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WebDAV on Linux: A Setup Guide for Ubuntu, Fedora, and Arch in 2026

#linux #webdav #selfhosted #cloudstorage

WebDAV on Linux: not built-in, but doable

Unlike Windows and macOS, Linux doesn't ship with a polished WebDAV mount client. You have to bring your own — and pick between the kernel-level davfs2 and userspace options like gvfsd-webdav or rclone.

This article walks through the three realistic paths for a Linux user in 2026.

Path 1: davfs2 (kernel-level, low-level)

davfs2 is the closest thing to a "real" WebDAV mount on Linux. It uses FUSE under the hood, presents a mount point, and supports read/write.

Install 

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install davfs2

# Fedora
sudo dnf install davfs2

# Arch
sudo pacman -S davfs2
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Configure 

# Add yourself to the davfs2 group
sudo usermod -aG davfs2 $USER

# Add your credentials
echo "https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/webdav/ username password" >> ~/.davfs2/secrets
chmod 600 ~/.davfs2/secrets

# Add to fstab for auto-mount
echo "https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/webdav/ /mnt/cloud davfs2 user,noauto,file_mode=640,dir_mode=755 0 0" >> /etc/fstab

# Mount
mount /mnt/cloud
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Pros

  • Real mount point, all apps see it
  • Read / write
  • Auto-mount via fstab

Cons

  • Single-threaded — slow on big reads
  • Caching is minimal
  • Cache issues when offline

Path 2: gvfsd-webdav (GNOME Files integration)

gvfsd-webdav is what GNOME Files (Nautilus) uses when you click "Connect to Server". It works in userspace, integrates with the file manager, but doesn't give you a real mount.

Use 

# Open Files, click "Other Locations" → "Connect to Server"
# URL: davs://cloud.example.com/remote.php/webdav/
# Enter credentials
# Files appear under the Network sidebar
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Pros

  • Easy to set up
  • Good integration with GNOME Files
  • No system config needed

Cons

  • No real mount (can't ls /mnt/cloud from terminal)
  • Tied to your user session
  • Other desktop environments have partial support

Path 3: rclone (cross-platform, the most flexible)

rclone is a CLI tool that supports WebDAV (and 50+ other backends). It can mount via FUSE, sync, or just copy files.

Install 

curl https://rclone.org/install.sh | sudo bash
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Configure 

rclone config
# n) New remote
# name> cloud
# Storage> webdav
# url> https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/webdav/
# vendor> nextcloud
# username / password
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Mount 

mkdir -p ~/cloud
rclone mount cloud: ~/cloud --vfs-cache-mode full &
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Pros

  • Works on Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD
  • 50+ backends
  • Excellent caching (--vfs-cache-mode full is the key)
  • Active development, frequent updates

Cons

  • CLI-driven (no GUI setup)
  • Mount performance depends on cache mode

What about ScsDriver on Linux?

ScsDriver currently ships Windows and macOS only. There's no Linux client as of 2026-10. If you're on Linux, your best bets are davfs2 (real mount, simple), gvfsd-webdav (GUI integration), or rclone (most flexible, cross-platform).

For Windows or macOS users, ScsDriver at $5.5 lifetime (was $9.99) is the cheapest path to a real WebDAV mount with local cache. For users in mainland China, the package is sold at CN ¥20 lifetime (separate pricing region).

Verdict

If you're a Linux user with WebDAV needs:

  • Want a real mount, no fuss: davfs2
  • Want GNOME integration: gvfsd-webdav
  • Want flexibility and best caching: rclone mount

Pick one based on your workflow. All three are free and open source.

Pricing recap (overseas, Windows / macOS)

  • $1.5 monthly
  • $5.5 yearly
  • $5.5 lifetime (was $9.99)

For users in mainland China, the package is sold at CN ¥20 lifetime (separate pricing region).

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