Enables Nextcloud data to be stored in S3

[mmeidlinger]

Nextcloud can be configured to store data in Amazon S3. Externalizing nextcloud data to S3 can be activated by configuring environment variables prior to running the installer. Authentication for this feature works on EC2 instances through EC2 instance roles.

By decoupling data storage from the actual mail server instance, increases portability, availability and resiliency of the data, while at the same time reducing cost and increasing scalability.

[mmeidlinger]

@JoshData Any feedback on this? I have used this setup for several years now without a problem. Thx.

[JoshData]

This would have to be made more generic so that it's not specific to EC2 environment variables. And the Files app is not really a supported part of Mail-in-a-Box so I'm not inclined to take on the long-term burden of supporting this feature.

[mmeidlinger]

The setting is mostly useful in case your box sits on AWS next to the S3 bucket as request flow for Nextcloud data is like this:

              --->           ---->
client               box              S3
             <---            <---

Hence the assumption on AWS credentials being available through the environment / EC2 meta data sevice. I also I wanted to have it as minimally intrusive to the overall setup as possible (not introducing new parameters for access keys / indicating to users this is supported) for the reasons you mentioned.

From my perspective, this is extremely useful for anyone wanting to run on AWS and use files to some extent. The change is minimal and non intrusive and it can be made clear that this is experimental / not supported. Similar to how people can use files easily if they wanted but they cannot expect it to be supported.

That being said, I appreciate it's your call to decide on this from a long term ownership perspective.