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Connecting Dropbox

This guide explains how to connect Dropbox to Pluton for storing your backups securely.

Prerequisites​

  • A Dropbox account (Basic, Plus, Professional, or Business)
  • Web browser for OAuth authentication
  • Sufficient storage space in your Dropbox account

Connection Process​

Method 1: Quick Connect (Using Rclone Client)​

Step 1: Add Storage​

  1. In Pluton, navigate to Storages
  2. Click Add Storage button
  3. Select Dropbox from the provider list
  4. Set a Storage name. (e.g., "My Dropbox")

Step 2: Acquire Access Token​

Acquiring Access Token on Desktop Installations​

  1. From the Authentication Section, select User (oAuth)
  2. If you've installed Pluton on a desktop machine, simply click the Authorize & Get Access Token button.
  3. When a new browser tab opens asking you to authorize the Rclone connection, accept it.
  4. Once authorized, you will be returned to a Success screen in the same tab. Close the tab as its not needed anymore.
  5. Go back to Pluton, and the OAuth Access Token should be automatically filled.

Acquiring Access Token on Server/Docker Installations​

Since Pluton installed on servers that may not have a web browser, you need to generate an OAuth token using rclone authorize on a machine that does have a browser:

  1. Install rclone on a machine with a web browser
  2. Run the following command: 
    rclone authorize drive
  3. A browser window will open — log in with your Dropbox account and grant access
  4. Once authorized, rclone will print a JSON token blob to the terminal which should looks something like this 
       Paste the following into your remote machine --->
       {"access_token":"VWFL7ZDnONSzyJXpmZ6EiR5kZvWXNeprInuuCap7pW7jwzH65aGak","token_type":"bearer","expiry":"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z"}
       <---End paste
  5. Copy the entire JSON token between the ---> and <---
  6. Go back to Pluton, and insert the copied token in the OAuth Access Token field.

Step 3: Complete the Storage Setup​

  1. Click the Add Storage button which automatically verifies credentials and adds the storage.
  2. Your Dropbox storage is now ready for backup plans

Advanced Options (Optional)​

Configure additional settings if needed:

  • Chunk Size: File upload chunk size (default 48MB works well)
  • Batch Mode: Controls how files are uploaded
    • Sync (default): Wait for confirmation after each batch
    • Async: Maximum speed, doesn't wait for confirmation
    • Off: Upload files individually (slowest)

Dropbox Personal vs Business​

Understanding Batch Upload Modes​

Sync (Recommended):

  • Balances speed and reliability
  • Waits for upload confirmation
  • Best for most use cases

Async:

  • Maximum upload speed
  • Doesn't wait for confirmation
  • Use for initial large uploads
  • Follow up with regular sync mode

Off:

  • Uploads one file at a time
  • Slowest option
  • May hit rate limits with many files

Common Issues​

Authorization Window Blocked: Check that your browser isn't blocking pop-ups. Allow pop-ups for Pluton and try again.

Too Many Requests: If you see rate limit errors, enable batch mode (sync or async) to reduce API calls.

Connection Expired: Dropbox tokens can expire. Simply re-authorize through Pluton to refresh your connection.

Storage Full: Ensure you have sufficient Dropbox space. Check your quota in Dropbox settings.

Copyright-Protected Files: Dropbox may block uploads of copyright-protected content, returning "restricted content" errors.

File Limitations​

Case Sensitivity: Dropbox is case-insensitive. You cannot have "File.txt" and "file.txt" in the same folder.

Restricted Names: Certain file names are not allowed (e.g., thumbs.db). Pluton will report an error for these.

File Size: Maximum file size is determined by your Dropbox plan.

Path Length: Keep total path length reasonable. Very long paths may cause issues.

Best Practices​

  • Use Sync batch mode for reliable automated backups
  • Monitor your Dropbox storage quota to prevent backup failures
  • For large initial backups, consider using Async mode then switching to Sync
  • Regularly check backup logs to ensure successful transfers
  • Dropbox has automatic version history - check retention settings in your Dropbox account