Cloud storage for uploads

By default, Qwest keeps uploaded files (images, audio, videos, 3D models, attachments) in a folder on the server. That’s the simplest, and fine for many teams. A bucket is cloud storage you rent by the gigabyte, and it’s worth it when files get big.

Do I need it?

Use a bucket if:

• You’re on a VPS and share videos or 3D models. VPS disks are small, and growing them is expensive. A bucket costs a fraction per gigabyte and never fills up.
• You want files to survive the server. If the server dies, the bucket still has every file.
• Your team uploads a lot (a 3D model can be 500 MB, a video several GB).

Stay with the folder if:

• Your server is an old PC with big disks.
• Your team mostly writes docs and plans tasks.
• You want backups to include every file in one archive.

Backups don’t copy a bucket

Qwest’s backups hold the database and the uploads folder. Files in a bucket stay in the bucket. Turn on the bucket’s own versioning (or replication) so a deleted file can be brought back.

Pick a provider

Qwest works with any S3-compatible storage. These are the most common:

Provider	Good to know
Backblaze B2	Low price per GB. Preset in Qwest.
Cloudflare R2	No fees for downloading your files (good for video). Preset in Qwest.
Wasabi	Flat price and no download fees, but a minimum monthly charge and minimum storage time. Preset in Qwest.
Hetzner Object Storage	Same data centers as Hetzner servers. Use Other.
Amazon S3	The original. Pricier for downloads. Preset in Qwest.
MinIO	Run your own on a NAS or a second machine. Use Other.

Compare prices on each provider’s page: they change, and some charge for downloads.

Set it up

1. Make a bucket and a key

In your provider’s dashboard:

1. Create a private bucket, like yourstudio-qwest. Note its region and endpoint (the S3 address, like s3.eu-central-003.backblazeb2.com).
2. Turn on versioning for it, if the provider has it.
3. Create an access key that can read, write and delete in this bucket only. Note the access key ID and the secret.
   • Backblaze: an Application Key (its keyID and applicationKey).
   • Cloudflare R2: an API token with Object Read & Write on the bucket.
   • AWS: an IAM user’s access key.

2. Connect it in Qwest

1. As the instance admin, open Instance admin›Storage.
2. Under Where uploaded files are kept, pick S3-compatible bucket.
3. Pick the Service, and fill in the bucket, region, endpoint and the two keys.
4. Click Test connection. You should see It works.
5. Click Save.

New uploads go to the bucket right away. The secret is stored encrypted and never shown again.

3. Move the files you already have

Files already on the server stay readable where they are. To move them to the bucket, click Move in the same section. You can keep using Qwest while it runs.

Going back to a folder

Pick Folder on the server, save, and move the files again. Avoid folders synced by Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive: their sync breaks videos. To keep a copy there, use backups instead.