Step-by-Step Setup Overview:
- Prepare SyncThing Server:
- Set up SyncThing on Windows PC:
- Set up SyncThing on iOS Devices (iPhone and iPad):
- Purchase and install Mobius Sync Pro.
- Install Obsidian app and create a vault (skip built-in sync).
- Link Mobius Sync Pro to the Obsidian vault folder.
- Add SyncThing server as a remote device by scanning QR code.
- Sync vault files and configure Obsidian settings (themes, core and community plugins, CSS snippets).
- Secure SyncThing Connections with Tailscale:
- Sign up for Tailscale and install on SyncThing Linux container.
- Enable network tunneling on container for virtual interfaces.
- Install Tailscale on Windows PC, iPhone, and iPad.
- Connect all devices to the same tailnet.
- Update SyncThing device addresses to use Tailscale private IPs and port 22000.
- Disable unnecessary connection methods in SyncThing (e.g., NAT traversal, global/local discovery), enable relaying.
- Restart SyncThing services to apply changes.
- Testing and Troubleshooting:
Additional Notes:
- SyncThing creates a
.stfolderin synced directories — do not delete this. - Sync conflicts can occur in JSON config files; these should be manually resolved.
- The tutorial emphasizes manual backups before starting.
- Mobius Sync Pro is a one-time purchase app, preferred over subscription.
Category
Technology
