systemd-service for syncing without login

[Dronthor]

Hello, although the documentation is very good, I don't quite understand how to use OneDrive as a system service. This is my system: Ubuntu 24.04.4 with Gnome 46, Curl 8.18.0, and OneDrive v2.5.10 installed. I want to create a daily backup of a file located in ~/OneDrive at 6 PM and sync it back to OneDrive to upload the backup, even if I'm not logged in. The synchronization should also restart automatically after restarting the computer. Synchronization should run regardless of whether I'm logged in or not. I want the files to have the file permissions for my user account (not root). I also want GUI notifications and Nautilus integration when I log in. How do I need to create the systemd service to achieve this? Do I need to do anything else to get GUI notifications and Nautilus integration? Thanks for your advice.

[abraunegg]

@Dronthor

A couple of clarification questions for you:

1. Do you want the client running 100% of the time , OR only running at 6PM ?
2. What do you specifically mean by 'Nautilus integration' ?

[Dronthor]

Thanks for the quick reply.
(1.) That's a good question. The client doesn't need to be running all the time; it's sufficient if it runs when I'm logged in (monitor mode) and at the times the backup is scheduled, regardless of whether I'm logged in or not. Can I also trigger the synchronization for my OneDrive folder in the backup script, even if I'm not logged in?
(2.) I saw somewhere in the documentation that the client can create a kind of bookmark in the left column of Nautilus, making it easier to access my OneDrive folder.

[abraunegg]

Thanks — that makes it much clearer.

Scheduled backup + sync, even when you’re not logged in

Yes, you can trigger a sync from your backup script when you’re not logged in, but you must avoid running a second onedrive instance if one is already running in --monitor mode (otherwise you’ll hit the single-instance DB lock “already running” behaviour).

The simplest and most reliable approach is:

• When you are logged in: let the client run in --monitor mode (via OneDriveGUI or your preferred desktop start mechanism). That instance will upload your newly created backup file on its next monitor cycle (default is every 300 seconds, configurable).
• When you are NOT logged in: run a one-shot onedrive --sync from a user cron/systemd timer (using the same user config/state), so the backup uploads even without a GUI session.

To make that work cleanly, have the scheduled job:

1. create the backup file in your sync_dir, then
2. only run onedrive --sync if onedrive is not already running. Ensure this instance is using the same config profile as the --monitor instance so that you get the benefits of not having to duplicate your data.

Example logic (conceptually):

• if onedrive --monitor is already running (you’re logged in) → don’t start a second client, just exit and let monitor upload it shortly.
• else (not logged in) → run onedrive --sync.

“Nautilus integration” / left sidebar bookmark

What you’re describing is Display Manager Integration (sidebar registration in Nautilus / Dolphin + optional folder icon).

Enable this in your config:

display_manager_integration = "true"

Important detail: this is applied when the client is running in --monitor mode (desktop session context), and is cleared when the client/service stops.

So: run monitor mode when logged in (via OneDriveGUI or your desktop startup mechanism), and you’ll get the Nautilus left-sidebar “special place”.

[Dronthor]

Hello, and sorry for the late reply, I was off-site. I've reconsidered the backup and decided to do it directly to OneDrive/SharePoint using Power Automate. So I'll be using the OneDrive client just like I did on Windows. Now my main question is: What's the best startup mechanism in Ubuntu 24.04? Ideally, OneDrive client should start when I log in and stop when I log out. I don't need a graphical user interface, but I would like notifications.

[Dronthor]

Thank you very much! Curl is up to date (version 8.18.0).

[abraunegg]

Curl is up to date (version 8.18.0).

Hopefully you have not updated Curl via a 'snap' ... as you have not actually updated curl on your platform.

[Dronthor]

Hi, doing it this way:

systemctl --user enable onedrive
systemctl --user start onedrive

the Onedrive client is running in monitor mode?

I used the recommended instructions for the Curl update.

[abraunegg]

the Onedrive client is running in monitor mode?

Correct - the client is running in --monitor mode when using a systemd service.

[Dronthor]

Thank you very much! :-)