Dropbox Use-Cases & Speed Test

There are three ways you can use Dropbox –

1. Via a Browser
2. Via a local synchronized directory using Dropbox app on a "normal" operating system (Mac OS / Windows)
3. Via a plugin within a NAS operating system (like "Cloud Sync" on a Synology NAS).

Dropbox excels at local synchronization. 

Dropbox App Speed Test

55GB on 1GB line.

Should take <20 mins if line isn’t congested.

13 minutes so the upload speed was ~72 MB/s. ✅

It’s basically a wash for upload/download of files Google Drive vs Dropbox, especially given congestion variability. 

Dropbox on NAS

(Like a Synology) Works great, just don’t put active project files on there.

Dropbox on an External Drive

OWC did an amazing write up of how to use an external hard drive as a Dropbox. It is here. I’ve done this on/off for years. Big warning: if the drive gets disconnected while dropbox is running, Dropbox will think you deleted your entire Dropbox. Thankfully, DB keeps a log of events and you can undo that event and then resync your drive. Once you realize this, you will be relieved, but it will take a lot of time. Since this has happened to me I recommend: setting it up to online only for everything, but sync your whole dropbox, then sync folders and files as you need them, and do the things that are less of a priority over the weekend.