Multiple DropBox instances

[Paul Keith]

http://www.webupd8.o...es-in-same-time.html

^Didn't test this.

Windows link: http://wiki.dropbox....pboxAddons/Dropboxen

Direct Download link: http://dl.getdropbox...1/code/Dropboxen.zip

Linux:

HOME=$HOME/.dropbox-alt /usr/bin/dropbox start -i

This will launch the Dropbox initial setup for the folder called .dropbox-alt which does not exist, so you'll be presented with the initial configuration. You can create a new account or use an existing one.

If you already had a Dropbox instance running, now there should be 2!

Run at Start Up:

sudo gedit /etc/rc.local

paste the following line just before the "exit 0" last line:

su username -c "HOME=$HOME/.dropbox-alt /usr/bin/dropbox start"

If the file doesn't have "exit 0" on the last line, add it yourself. Basically, this is how the last two lines in the /etc/rc.local file should look like:

su username -c "HOME=$HOME/.dropbox-alt /usr/bin/dropbox start"
exit 0

Manual start-up:

HOME=$HOME/.dropbox-alt /usr/bin/dropbox start

Note 1: the instructions for Mac OSX also include instructions for Linux but the Linux instructions are not entirely correct, so for Linux, use the instructions in this post!

Note 2: It seems you cannot login to the Dropbox website when running multiple Dropbox instances. However, by right clicking the Dropbox icon in the notification area and selecting "Launch Dropbox Website", you will be automatically logged in.

Note 3: Using the Dropbox link on top of the post to create a Dropbox account, you will get an extra 250 MB for your account; I will also get an extra 250 MB.

Mac: http://wiki.dropbox....tipleInstancesOnUnix

[Deozaan]

I don't quite understand the point of running two Dropbox clients at once.

[wraith808]

Different syncs for work and home based computers?  I have a laptop that I sync to work and home projects, a desktop at home that I only want home stuff on, a netbook that I only want home stuff on, and a desktop at work that I only want work stuff on.

[Deozaan]

So you mean having multiple Dropbox accounts on one computer?

[cmpm]

Hacking dropbox will kill it's it's free 2gb account eventually in this way, imo.
I don't know if I would do it, but to each their own thoughts on the matter.
Windows Live offers 25gb of storage and 1gb through Office Live for free.

Wouldn't it work if you set up dropbox as a different user on your machine?
Even then, your ip address is read, or can be, I don't know if they do.
I would think using two user accounts on your computer would be more acceptable should it be spotted.

just sayin'.....

[wraith808]

So you mean having multiple Dropbox accounts on one computer?

-Deozaan (February 02, 2010, 09:07 PM)

That's what I take the article to mean.  I haven't done it- but I was just pointing out that there could be a need... and actually if I was less lazy, I'd set it up the way that I said... it's the one computer that I use for business and home that's the sticking point.  If you could filter out what is synced that would work also, but they don't support that functionality.